evening everybody..

I find myself on this site tonight trying to brace myself for the inevitable  of having to have my beautiful boy to sleep...but making that choice and knowing you are doing the right thing is so hard.
It all started around 2 weeks ago when he started to have blood appear in his urine that was quite prominent  along with a few clots and also quite alot of red blood drips ...
He was quickly taken to the vets and  tests were run he had quite an enlarged prostate but blood work also flared up a problem with the kidneys he was given an injection as well as some antibiotics whilst we awaited the results for infection of the prostate or urinary tract ect.
the bleeding continued on with the antibitocs so we took him back to the vets
he was then given sedation so they could do some x rays and run some further tests as well as pump in quite a lot of iv fluids..
(he was like a water balloon that night when i took him home)..
we have been awaiting some test results on specific cultures to see if it is infection in the kidneys that was causing all the trouble and hopefully may have been stopped by specific antibiotics.
Infection was not present  or any other obvious signs  and kidney failure has been diagnosed, we are still awaiting on some further results from the lab about the prostate to see if its pointing to cancer as like i said no infection is present..in any of the tests run.
Im so heartbroken i really cant think straight since the visits to the vets he has gone completely of his normal food but he will eat scrambled egg as well as chicken and rice
he is still weeing ok & that but i would say he is sleeping up to 70% more than usual and also seems to be feeling the cold more as when he sleeps he shudders slightly he is a little more fidgety as well when he is awake( ie) he wont sit or lay in same position for very long really.
I know that some dogs can live a relatively long time with kidney failure with treatments and diet but i feel he is not him self and i dont want him to suffer and stuff him full of pills everyday or  iv fluids  3 or 4 times a week for my benefit..
im at a loss as whats for the best thanks.

Hi and although I have no advice to offer you,I do understand what you are going through with your lad. My mother had a cat with kidney failure and her vet advised a special diet that helped for a few weeks but sadly it did not last long and she had no choice but to have him put to sleep to save him suffering. Only you can say when your lad has reached the end of the line,you'll know when it's time without being told,you'll look into his eyes and do what is right for him and be proud to have had him in your life.

Kind Regards

thanks roscoebabe
I am already so very proud of him he is the most kind gentle little guy and has been his entire life thus far i can not picture what it is going to be like without him by my side..
I have made the decision once before for my roughcollie bitch who was suddenly diagnosed with cancer of the bladder but showed no pain the only symptom/ difference was when she started to leak urine..im scared that i may drag it out to long or that i might be to premature with my boy i just dont want to let him down.
regards

Just remember - always better a week too early rather than a day too late.

You'll know when it's the right time.  The difficult thing is to act on it. :(

so sorry to hear your sad news.  It is one of the hardest decisions anyone has to make.  As people we are so lucky that we are able to make that decision.  If it were a human suffering they would be left to suffer.  I hope you have someone to be with you and comfort you. prayers going your way. X

I am sorry that you find yourself at this point. You know your dog best and you will know when he is ready. My thoughts are with you.

The shudders would indicate to me that your decision is not far off.  I don't think there is any member that won't feel your pain. 

As someone has pointed out - better a week too soon than a day too late.  Having lost my oldie 18 months ago, and frightened by the power of my grief, I can only tell you what the vet said to me.

Jean, the pain is now yours.  Misty is no longer in pain.

I had to love her enough to let her go.  And I am sure that you love your beautiful boy enough to know when you have to do the same.

Sending some strength, and understanding.  Jean  xx

So sorry to hear about your boy :(

As the others have said, you'll know when the time is right.  When my old boy was put to sleep, I felt I owed it to him to make the decision that was best for him.

Thinking of you

Like the others I really feel for you; I lost my girl very young to kidney failure and the trembling is not a good sign ( they cannot retain body heat well) I worried that I would not know when to give her freedom but I don't know how to explain it but you just know. I would talk to your vet about the diagnosis, don't know how long you have been a client but they may be able to advise on how advanced we are looking at.

Can't look back to see who posted this but the person who said that the pain is yours is just spot on.

There are so many on here who can understand your pain.
Hugs. 

When my old girl was diagnosed with kidney failure the vet said we could try her on a drip and she would probably pick up for a day or two then go back downhill. As it all happened very quickly I decided not to prolong the inevitable and I have to say yes the pain is mine still 4 months on.

If you didn't love him so much you wouldn't be feeling this way, but you have to do what's best for him and I'm sure you will.
Most of us have been through it and completely understand what a sad time you face.

so sorry to read this, having had to make that decision 3 times in the last 12 months and facing it again for the fourth right now with my boy with bone cancer i can only wish you the courage and strength to give your loving companion the final kind gift....the gift of peace.....you will know when that time has come and from reading your post it is clear how much you love him....make every minute count now and he will know how much you love him and will be forever thankful of your devotion to him over the years you have spent together.

It will be a very difficult decision but the the right one

God bless...sending you and your boy big ((((hugs))))

Thanks everyone for your kind replys..
This is the first time i have been able to come back to the forum as i sadly had to let my boy go .....
it has been just over a week he started to go down hill rapidly and i knew the time had come...
I will miss him forever and a day words cannot describe the huge sense of loss not having his company with me anymore....The one small comfort i get is that i am able to realise now that i did do the best thing  for him
not dragging this out for my own sake ,so that he became a former shadow of the the boy i knew and loved that he did not suffer and is in no pain or discomfort and i am so thankfull for the 13.7 years we did have.

kind regards
emm

so sorry to hear that mandy c
my heart goes out to you and your boy along with my best wishes
emm

So sorry to hear that your lad has gone to the bridge :-( That final goodbye is the hardest but most necessary gift we can give to our dogs - heartbreaking for us but the very last act of love for those who are suffering. Thinking of you and wishing you peace and courage at this difficult time.

The final act of love that we can do for them. Hugs to you, I hope in time you can look back and smile at the happy times you shared.

So sorry to hear your lad lost his fight for life. Take comfort that you gave him release from pain and suffering,you made the hardest but most unselfish decision an owner can make and although right now your pain is almost unbearable you did the absolute right thing for your lad.

Kind Regards

So sorry for your loss.  You will always have his pawprints on your heart.

{{{{  HUGS  }}}}

very sorry to hear of your loss ...nothing else to say ..that hasnt already been said... {{hug}}

Emm their only fault is not to live as long as us. But the love they give and we return makes every relationship so good, and so hard to give up.

You gave your beloved release and love and thats about as much as any person can do - Huggs from me and mine.

Viv
XX