Putting my dog down in next few days

• thePITman

  

  Last weekend I was visiting my parents, and my mother told me that our 16-year old yellow lab Max's condition has gotten worse. His hips are very bad and can hardly go up/down stairs or stand for short periods of time. I just heard from my dad that we are going to have to put him down either this weekend or early next week. He's 16, and I'm 24, so he has been a very important part of my life for as long as I can remember. This sucks! He's my buddy. Love you Max.
• BR1986FB

  God, I hate these threads. No disrepect to you thePITman. Sorry for the upcoming loss of your friend & family member. These decisions are tough and nothing feels worse.
• Belly35

  

  I had to put down one of my goldens a few weeks ago....... sad day very sad day...
  Note: Where i had the Baxter put down they made a paw cast and sent it to me ... really cool I have it mounted in a frame and it sits on my desk..
• LJ

  

  16 is pretty dang old for a Lab. Sorry man.
• power i

  

  Very sad. So sorry for your loss.
• Thread Bomber

  

  thePITman;766340 wrote:Last weekend I was visiting my parents, and my mother told me that our 16-year old yellow lab Max's condition has gotten worse. His hips are very bad and can hardly go up/down stairs or stand for short periods of time. I just heard from my dad that we are going to have to put him down either this weekend or early next week. He's 16, and I'm 24, so he has been a very important part of my life for as long as I can remember. This sucks! He's my buddy. Love you Max.

  
  These are pretty weak for put downs. i would start with some old standard like " hey asslicker" or Shit Breath, turd eater ect......
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Actually, I am sorry for you impending loss. It sucks to lose a buddy.
• 4cards

  

  ...can we put thread bomber down?
  
  pitman, my dogs and cats that we've had to put down over the years were like family, so I feel your pain.
• Heelz

  

  Sorry to hear this, I have a 6yr old Golden and I dont know what I will do when he goes. Sucks to lose a family member.
• thePITman

  

  Thread Bomber;766499 wrote:These are pretty weak for put downs.

  
  I wasn't descriptive earlier. It's tough just to type this stuff. My dad is having to carry him up/down stairs everywhere, has to carry him outside so he can go potty, has to pick him up after laying down (can't get off the ground by himself), can't stand up for very long at all. He'll stand then fall over and just lay there until my dad can help him up... It's worse than I described. Was trying to keep it short.
  
  Max was a good dog. No, a GREAT dog. The perfect dog. When I see him tonight I will forgive him for chewing up my autographed DC Talk hat when I was in elementary school. And I'll apologize for the day I locked him in the bathroom before I left for somewhere so he wouldn't soil or chew up the furniture, and when he was sniffing under the door to see if I was there, he scraped the skin off the top of his nose which never came back.
• THE4RINGZ

  

  It is never easy to do. But keep in mind he won't be in pain any longer and he can chase the big ball in the sky.
• se-alum

  

  I've had to put down quite a few dogs in my day, it's never easy, unless you have a scope on your gun.
• Thread Bomber

  

  se-alum;766698 wrote:I've had to put down quite a few dogs in my day, it's never easy, unless you have a scope on your gun.

  You cruel and heartless fuck.
• thePITman

  

  Tonight I went over to my parents' house to see Max. He is MUCH worse than he was last Sunday when I was there, and MUCH worse than I thought he'd be. When I came in the house, he just turned his head a little bit, and the only movement I saw were his eyes and eyebrows. His whole right side - both legs - look they're completely numb without any feeling. My dad says he has to carry Max everywhere - upstairs, downstairs, outside to the potty, back inside, and has to pick him up after he falls down when trying to walk or starting to move. He can hardly stand on his own feet for 5 seconds without turning into one of those big 4-legged machines in Star Wars that topple over eventually. I had to hold under his rips/chest and basically move his feet, since his feet were getting crossed and couldn't straighten them up himself at all. I took him outside to let him walk on the grass, but even then I had to carry/support him everywhere. He started to pee and would have been all over himself had I not caught him and straightened him up. When done, we took him to lay down on his comfy couch/bed.
  
