Dreaded Appointment

[kinetic747]

Made the heartbreaking but correct decision to have our 14 year old black Lab Max put to sleep next week. He's lost control of his bowels, doesn't want to go out and when he does go out, he keeps falling over. He's your typical Lab, soft as anything, loyal and a great guard dog, only barking when he hears something he doesn't like. His guarding days are over now as he's completely deaf and almost blind so he likes to stay close, which makes the thought of taking him to the vet very upsetting. The appointment is a week today, so we're going to give him our full attention over the next week, helped by my wife being on holiday. We're going to miss him but feel we've put it off long enough.

 

[Dis86]

poor guy. Give him some scratches from me.

 

[Gerard]

Hard thing to go through.

 

[Hades]

Hard decision. Give him loads of love.

 

[hurfdurf]

Bless. Hope he has a lovely week, I’m sure you’ve given him an amazing life and he will be forever grateful for all the decisions you’ve made for him throughout his life, even at the end.

 

[Werewolf]

Sorry to hear that

As Hades says give him lots of love and spoil him, when the time came for our mutt (after about 10 months of trying to get him to take meds he hated*), we invited all his favourite humans around and let him eat the foods he'd not been allowed due to his liver and heart problems.

It's not pleasant going into the vets with your furball but when the time comes try to remember it's better than trying to force him to keep going.
If you can, try and get a slot when the vet isn't busy as I think it's slightly easier not walking out in the waiting room full of pets and their humans afterwards.


*We made the decision when we couldn't get him to take any of them, and he wasn't touching the specialist food at all

 

[Destination]

:/ poor thing

 

[HoneyBadger]

I’m so sorry. Thoughts are with you.

 

[OpenToSuggestions]

I’m so sorry. Thoughts are with you.

+1

Gave a week of cuddles please .

 

[kinetic747]

Thanks everyone, he'll get lots of fuss this coming week. We've always had a dog but I think this will be our last. We're approaching 60 so feel another dog would tie us down when we want to have weekends away etc. as we're both semi retired.

 

[Joeyuk]

Always a hard decision to do but it’s the right thing when they become too ill or in too much pain. Just see a story about a bloke who’s dog loves the snow but won’t make it to winter so got in a load of snow for his dogs last few weeks.

 

[randomshenans]

Mate I'm so sorry to hear this, been there a couple of times and it never gets easier. Hold him tight and think of those memories.

 

[kinetic747]

Well the day has arrived and it's been a struggle mentally this week. There's something very special about a dog that we humans struggle to replicate and it's that devotion they show whenever they see you. I've been hoping he would pass in his sleep as that would be easier than what's to come later.

 

[OpenToSuggestions]

Hope today goes OK OP.
My parents have a 15 1/2 year old dog and it brings a tear to my eye thinking how frail she is.

 

[randomshenans]

Well the day has arrived and it's been a struggle mentally this week. There's something very special about a dog that we humans struggle to replicate and it's that devotion they show whenever they see you. I've been hoping he would pass in his sleep as that would be easier than what's to come later.

Sending thoughts today!

 

[d_brennen]

It's the right thing to do OP. This is why I won't ever have dogs again. Had a red setter who lived to 14 or 15 and a similar age miniature pinscher, neither were expected to live so long. Heartbreaking stuff

 

[plasmahal]

You're making the right choice for him despite how tough it is.

Please stay with him as he goes.

RIP Max.

 

[RevBillyG]

Heartbreaking. My thoughts are with you.

 

[Noxia]

Just given me painful memories OP. It does of course get easier but it always hurts to think about even 5 years later.

 

[Fluffybob]

No matter how much it hurts, it is the right decision, so sad to lose a pet.