17 year old GWP likely needs putting down.

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If she has been to the vet's surgery before, it will distress her, far better to take her out in a familiar field. A 22 sub-sonic in the back of the head, and a couple more in the heart just to make sure. I have refrained from getting another dog for fear that it would out-live me. Nothing more hurtful than to see a dog that has lost its master.
 
old keeper said:
Put yourself in the dog's position, would you want to be kept alive or would you rather just slip away?
Over the years, I've seen too many cases of dogs being kept alive because the owner couldn't bear to lose them. I fully understand this, but where my dogs have been concerned, I've always tried to put myself in their situation, and if THEIR quality of life is too poor, they (sadly) have to go.
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I agree I’d want myself put out of my misery. I keep talking myself into it and then back out of it. Thanks for all the responses as it’s the reality check I needed
 
JTO said:
A 22 sub-sonic in the back of the head...
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That too was my 'manly' approach.

"Leave it to me" blah blah blah..

Truth be told. I did not do it (turns out, I could never do it). For those of my dogs (my furry family, my furry friends), that needed it; I took them to the Vets. I held them close as they went over the rainbow bridge: and on the way home, I wept like a child. I always wept like a child.

That said.

I never had to go to sleep, with the image of me shooting my best friends.

Not as easy as some may suggest.

It will leave an unhappy legacy - at least it would for me.
 
I am always reminded of a tale told to me by my late Dad (sorry to go off piste a bit!)..... The only time he saw his Father crying was when he had to take his dogs to a quiet quarry and and shoot them due to the fact it was the middle of WW1 and food for dogs was increasingly hard to come by - legally or illegally. Absolutely broke his heart - I know it's a soft way out, but a trip to vets is a lesser evil!
 
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Stalker62 said:
@TOMHOWA


Better a day early, than a minute late.


You gave your pal the best life, steel yourself, and give her the very best death.
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Absolutely agree with that. Horrible, but the best thing for the dog. My 15yr old Miniature English BT died in December, while I held her as the vet injected her, and she was eating her last piece of cheese. Then I went and took the other two dogs for a long walk.
 
I won't be able to do it again but I'd never let a dog of mine suffer.
They've all lived a full bodied life. The moment that is impeded it not fair on them.
That's my take, means nothing but after Jess there won't be another.
 
Having 4 dogs at 1 point, the last I put to sleep 2 months ago, you have to ask yourself this question-

Why am I letting my dog suffer?

If the dog has served you faithfully through thick and thin like they do, then why are you letting the old dog suffer?

Letting the dog suffer incontinence in her sleep is just pure cruelty, take the old girl for the long walk have a the dog put to sleep pour yourself a large glass of whiskey and toast her life 17 is a bloody good innings for any dog!
 
Dogs are so eager to please it is very difficult to judge their pain levels as they'll put themselves through great pain to please you.

What you may see as a happy dog wanting to go for short walks could be them in a lot more pain than you realise but they're dealing with it for the benefit of being with you. It doesn't make the decision any easier though.
 
Stalker62 said:
That too was my 'manly' approach.

"Leave it to me" blah blah blah..

Truth be told. I did not do it (turns out, I could never do it). For those of my dogs (my furry family, my furry friends), that needed it; I took them to the Vets. I held them close as they went over the rainbow bridge: and on the way home, I wept like a child. I always wept like a child.

That said.

I never had to go to sleep, with the image of me shooting my best friends.

Not as easy as some may suggest.

It will leave an unhappy legacy - at least it would for me.
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This 👆

Plenty would say I’m heartless about killing cause I have no issue with it for anything at all,

Except my dogs . I’m far too big a soft shite for that.
I don’t want to see me shooting my best mate every time I shut my eyes, Christ I’m a bad enough state when I hold them as the vet does it .

Last lurcher, I took him to the butchers for a steak which he ate on the walk up.

I was so bad and in such a state the missus was more upset by me than the dog.
The waiting room must have been traumatised.
 
Am I alone in thinking it odd to draw parallels between humans and dogs in this morally- and emotionally-charged regard?

A human, assuming a reasonable amount of ongoing capacity, will be able to express opinions on the degree of medical and other interventions they consider appropriate under their particular circumstances: and then to act according to their own view with respect to the various interventions which might be offered.

Our quadruped pals can't do that - their drive seems simply to be to keep on at it as best they can despite pain, mess and anything else: and whether that's because of their natural attachment to life over death, or attachment to ('love' if you really, really have to) and/or desire to please their master, doesn't seem to me really to matter.

It does, however, put the responsibility firmly on the owner to make as objective assessment as possible so as to make the call in good time. The objectivity can be a major challenge here - and that is where others' opinions, including those of the vet, can be very useful.
 
TOMHOWA said:
My trusty GWP has reached 17 years old this month, but the last 12 months she’s deteriorated and the last 6 months have been tough. She has become incontinent in her sleep and we are having to frequently clean bedding areas multiple times a day and bathe the dog few days a week. On top of this her back legs are getting weaker and her arthritis is clearly affecting her. She’s on anti inflammatories and pain meds for that.

But other than that she’s a happy dog, runs about when off lead and is still eating with no issues. She can only do very short walks now.

My vet keeps bringing up euthanasia as her quality of life is affected and he rightly pointed out so is mine/my other dog.

I suppose this post is asking for a reality check? I’ve never had to put down a dog this was my first dog who’s helped me shoot more deer than I ever would have without her.
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It is a very hard decision too make but do what's right for her she has earned it.
 
We owe it to our pets to do the right thing for them not us.
I let one dog go on to long, he was a once in a lifetime dog and I regret my last memories of him, because couldn’t make the call never again.
My last dog went hunting in the sky last week it especially hard as she was my sons best mate, but we knew the road ahead for her was not a pleasant one. Cherish the good memories don’t wait for the sad ones.
 
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