  He doesn't seem to be in pain at all, which is a relief. No whimpering, barking or flinching (too much). He just seems frustrated that he can't use some of his legs. He is completely dependent upon my dad to move him around, which is so sad to see. I hope when I kissed him goodbye tonight that it was not the last time I'll see him. My parents said they're thinking of making the decision Sunday as to what day to put him down, so it might be early next week. They also said they're thinking of spending the extra $35 to have the vet do the service at their house.
  
  I'll keep you updated.
• BRF

  

  Sorry to hear that, Pitman. We went through exactly what you are describing on symptoms not too long ago with my in-laws dog. I give my vote for doing it at home, too.
• LJ

  

  Just a market survey.... how many people would use the service of the vet coming to your house to put your pet to sleep when the time came?
• tcarrier32

  

  thePITman;766914 wrote:Tonight I went over to my parents' house to see Max. He is MUCH worse than he was last Sunday when I was there, and MUCH worse than I thought he'd be. When I came in the house, he just turned his head a little bit, and the only movement I saw were his eyes and eyebrows. His whole right side - both legs - look they're completely numb without any feeling. My dad says he has to carry Max everywhere - upstairs, downstairs, outside to the potty, back inside, and has to pick him up after he falls down when trying to walk or starting to move. He can hardly stand on his own feet for 5 seconds without turning into one of those big 4-legged machines in Star Wars that topple over eventually. I had to hold under his rips/chest and basically move his feet, since his feet were getting crossed and couldn't straighten them up himself at all. I took him outside to let him walk on the grass, but even then I had to carry/support him everywhere. He started to pee and would have been all over himself had I not caught him and straightened him up. When done, we took him to lay down on his comfy couch/bed.
  
  He doesn't seem to be in pain at all, which is a relief. No whimpering, barking or flinching (too much). He just seems frustrated that he can't use some of his legs. He is completely dependent upon my dad to move him around, which is so sad to see. I hope when I kissed him goodbye tonight that it was not the last time I'll see him. My parents said they're thinking of making the decision Sunday as to what day to put him down, so it might be early next week. They also said they're thinking of spending the extra $35 to have the vet do the service at their house.
  
  I'll keep you updated.

  
  sounds rather similar to what happened to my 14 year old Labradoodle. Ended up having a rather nice sized tumor. Im sorry man.
• -Society-

  

  LJ;766941 wrote:Just a market survey.... how many people would use the service of the vet coming to your house to put your pet to sleep when the time came?

  
  Start your own thread. This is about the mourning of the dog.
• thePITman

  

  I just got into work and had an email from my dad:

  We have decided to take care of Max today. Sorry about the timing, but he is just getting worse and we want to take care of it before Keira (my niece, their granddaughter) shows up tonight. I don’t know for sure what time because your mom is calling them this morning and I’m going to meet them at the house.

  I was hoping to see Max one last time, but it sounds like last night was "goodbye". I'm gonna miss him.
• LJ

  

  thePITman;767208 wrote:I just got into work and had an email from my dad:
  
  I was hoping to see Max one last time, but it sounds like last night was "goodbye". I'm gonna miss him.

  
  Sucks, sorry bro. Email your dad back or call him and have him ask the vet to make a paw print for you. They should do it no charge.
• thePITman

  

  I just heard they are coming at 9:30am this morning.
• vball10set

  nice double dipping, PITman :rolleyes:
  
  http://www.jjhuddle.com/forums/showthread.php?t=258208
• thePITman

  

  Triple-dipping if you count Yappi.
• vball10set

  ^^^LOL--touche'...anyway, sorry to hear about your pooch--that's a tough thing to do
• thePITman

  

  Well, it's done. My buddy is no longer in any pain or frustration of not being able to control his legs or stand on his own. It was the best decision to do it now and not put him through it any longer. I really believe Max had dignity, and that he was aware and embarrassed of his condition, and I'm glad that he no longer has to suffer through those frustrations (again, I don't think he was in pain).
  
  My parents are burying Max with a food dish I made him in an elementary pottery class. He used it for the longest time until it finally broke in half a few years ago.
• BR1986FB

  Again, very sorry about this. When/if you're up to it, I'm sure there are quite a few shelter dogs who would really love a new home?