Pinky - I truly feel for you. Sadly I've been through this several times in many, many years of dog ownership :(

My own personal way of doing this is to let them go sooner rather than later - then I am the one doing the suffering rather than them. I would rather their last days were good days, where they are still getting things out of their lives. I can't bear to watch them suffer so would rather they went earlier than later. My little saying is better a week too early than an hour too late.

Best wishes to you at this sad, sad time
Carina

> A proper goodbye and sending her off to sleep calmly surrounded with love after all your loving care is so right rather than a panicked emergency PTS in a sudden decline.
> Thinking of you so so much and hurting for you.

Having had the latter recently on a Saturday night in August, I would go for the arranged PTS.  A friend of mine always has the vet come out to do this for her. 

I have always gone to the Vet (well it's only been twice).  Another died on her own at home while I was out quite unexpectedly, it is that one that makes me feel guilty (though she was fit an healthy as far as anyone could tell), even though the vet is sure she went peacefully.

I too have tears, it's because we understand how you feel. Making the decision to give them sleep is the greatest act of love we can do for them. It is about her dignity and quality of life.
It is very hard when you feel she may have a good day but for me the feeding issues would tell me that the time is near. I too, wanted my young girl to go in her sleep, sat with her all night stroking her telling her it was ok to go but she didn't, when I went to the vets I knew without doubt that it was the right thing. The thing to remember is it is you that feels the hurt and pain-  they just feel the love and pece that you give them.

Thinking of you all ( hugs)

When I finally made that decision for my oldie, despite the massive loss that hit my heart like a sledge hammer, I also felt relief, relief to know he was at peace, no chance of pain, no chance of suffering, just eternal peace.

I'm so sorry for the position you are in.

I wish you strength to make the decision that I think you allready know you need to make.

I'm another one shedding tears now, and I rarely cry. Big hugs for you.

Have a really great day with her, not worrying about if she eats or not, and then let her go if you know it's time.  In one way, I hate that I've had to do that to my dogs but in another, it gives you time to say goodbye properly.

  My boy(my first/best showdog) whom I adored, had a great last day full of snuggles and tummy rubs and a nice toddle about his favourite place and his best friend(a dally who was HIS choice of mate!!lol.  Couldn't get him to mate his own breed ever because of his love for her) came to visit for a while and give her special smile to him.  After a long day, we went to our appointment just after surgery closed with our favourite vet and he went to sleep peacefully and I'm sure with a smile on his face, wrapped in his blanky.  Quiet and peaceful.  That's what I remember.

My Mother had never seen a dog pts, but when Charlie's time came she came to the vet's with me (would have preferred to have him pts at home, but due to circumstances it had to be at the vet's). She couldn't believe how calm and peaceful it was. I'd also hoped, after Charlie's long life, he would die in his sleep but it wasn't to be and my only regret is that couldn't be pts at home.

Just so sorry to hear that time is running short. This is the hardest decision of your life and I have to agree with the other posters. You know that she is starving herself so she is not going to make a miraculous recovery even though we all hope that that would be the case. Brace yourself and have her given sleep at home in a calm manner. This is the very worst part of owning our adored pets. I am sure that I speak for everyone when I say we are thinking of you.

I think you know yourself it's time, and it's the most rotten, crappy, difficult decision we ever have to make for our dogs, but better that than leaving her to struggle on to the last gasp.
I've had all mine pts at home, I let the vet know that it'll be happening soon and they will either come along in their lunch time or at the end of the day. Remember, even if you book a time for the vet to come out, you can always phone and cancel, it's not set in stone.

When I had my first dog Louie pts, I could have probably kept him going for a few more weeks, but to me there was no reason too, he was 14, a good age for a GSD, and because of the cluster of fits he'd had he couldn't see or hear on the left side and couldn't really walk, going to the loo was very difficult, he was such a clean dog he needed to go outside to do the loo, and one of us was going to get injured getting down all the stairs to go out. Although he'd had no tests done the vet said the most likely reason for the fits was a tumour. I don't regret having him pts when I did at all, he died very peacefully while being fed fudge bars and knew nothing about it.

