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khtrent
addicted handloader
| Joined: | 16 January 2007 |
| Location: | Idaho USA |
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Posted: 26 March 2007 06:38 PM |
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Well dont know about this one.... got a dog 12 yrs old + not too sure half red healer half airidel has an obvious tumor right lower abdomen. soft ball size with sores on the outter skin now. doesnt seem to be suffering yet. tumor is hard stiff in places and soft liquidy on other spots. I am a cytotechnologist I do know a bit about it. OK docs what is the best thing to do..... let him live till suffering put him down? go ahead and put him down so no suffering? And what do I tell my 7 yr old and 3 yr old so they can understand? Bad thing is I Love that ugly ass dog dont know if i can put the 357mag on the back of the head might have to get the vet to this one. Im getting older and softer. Losing a friend is always hard. Taking one out is even harder. Tears are welling up but I know i dont want him suffering. He lived a good long life as a cow dog kicked and stomped and thought dead a couple of times. last 4 yrs been in the back yard liveing the glory life. Still trying to figger out how to tell kids the bad news. Any ideas would be welcome.
Kev
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wolfkill
Handloading Master
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Posted: 26 March 2007 08:01 PM |
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I got one on his last spring too khtrent. I'm 52 years old and have done all 3 options.
I did it, the vet did it, nature did it. They all sucked.
I don't have an answer for you because I'm struggling with the same issue with old "Skipper".
Guess I'm hoping one day soon I'll know the right way to go with this one too and be ready.
I always gave the daughter the option to say goodbye, seemed better. I remember as a kid not having that option for one of our dogs. My mom and her boyfriend just announced it like it was no big deal, like they had decided not to get the Sunday paper anymore. That never set good with me then and still doesn't now.
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Charley
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| Joined: | 9 September 2005 |
| Location: | San Antonio, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 2225 |
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Posted: 26 March 2007 08:55 PM |
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Very tough call. I've had to kill one, very tough emotionaly. Second one had congestive heart failure, I let her string it out. She showed no discomfort, and was pretty happy to the end. I've got a shepard mix now that is having a tough fight with arthritis, and some displasia. Evenbtually she's going to make that last trip.
This is the price we pay for loving something that has a different life span than we do.
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Force_Recon_Marine
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| Joined: | 7 November 2006 |
| Location: | Alabama USA |
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Posted: 27 March 2007 12:52 AM |
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| I am by no means an expert but my uncle is an MD and he has an old beagle that had a similar tumor. I dont remember if he put him to sleep or just nummed the area but he removed it. The dog is old as fire but he is still around. I guess he looked at it in the aspect, if he survives great, or if not he would be put down. I know its tough to lose a loyal friend. Just my opinion. Good luck to you.
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WildBill
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| Joined: | 4 August 2005 |
| Location: | Grand Rapids, Minnesota USA |
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Posted: 27 March 2007 06:12 AM |
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That's a tough situation.
I say, as long as the dog is not suffering let him live. Take this time to prepare yourself and the children for the inevitable.
You could try to explain to the children that the dog is very old and getting sick. And that you will have to take the dogs to the vet, and that the vet will give the dog a shot that will make him go to sleep and then he will go to a better place.
I hope this gives you some ideas. I certainly don't envy the task you're facing.
Bill
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The_Mountaineer
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| Joined: | 4 February 2005 |
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Posted: 27 March 2007 06:28 PM |
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I don't claim to be a veterinarian. But not all tumors are "bad" as you probably already know.
My advice would be to have him taken to the veterinarian and see what you're really dealing with. Tell the vet up front that you want a simple diagnosis and that you're not planning on making hard decisions until you have some time to think over the matter. A good vet should understand this and be accommodating to your desires. Be prepared for the worst news but hope for the best. Take your pal home from the vet and spoil him whilst you make your decision. Until a decision is made, I'd probably not get the kids involved, just let them know what's going on. JMO.
