[sabrina]

I have lost two dogs to cancer, the first was our Irish Setter Marcus, he was 8 and a wonderful loving dog. We let the vet operate with the hope he would be fine but the cancer spread. Looking back I can say he did suffer a bit as we found it to hard to say goodbye but did the right thing for him in the end. My other loss was my first German Shepherd Kelsey, she was my best friend and a wonderful family dog. She was put down at just over 12 years due to cancer, having watched one dog go through it we could not do it again. Not that it was easy, far from it. Having had cancer myself I know just how much pain there is before treatment. I would not wish that on any person or animal and my thoughts are with you at this very hard time. 

[wonderpupp]

It's a harsh decision, but growing up on a farm, my parents taught me that animal have a purpose, and if after 13 years the dog can't have the same quality of life (i.e. running around, playing, walking, or just looks consistenly unhappy) it was time for the dog to go to sleep.

So when my mum was ill a couple of years ago, my dad said if she was an animal he'd have had her put down by now.

We laugh now, but...

[lazybee]

Thanks Brucklay - I'll keep you posted on what she's given.

18 is fantastic age for a dog.  Arthritis is a fact of life I would think at that age.   I am of the opinion that if she's happy, leave her be.  Its when they start suffering that you have to step in.  Cheers!!

Absolutely.....when a dog can't act like a dog. Or any animal can't behave as they should there is only one caring decision to make, they don't understand. I've had treatments done on both dogs and horses that should never have been done, rather than do the right thing. We have to ask ourselves who are we doing it for us or them? The vets really should offer more guidance. Instead of offering ludicrously complex operations, when often all we need is a reality check and sound advise.

[princesspiggy]

vets where we lived in england wer terrible about making u feel bad for not getting every treatment possible for your pet. our hamster had a large tumour. i wanted it put to sleep but they wanted allsorts of ultrasound and overnight stays. i think listening to your gut instinct is the best thing to do.

[robert waddell]

we must be lucky with our vet if it is not worth spending money on dont if people were loved as much as some animals what a better world it would be

[princesspiggy]

our scottish vets are much more sensible. in england ud go in for jab and come out with tooth brushes and toothpaste and allsorts. i had a rabbit that ate some ivy in the garden( i had actually seen him eat it), was really ill, half paralysed and liver damage, couldnt move and going downhill fast. i wanted him put to sleep before him suffered too much. they went nuts saying he should be transfered to animal hospital overnight for 24 hr care (£120 a night min) and blood etc. i refused and wanted him put to sleep, and i got read the riot act that i shouldnt keep animals if i couldnt look after them and if couldnt afford vet bills - get insurance. really upset me actually.

[robert waddell]

MONEY GRABBING FORKERS DONT LIKE ENGLISH VETS SOME TIME I WILL TELL THE STORY

[waterhouse]

Perhaps it's not so much English vets as townie vets.   

By having a pet you have to be prepared to do what's right when it's right.  And the vet's job is simply to ensure you have the facts and then support your decision.  Our vet has never challenged our decisions (and we are suckers for rescue dogs with problems).  But it's always hard.

[robert waddell]

no when its appropriate you will see i mean English vets maybe its being Scottish short arms and deep pockets

[waterhouse]

Hmm.  That's what the RBS guys used to say but it turned out they had empty pockets

[robert waddell]

no no no they had there hands in your pocket

[waterhouse]

good point...

[ballingall]

Hey morri2,

Sorry to hear about Katie- awful when this happens. Everyone has made very good points, and I would just like to add two things.

Firstly, I took the decision to put my first collie to sleep when she was only 9, this was due to the fact that her back had started to go, and she was effectively being paralysed from her back legs up the way. She was as bright and happy as she always been, and would still love to play with toys like she always did. However, when it got to the point when on a bad day she dragged her back legs behind her, as she didnlt know they weren't working properly, then it was time to say goodbye. Its an awful thing to do, but it is kinder.

However, family friends had a collie which for years (due to an old accident) had not used one of her front legs. She carried it held up, and hopped on her one good front leg. As the damaged leg got worse when she was about 10, they amputated it. I have never see a dog's quality of life improve as much hers did after the amputation. So- just to bear in mind there is a possibility it could help, and she was not a young dog either. It may not be the answer for your Katie.

Thinking of you.

Beth

[plumseverywhere]

we used to live a few doors away from a man called Mick Tucker. he was the drummer in a 70's band called 'The Sweet' - glam rock, long hair etc.  Anyway... he was a lovely bloke, had a german shepherd who developed hip dysplasia so mick had one of those trolley's made up. really it was just like my mum now who has MS using a wheelchair. He used his little trolley until he was no longer enjoying (or seemingly) enjoying life at which point MIck made the painful decision 
If only they could talk and tell us what they want...

our vet is wonderful. when my tortie, very outdoorsy, cat developed acute asthma the vet basically said to me " so far Lisa its cost £218 for one nights treatment..." she was saying this isn't going to be cheap and you need to know now how much its costing. then we talked about how orinoco would not be able to go outside due to the triggers of her asthma and how the quality of her life would be pants.  While I held her as she was put to sleep, another vet played with my daughter in the waiting room. A sad day all round but one that I felt was handled well by our vet who could have made more money from us but chose to give me a window to escape a huge bill.