Lots of hugs, thinking of you.

<<<My own personal way of doing this is to let them go sooner rather than later - then I am the one doing the suffering rather than them. I would rather their last days were good days, where they are still getting things out of their lives. I can't bear to watch them suffer so would rather they went earlier than later. My little saying is better a week too early than an hour too late.>>>

My thoughts too, but never easy, whenever you choose to do it.

It's an incredibly difficult and terribly sad thing to have to do, but we are lucky, we can prevent their suffering ...

">Love her enough to let her go.<

We do love her so much and we will let her go.

She has always been the sweetest, silliest, softest golden teddy bear, she's always been such a happy girl,  so daft and bouncy, I think that she didn't actually grow up until she was about 10yrs old. She bonded with our rescue Collie from day one and they have become inseperable, she became second mum to my first Sheltie pup 5 years ago and allowed her to hang on her ears and tail with never a cross woof.

We have made the phone call this evening, the earliest that our vet can come is Wednesday at 4pm, how we will get through the next 3 days I don't know, although OH say's that now he almost
feels relief in the knowledge that she will not have to go into total decline and suffering.

When the time comes what do I do with my 4 other dogs, do I remove them to the shed or something? Or should I let them be present?  I think that they will need to be able to sniff her when she has gone so that in their doggy minds they will know she has gone.  All five of my girls have always been very tightly packed with one another and each is always aware when one of the pack is missing.

I would just like to say a very huge thank-you to everybody on CD for all of their help and guidance with suggestions on how to feed her and now with help with the most awful part of being a dog owner.

It was reading the last dozen or so posts about PTS that really helped my OH to make his painful decision.

Thank-you all and wish us luck and strength for the next 3 days

You have, at least, the knowledge that many of us know exactly what you are going through.  I know when I had to let my 17 year old Toy Poodle go, that, although I sat here sobbing, the comments from folk on here was so comforting.  I know that I, and others on here, have shed tears for you Pinky.  Only a dog person will understand that.

You have to do what is the most comfortable for you when the time comes.  Personally, I don't want other dogs present until after the vet has left.
I want to be the person holding them, and whispering to them.   You can let the other dogs say goodbye afterwards.  (If that is what you choose.)

Thank you for sharing memories of your girl.  She is so obviously very special.  Love her now, and enjoy the cuddles.  I am sure that she will wait for you at Rainbow Bridge.

xxxxx

It will be one of hardest things to go through but you will know it is the right thing to do.

I have had the vet come out to us for my two oldies that are at the bridge.

My vets gives me a sedative that is given in the last meal they have then we all take it us turns sitting with them and stroking them.

When the vet comes the other girls are taken outside whilst they finally go to sleep for good then they are let back in to come and say there goodbyes.

My other half and I took our first girl to the pet cemetery ourselves but it was just too upsetting so the last time the staff came and picked our girl up. They both were wrapped in their blankets.

Heart breaking but a very peaceful and calm way for all of us.

Will be thinking about you all over the next few days x

Just want to say Pinky that my thoughts are with you, your family and your precious girl.

We too have felt the pain of making such a decision of when to let them go, and it's definitely true that better a week early than one minute too late.

Kindest Regards
Tanya

I am thinking of you all,

Sheila xx

I tend to keep other pets out of the way whilst the vet is there, only because my lot are very friendly and they would get in the way trying to snog the vet, I then let them in to have a sniff and realize their friend has gone. The vet may ask you if you want them to take her away straight after, so you may want to think about what you want to do afterwards, I usually leave them for a while then take them to the vets myself, unless I'm doing a home burial.
It seems horribly calculating to be thinking about such things just now, but if you know what you want done before it happens things will go a lot smoother and be easier for you to cope with.

My heart goes out to you, it always feels like such a betrayal at the time, it's only afterwards that you can look back and know you did the very best for her.

