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hammer21661's avatar
hammer21661
Explorer
Feb 07, 2014

Today I had my Best Friend Put Down

:( I picked up My buddy Earl From the pound September 12 or 13, 2001.

Little did i know He had a severe case of seperation anxiety. I Will be the first to admit he had his problems,so have I. We were together until today when he was euthanized. (pardon all the spelling) I cried like I haven't cried in years. I know he loved me like no one ever could. I feel as if I have betrayed him. he had authuritis in his back and hips. he had lost bowel a couple years back and bladder control has been leaving for a few months. Finally even after emptying his bladder for him he was peeing in his sleep.no feeling in his left rear leg. He started falling alot in the last 6 months. The last 2 days his stool turned black. I have been in contact with the vet over this for the last 2 years or more. He told me it was going to come to this. We tried all the pills but aspirin helped him the most. He got an aspirin each night with half of a prevacid. We had tried steroids and they almost killed him. I asked about the options and they were take him home and probably return in a few days to have it done. or steroids and a bunch of physical therapy may buy a month. I decided with my wife it was time. Of course since the initial crying of about a half hour to fourty minutes I started second guessing myself. Chris (my vet) told me to stop second guessing myself and i made the right call,But I feel horrible. I can't help but to feel like I betrayed him.I don't know how to put pictures on here but If any one wants to see him I put a bunch of his pics on my google plus page thingy. It is just under Bill Deckelman.Earl is the Yellow lab mix Max is the GSD may they both R.I.P.

30 Replies

  • God bless you for that tough decision. I'm sorry for your grieving.
  • I commend you for making the difficult decisiom and following through. Sadly, I've had to make that decision too many times. It never gets easier. Being a good owner means you have the responsibility to end your pet's pain and suffering. As others had said, don't second guess your decision. Hope tomorrow is better than today and I hope each day after that is better tham the previous one.
  • Please do not second guess yourself. It sounds like you did exactly what you should have. From his symptoms, he prob did not have much time left. I think you saved him a lot of unnecessary suffering. It is always hard to make this decision. I think it is normal to second guess yourself. I did the same thing in a similar situation. I am so very sorry for your loss. Give yourself the space to grieve. I hope your heartache heals soon.
  • This really has to be tough for you. I cannot imagine having to let one of our pets go. We have 2 Schnauzers and a Yorkie and rescued 2 of the 3 of them. The real reason that we even bought our RV three years ago was so we could have some sort of vacation without leaving them behind. We have found the RV community to be pretty close, as most of us seem to have pets and travel with them. With the kids grown and out of the house, our lives revolve around these three little dogs. We certainly feel for you and what you have had to go through. Try not to blame yourself, you did what you had to do out of love.
  • You did the right thing. We held onto one of our guys too long years ago and swore that day never again. Now we make that gut wrenching decision you just made and let go of our "mutt" with dignity. There is absolutely no other pain like what you are going through. Believe me. You've got a bunch of us out here crying with you.
  • You did not betray him. You loved him enough to let him go. You could have only bought YOU more time with him, he would have only been existing for your sake.

    I had to have my Callie dog euthanized August 18, 2009. I know just how you feel.
  • Rough time for sure. Most of us have been through this and totally understand both the feelings and the second guessing. Just know that even if you had waited, it would have only been a matter of days during which all the discomfort would have probably gotten worse.

    It is by far better to be able to relieve the suffering and distress. Your vet sounds like a good man, I'm glad he was there to help Earl and you.

    Doug, DVM
  • You did not betray him. Earl trusted you to do what was best for him and you did. You probably saved his life when you got him. You loved and cared for him for over 12 years and then you helped him to the Bridge. Every dog deserves and should have a life like your Earl did. Do not second guess yourself.

    Losing a furkid is heartbreaking and I'm so sorry for your loss.

    Godspeed, Earl.
  • You didn't betray him - you could not have explained things to him.
    You did right by him and obviously gave him an wonderful life. I honestly believe he would be thanking you if he could. And he would be crying too.

    I am so very sorry for your loss.

    Scott
  • Bill, I've been through this twice myself in the last three years. Just know and remember you gave him a comfortable life, and he knew he was loved! It is a tough time, try to focus on the fun times............and I wish you well!