The last 24 hours Sir Poops has been struggling to keep food in and down. He's gotten weaker over the months as well. His pads drag against the floor when he walks. And sometimes he struggles to get up or his hind legs collapse underneath him.
And I war with putting him dow
n. He still wants to be here. Still loves to cuddle. Still loves his television. Still wants to eat even though he can't seem to digest his food as of late.
The holistic vet told me months ago what I could expect. It would be his kidneys that would fail due to the meds and that I would need to put him to rest. But the regular vet wants to pump a new heart med into him. That sounds like torture to me.
My 96-year-old grandfather, who died this past December, told me all the meds he was on didn't give him the quality of life he had expexted. Instead, it extended his pain to try and stick around and keep up with a world that no longer appreciated him.
So today, I ponder when do I stop Sir Poop's meds? Am I bad pet parent if I decide to stop them? Am I selfish if I decide to put him down?
And I war with putting him dow
n. He still wants to be here. Still loves to cuddle. Still loves his television. Still wants to eat even though he can't seem to digest his food as of late.
The holistic vet told me months ago what I could expect. It would be his kidneys that would fail due to the meds and that I would need to put him to rest. But the regular vet wants to pump a new heart med into him. That sounds like torture to me.
My 96-year-old grandfather, who died this past December, told me all the meds he was on didn't give him the quality of life he had expexted. Instead, it extended his pain to try and stick around and keep up with a world that no longer appreciated him.
So today, I ponder when do I stop Sir Poop's meds? Am I bad pet parent if I decide to stop them? Am I selfish if I decide to put him down?
posted from Bloggeroid
Oh Shelly, I'm so sorry you and Sir Poops are going through this. It's so hard. I went through something similar with my cat, where the medication was just making everything worse, and I knew she was suffering. I decided to stop the meds because I never, ever want my pets to suffer.
ReplyDeleteBut you know your pets best. You know when/if that time has come. And if you feel it's here, it doesn't make you selfish, it doesn't make you a bad pet parent.
Again, I am so sorry!
When you bring them home at 8 weeks old you never beli've that this day will come.
DeleteI'm sorry! Such a hard choice. You'll never be ready to make that choice. You'll just have to do it.
ReplyDeleteYep.
DeleteOh Shelly, I wish I could tell you what's best for Sir Poops now.
ReplyDeleteThere is just no way to make this easy. I've put a dog down totally sure it was time, only to agonize later that I did it too soon. I've also put a dog down and felt that I let her suffer too long.
You are in my prayers.
I want to do this without regrets. I want to be at peace when I finally do this.
DeleteMy heart goes out to you. Our cat Calvin had kidney failure and when they finally went, it was obvious it was time.
ReplyDeleteThe poor guy. I'm very sorry.
ReplyDeleteHe's still my baby-puppy. Funny, how we see them like our children. They're not supposed to die first.
DeleteIt sounds like he's suffering, Shelly.
ReplyDeleteI can't tel;l you what to do on this, but I'll tell you what I decided with Sam. I knew he was suffering, hard as he fought to live. He was 21 years old and surgery wasn't an option. The avian specialist told me he needed to be euthanized.
I knew he was right, but I also knew Sam needed to be at home when his time came. So the vet gave me meds to give him to make him comfortable until the end came. Sam died lying close to my heart exactly a week late. I could feel his spirit leaving his body, and knew he was finally at peace.
(That was supposed to be "later," not "late." Why do I not see these typos before I hit Publish?
DeleteIt's all good. I have the same problem, hitting publish before I edit.
DeleteAnyway, like I told Lynn, I need to be at peace.
DeleteAnyway, like I told Lynn, I need to be at peace.
DeleteIt is a hard choice.
ReplyDeleteBut it looks and sounds like he is suffering. Throwing up, dragging feet it sounds like his quality of life is not what he or you want.
There is a vet where I live that will come to your home and help your sweet one be released from pain.
It is a hard one but you know this is not the life he wants.
But like Norma I can't tell you what to do.
cheers, parsnip and thehamish
It is hard.
DeleteIt is hard.
DeleteMaybe Sweetman can take him to the vet and if the vet decides to put Sir Poops down you won't be there to suffer and you'll just feel like Sir Poops went to the vet and stayed to cheer up the other patients. (I know it's delusional but this is what I did with Nappy, our dachsie and I feel Nappy decided to stay at the vet forever. :( We don't live near that vet anymore but I remember the last time I drove by and in the future should we ever drive that way I'll feel Nappy is having fun inside.)
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry, Shelly.
ReplyDeleteIt's not an easy thing to do... *hugs*
It's a hard decision. When My husband and I had our Rosco put down because her kidneys were failing, it was the most saddest day up until my father died, his mother died a few years later.
ReplyDeleteEither way, it's not going to be easy. Keep the memory of when he was feeling good, and happy. I know this is a tough decision for you. Big hug from me.
I'm sorry you're facing this. No, you aren't a bad pet parent, whichever way you go. Wanting to end their suffering isn't a cruel thing.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you're facing this. No, you aren't a bad pet parent, whichever way you go. Wanting to end their suffering isn't a cruel thing.
ReplyDeleteYour love for Sir Poop is so great, Shelly, that your decisions for his welfare are grounded only in selflessness. Such decisions are never wrong. My condolences to you for your suffering with these difficult choices. I am greatly sorry for your loss.
ReplyDelete