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robk
HB Pro Staff
| Joined: | 25 October 2005 |
| Location: | Yukon, Oklahoma USA |
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Posted: 28 March 2007 07:32 AM |
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i've dealt with ca patients and trauma patients for over 20 years. we knew when there was to be an end and they could say when they hurt or not. usually. i would say there had to be some kinds of pain. it has to be learned when the old boy is hurting. i am guessing there is a jealous streak on your part because of the dogs friendship you and he have and you tend to try and keep them around as long as possible.
to be truthful i would look into the dogs eyes and he will tell you when the time is right to leave this old world. he knows when it;s time long before you do because you have a hope. i don't know what i would do if one of my dogs had to be put down but i think i would let them tell me if they could. just watch him and see what he does and how he reacts thru out the day. if he stops eating and loses interest in being around and not able to move properly and with some stride in his step then maybe the time has come
rob k
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Mickey Rat
addicted handloader
| Joined: | 18 March 2005 |
| Location: | Dothan, Alabama USA |
| Posts: | 298 |
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Posted: 28 March 2007 07:58 AM |
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Our dog (kids' pet) developed a tumor on side if head at 14. Vet advised let it go till pain required put down.
I had vet operate to remove tumor. Dog had some nerve damage (Sylverste Stallone eye droop), slobbered a bunch, tongue didn't work quite right and hung kinda wierd.
Eye got a little better, tongue got OK, slobbering stopped. Dog still looked kinda wierd, but was OK after a year or two. He died from a heart failure 2 months before turning 18. The surgery was not too bad, seems like under 300.00, but well worth the price.
Have it removed. You can tell the kids you did everything you could, and it might just work out. It did for me. He will heal up pretty quick and if it come back, you did your best.
Dogs is friends with lots of hair.
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hivoltfl
HB Life Member
| Joined: | 10 January 2007 |
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Posted: 29 March 2007 12:20 AM |
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been there and done this several times, once this year all ready, Its just damned tough, I waited till I had a suffering dog no doubt about it, then had the vet do it,
I just coulnt kill my pal,
after it was done I felt I should have done it 10 days earlier
this was 1-2-07, still hurts and brings tears,
Rick
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khtrent
addicted handloader
| Joined: | 16 January 2007 |
| Location: | Idaho USA |
| Posts: | 285 |
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Posted: 30 March 2007 06:32 AM |
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I thank you all for your input on this dificult situation. I think Im just gonna wait and see what happens for now. He doesnt seem to be suffering so Ill keep an eye on him and see what progresses. Ill also look for that book about losing a pet and buy it for my daughter (7 yr old). The 3 yr old im not too worried about .... dangle another animal he will forget in no time (or so I hope). I may do a fine needle aspiration (FNA) myself on him to see if its malignant or benign....if benign see if it can be removed at a reasonable cost. Its too bad I have to look at costs ..... but its a fact of life I cant avoid. Well thanks again for all your input.
Kev
PS I think that book was another thread started by moonowlhawk? cant really remember her name but it was in the hunting camp i think.
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khtrent
addicted handloader
| Joined: | 16 January 2007 |
| Location: | Idaho USA |
| Posts: | 285 |
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Posted: 30 March 2007 06:46 AM |
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Moon hawks owl.... Heartwarming thread
sorry i messed up your name
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khtrent
addicted handloader
| Joined: | 16 January 2007 |
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| Posts: | 285 |
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Posted: 30 March 2007 06:55 AM |
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New avatar is my dog Smiley and son Hunter trying to ride hime like a horse. That dog is so patient.
Kev
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Leep
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| Joined: | 5 January 2006 |
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Posted: 30 March 2007 08:00 AM |
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I lost my old Black and Tan a LONG time ago and I still miss him. I spent many a night roaming the dark woods with him, waiting for that long drawn out bawl to break the night. Now we have 2 daschunds that are getting as old as I am and it pains me to see it. I don't think I could do it myself...
I and the wife have vowed however to make these two our last ones..
Although these two are special I will always love my old hound the most. After 21 years i still miss him...