">I know that I, and others on here, have shed tears for you Pinky.  Only a dog person will understand that.<

Thank-you Jean, that is why I had to talk to everybody on CD as I knew that I would be talking to people that were either going through similar things or had done so in the past and would fully understand how we are feeling.

We have decided that it is probably best to put all of the other girls in the shed/kennel up the garden, three of them are quite excitable and will see the vet visit as reason to bark and run about and we want peace and quiet for our girl.

Over the next 3 days we're going to let her walk if she wants and as far as food is concerned we'll just maintain her with Liquivite and water, I'm not sure as to whether we should continue trying to shoot the Zantac and Losec tablets down her after all they're not stopping her from being sick and it's unpleasant to do it to her. I think we probably won't bother.

OH is not going to work next week so as to be with her, and also to dig out the spot we have in mind for her, I'm going to work as that's how I deal with things.

And when she's at rainbow bridge she'd better have her bloody caravan wings with her cos she's a caravan babe with a love for the beach

Hell this is hard!

It must be terrible, but you are doing the best thing for her, I am sure. I agree with keeping the other dogs out of the way during the visit, but letting them sniff her afterwards, specially if you have any that are very close to her and will pine if they don't know where she went. My old boy died suddenly in the garden, so I didn't get to say goodbye, but at least I know the other 2 know what happened. I'll be thinking of you over the next few days - give her some special cuddles.

Pinky,

Aah. I feel for you. It is so hard but you are carrying her pain and in doing so making it easier for her. Once pain and discomfort reaches a point of being out of control that is the point it becomes distressing for her, because she would no longer feel secure with you. A happy dog knows that we are in control and that way they feel secure. By taking the decision now, you are ensuring she feels secure to the end and that is the most important thing.

Of course you know this, but just remind yourself that for her this will be another GA- she won't know anything else.

Take care and give yourself credit for putting your dog first.

Hard!!! it is the hardest thing that we can/have to do.
When I lost Shola, she was in the house and the Vet was coming at 12ish. I took the 3 youngest, silliest, to a friend around the corner and left my oldest girl with her while the Vet came. Afterwards I collected the others and let them all come and see her, then we placed her in the car and took her to the Pet Crematorium and collected her ashes later that day.
Cannot express how much I feel for you all.

Oh Pinky,I truly understand how you are feeling.That was one thing that Spook saved us from,the awful decision of contacting the vet to come to our home and to help Spook say good night for the last time.He was with my husband until he decided to close his eyes for the last time.He ate extremly little for his last 2 weeks and faded before our eyes.His pleasure was just being with us.Not walks(he was a lazy so and so),not with the other dogs - he was more a cat person.
He seeked comfort in the place he enjoyed - his bed behind my OHs driving seat in the van - he was in no pain - his breathing was slow but steady.We decided that as soon as he became distressed,whether crying, struggling,or if he began to fight his breathing,we would call the vet.
On the Sunday night before his passing he messed himself.Something he never did in the time he was with us.He looked'unhappy' as my daughter and I gave him a bed bath - sort of embarrassed and sad.
He passed away the next morning.But we had decided between us that if he came home with my husband that evening(he went to work with OH every day)then this would have been his last road trip - we were going to call the vet.
Animals are very sensitive and the other dogs knew something was up and were all subdued for a few days after.
My thoughts are with you at this time.What ever you decide - it will be the right decision.
Jude x

{{{{hugs}}}}

tears flowing here too for you and your girl. So sorry will be thinking of you.

">. A happy dog knows that we are in control and that way they feel secure.

I don't know how my girl does it but she is still a happy dog, she still manages a happy face when we come down in the morning and she still gets excited for a walk, it's getting in the wagon that she loves really I'm sure and if OH just took her for a drive with the back windows open she love him just as much.

OH has taken the week of work so as to be with her for these last few days, I've been to work and made a total hash of things sending stuff to the wrong places in Germany so god knows what havoc I've caused but my mind keeps wandering.