Leep:
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wyo300rum
Handloading Master
| Joined: | 20 December 2006 |
| Location: | California USA |
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Posted: 2 April 2007 06:30 AM |
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I stumbled ont onto this thread and found something in common. I have a lab/golden retreiver mix. He's 12 yrs. old and still very active. He has alot of hair right now but a couple days ago I felt a tumer on his side. First time I have found one. It's about the size of a half dollar. Hope it a fatty tumor or something like that. I'm getting ready to shave him and I think I'll take hime to the vet after to check it out. He's the only one who gets excited when you come home which I'm sure some of you know what I mean. I could never shoot my one dog. Even if I did, I would use a .22 not a .357, khtrent ! 
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Mickey Rat
addicted handloader
| Joined: | 18 March 2005 |
| Location: | Dothan, Alabama USA |
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Posted: 3 April 2007 04:59 AM |
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| I still cry when Old Yaller plays.
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khtrent
addicted handloader
| Joined: | 16 January 2007 |
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Posted: 19 April 2007 11:28 PM |
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Well Smiley, my friend and companion, is on his last leg. TAlked to the vet and showed him the tumor... no hope unless i want to spend $1000. When smiley dont smile no more when i walk out, Im gona take him to the vet..... have him put down. I WILL NOT have him suffer. tumor has grown and the skin is raw and inflammed all hair in the area is lost. Ill give him a bit longer. He still grins when i walk out the back door. Not hurting too bad yet. Hard to put down your buddy for years even harder when you got kids that just expect him to always be there. I have talked to the kids the oldest knows death all to well 7 yrs old told her smiley is not gonna live long ... her respose ... "im gonna miss smiley like i miss uncle Jamie" he died about 3 1/2 yrs ago from cancer. Kids grow up way to fast anyway now i got a dead uncle and dog. thats just not right. Jamie died from colon cancer would have been 39 this yr.... one yr older than me. life is a bitch then ya marry one and have kids and it all goes to hell from there. Thanks for all the advice. cant remember who said it but ill look in his eyes daily and when he tells me its time ... its time ill take him in.
Kev
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khtrent
addicted handloader
| Joined: | 16 January 2007 |
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| Posts: | 285 |
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Posted: 19 April 2007 11:33 PM |
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Robk im taking your advice when he tells me its time.
Kev
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Poacher
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| Joined: | 14 August 2005 |
| Location: | Kansas USA |
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Posted: 26 May 2007 05:43 AM |
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I realize that this thread hasn't been touched in a few weeks but I thought it was fitting that I should find it. I put my friends dog down yesterday, I hated doing it but he called and said there was no way he could and asked if I would. I'm honored to do this since most all my friends have dogs that have been out in the field with them so they are as much hunting friends and buddies as they are pets.
I took a photo of them sitting together and then we took the walk out back. I hung out over by the barn and gave them their time together till he called me over. He took the collar off and I talked to her till he had went around the corner of the barn. I never take pleasure in doing this, yes I've done it a couple of times before and every time it just sucks.
I know that when it's time to put mine down I'll have to make a phone call and it'll be me that takes the collar and walks away. It'll be the hardest thing to do but when I see his pain becoming too strong and when like Robk says his eyes say enough we'll take the last ride.
KH if you do decide to have a friend put your pet down use a .22 cal and have your buddy use his cause if you use yours everytime you pick that weapon up you'll think about that day. I'm sorry to hear about your best friend and I hope that your time is long down the road.
Take care Be safe Poacher.
Last edited on 26 May 2007 05:51 AM by Poacher
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wolfkill
Handloading Master
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Posted: 26 May 2007 01:33 PM |
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Two feathers and I were at the cabin last week. I'm sure it was "Skippers" last time there.
He took quite a few falls off the porch deck and into the bunk room. When we woke up one morning he had soaked his bed with urine and was laying in it unaware.
He's 18 years old now. Been there at the cabin since the beginning...but I can't put him down there. The guy that sold me that cabin did so because of the memories of his deceased wife being so strong there.
Skipper will get a spot in the back yard with the rest...when the time comes.
You did a tough favor for your two friends Poacher...
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