She has had two walks today, well ambles really, OH sat on the park bench whilst the other idiot dogs chased crows and goldie babe sniffed the air and sat and dreamed.

We're just maintaining her fluid levels at the moment with syringes of water and liquivite as I don't want her to get confused with dehydration.

I feel weird and wandering at the moment, I sit looking at my girl on her cushions fast asleep and I cannot comprehend that this coming weekend the silly thing will not be at the back door pissing me off because she wants to get out to the car.

OH dug a beautiful place in the garden today, it was a hard dig, he's not as fit as he used to be and now has aching muscles, but it was a labour of love so he kept at it.

I hope you all don't mind but I will have to post each evening until she goes as it helps me to comprehend and cope with what we are doing.

I know that when she looks at us she wants to know that we are in control of things which we are but it is very hard.

Pinky,

Many of us, probably most of us, have made this journey with our dogs and know how hard it is for you right now. I'm glad that you are able to share and that it helps you.

When my old boy was at the end of his days we used to take him to the car and I'd hold him on my lap while we just drove around the park with the windows down. All it took was the breeze on his face and the smells in his nose, to get the tail wagging. By then he could barely walk.

I always remember the playwright, Dennis Potter, talking to Melvyn Bragg about spring blossoms and how they were the 'blossomiest' blossoms he'd ever seen. Potter was terminally ill and, by this time, swigging morphine from a flask. He talked about how everything had become slowed down and hyper- real, as though he was in a dream-like state. I have felt a bit like this every time I've had to have an animal PTS. It is a wrench to the system and I think our mind goes into a sort of suspended animation.

I'm glad your girl is still happy.

">they were the 'blossomiest' blossoms

These smells are definately the smells that keep our girl going.

She is an excellent dog and does us proud

I feel weird and wandering at the moment, I sit looking at my girl on her cushions fast asleep and I cannot comprehend that this coming weekend the silly thing will not be at the back door pissing me off because she wants to get out to the car.

How well I know that feeling, when Celeste was diagnosed with terminal cancer I had 7 months to try and get my head round not having her in my life, still didn't believe it when she went.

Pinky.
Sitting her weeping. Stay strong, will be thinking of you all in the coming days. Hugs & love, Lacy

Dear Pinky I feel heartbroken for you,as you know I have recently been through the same,my thoughts are with you and your lovely girl.

Sheila {{{{{{{THE BIGGEST OF HUGS TO YOU ALL}}}}}}}}}XXXXXX

I truly know how you feel. It's a most desperate time for you but your lovely girl will tell you when it's time, they know when enough is enough.  When i took my GSP to the vet for the final time he laid on the table, looked at me and gave me the most enormous lick on the cheek.  This was the only time in his life he did that and i took it as a sign that he way saying "it's ok mum, it's time." 

I have read the lovely messages that people have sent to you, and they will be a comfort too.  Your lovely girl loves you unconditionally, just enjoy your time with her.  We all know you will live with the pain of losing her but you have taken her pain away, and that is the final act of love you can give.

Hugs to you both. {{}}

Such very sad times for you, Pinky, I am so sorry--you will get the strength you need from being with your girl as much as you can, and just remember that she is being strong for you too. We've all had times in our lives when we've really felt things were too sad to bear, and nothing could help us to carry on. Then that one paw on your lap and a nuzzle is all it took to restore your fortitude enough to shoulder the privilege of being your dog's most important and best loved person. Prayers for you and your girl xx

Today has been weird, I have been at work and have functioned extremely well, couldn't manage a production meeting though and called it off,  I'm now at home drinking red wine and have been standing in the garden in the rain smoking too many cigs.

OH has been at home all day with the girls, he is tearful, I still feel weird and almost calm, tomorrow is a big big day and we have to be upbeat for our girl.

She is very tired, she will not take syringed food now so we just dribble honey water into her, but she will insist on following daddy if he goes up the garden, she had a very small walk this morning and a ponder up the garden this afternoon then it bloody rained.

Tomorrow we will treat as a weekend,  OH will let the girls out for a tinkle then bring me a cuppa in bed, then we will get up and walk the ladies.  We will potter thoughout the day and I will probably cook cos that's what I do in a crisis.

I don't feel 'real' at the moment

Keeping you in my thoughts (((((((hugs)))))))

Don't think things will feel real for a while, you'll be in our thoughts. Hugs, Lacy

What can any of us say--this is the hardest journey we make with the people and animals we love. It's lovely that tomorrow you will go through routines of 'special' days when your gang have you to themselves, they can smell the cooking, and it's all real and reassuring for them. Bless you for having the courage to give everything you have for your girls. Thinking of you with big hugs xx

Thinking about you

Pinky,

You feel 'almost calm' probably because there is a degree of acceptance about what must come and that, however hard, you know it is right.

Will be thinking about you tomorrow.

I feel at the moment that I could talk for hours about our girl and how she is probably the best dog anybody ever had and none of you could match her with your dogs which I know is daft cos you all own the bestest dog in the world.

We will stay up late this evening, well at least past 11.30pm which is horrendously late for us we're 10 o'clockers normally.
I'm sort of ready for tomorrow and I hope OH is too

We are all with you Pinky, goodness that girly of yours is going to go into her land of sleep with so much love. This has been such a long road to travel but you know now this is the right turning. You are as ready as you can be but she is ready and it sounds like the time is right.
Thinking of you. Talk all you like. We know how it feels and are here to catch if you feel like you need picking up at anytime. Big hug to you both. X

I'm deep in thought not knowing what to say to you, wondering if words are enough to help you. I'm about as much use as a chocolate teapot.
When my mum phoned me to tell me they had to have their lurcher pts after 14 good years i so happened to be in the hairdressers at the time. I cried buckets. The shop was full of people but i didn't see them, i saw me & Sally running through the fields chasing birds, tail wagging and barking. She was laughing. She was having fun and living the dream. Just like your girl. For years to come you will re-wind that video in your mind over and over again about the love and happiness you shared together.
I will be thinking of you all tomorrow. xx

It is something that was said to me when my son died - people who haven't experienced loss like that don't know what to say but people who have experienced it know that there really is nothing that you can say.
But it does help to know that people care and are sending their love to help you.
We are all with you. Be strong as it will get better. You will never forget but the pain will ease so that you can smile more readily at the good memories xx

We're all here to listen if it helps.

I, as well as a great many others here will be thinking of you today.  She's such a lucky dog to have such caring owners as yourselves, may she rest in peace.....

Pinky, there are no words, but I am thinking of you. ((hugs)) My Balto had stomach cancer and I too had to spoon feed him through his last days.  Your girl will go peacefully, full of love, and content that she has had the most perfect life with you.
Mel

sending lots of love and strength for you all today xxxxxx

We'll all be thinking of you today as you help your girl make that next journey. You've been the best mum any dog could hope for! *hugs*

Thinking of you today, Pinky, and your OH and your very special girl xxx

Have the most lovley day to remember her by.

I hope you all have the most wonderful day today.  Thinking of you.

Thinking of you today with all those extra special cuddles and disbelieving emotions. As my girly fell asleep I closed my eyes, nuzzled my nose into her neck and took a deep breath to take in her warm smell as I whispered night night  and to this day I can smell her smell when I close my eyes and feel shes still a part of me. I always recommend the same to anyone about to go through the same heartbreaking day it was and still is so comforting.
Sending love, thoughts, peace and strength to you and your man today and a happy peaceful and free running journey to the bridge for your beautiful girl where I have told mine to wait for her :)Big hugs to you all.  X

Thinking of you today Pinky & sending a virtual (((hug))) too.

Claire

I cut a lock of my boy's hair, mingled chestnut and white, and I still get it out to stroke and smell every so often. :-)