I am normally a very private person, and if I am in pain I prefer to 'suffer' privately, but I think I will need support.
It has been very difficult for me to admit to myself, let alone publicly, that each day I have with my beloved Cooper (15 year old L/H Mini Dachshund) is a bonus. He is fading quickly, and I am beginning to feel that the end is near.
He has been on medication for Congestive Heart Failure for about 3 years now, and the medications were recently increased to cope with his deteriorating health. He has always been a good eater, but lately he has been refusing his food more often, and when I pat him I can feel his bones
He often gets distressed as though he doesn't know where he is. I look into his eyes and they are so cloudy I wonder if he can even see me.
I have decided that I am not going to worry too much about food that is 'good' for him, he can have what ever he will eat, and try and keep him as comfortable as possible.
All I am hoping and praying for now is that he goes to the Bridge peacefully on his own, so I don't have to make that awful decision.
How have others coped when faced with the inevitable?
Pauline

Hi Pauline,

I know exactly how you feel - if only there were an easy way to cope :(   We all wish that our pets (and ourselves, families, dear friends etc for that matter) would simply sleep away peacefully but sad and painful though it is, it seems more often than not that we have to face deciding when is the appropriate time.  Sad though it is, remember it's always better a day too soon than a day too late.

In the precious time that you still have with Cooper, take lots of photos of him if you can and over indulge his every whim ;)   Good on you for just letting him dine on the finer things if that's what suits him best - I'm sure there is very little you can do to make him feel more loved or precious than you already have throughout all these years with him.  Just enjoy his companionship while you still feel he is not in any distress or discomfort. 

You will know when the time comes and it may be worth having a word with your veterinary practice just now and enquiring if they are able to make a home visit when necessary and discuss their protocol and your private options for Cooper.

I really feel for you on this - it's undoubtedly the only downside of owning dogs and sharing the special bond we have with them.  Cooper and you have been privileged to have one another for such a long time - may God bless and be kind to you both.

best wishes, Teri x

Hi Pauline,
All of us who have gone through what you are facing now, feel for you. Teri's advice is very sensible. Try to make every day special and make arrangements for if/when you need help.
At the moment I have two old girls, so know exactly how you feel.
All the best,
Karen

My first dog was put to sleep when he could no longer function properly due to arthritis. I could probably have kept him going for a few more months but he'd always been such a dignified boy that I just didn't feel it was right to prolong his suffering. 
Unfortunately my second dog didn't have such a peaceful ending, he died in some distress due to a vet's error. 
When you know that your dog is no longer enjoying the life he once loved and there is no chance of an improvement you have to ask yourself whether you're delaying the inevitable for your sake or for his. No dog lover would pretend it's an easy decision, it takes an awful lot of courage, but it really is the last kindness that we can do for them. 
I'm so sorry you're approaching such a heartbreaking time.  I'm sure you'll find a lot of support from fellow Champdoggers.
xx

I think making all the necessary arrangements now is an awfully good idea.

You can arrange what will happen with the Vet now, and also contact the Pet Crematorium they use for all the details, so that when the time comes everything is in place and  they only need a simple phone call.

I'm not ashamed to say the very first dog I personally owned that slipped away, I was a heartbroken wreck, I cried more for my dog than when my Grandfather *she says very guiltily* died. I didn't want a life without him and missed him so much. I had him buried in my mother's garden (as I knew I would move one day from my home) as I could not bare for him to just disappear and planted a tree over his grave, which is absolutely huge now. I took great comfort from watching that tree grow and have always felt that he is still here watching over me, it is my favourite place to sit under that tree.

I know not everyone can bury their beloved friends in the garden, but even ashes can be placed in the ground with a rose bush planted there which will grow and remind you of Cooper, I really found it a great comfort.

Just enjoy every day you have with him.

Pauline I really feel for you I had a Cocker who died last July age 16.5 yrs.,even though I knew he was living on borrowed time,all previous family dogs had died at 13yrs due to illness and being PTS, it came as a big shock when he colapsed and died in my kitchen with no warning.My son came and buried him in the garden the next day and put a large paving slab over the top on which is a large tub with a rose in it and lots of little pots which I change periodically. I pass him each time I leave the house. Don't feel bad that you need to talk about this I was a wreck,he'd been there for so long through thick and thin.

I have the same breed as you now,my first mini long was just over 12 months old when the cocker died and he kept me going and gave me a reason to get up in the morning. Then last Tuesday I got another mini long as company for him as he has been on his own since the cocker died.

Is Cooper your only dog?

You will know when the time is right and his quality of life is no longer the same,I will be thinking of you at this sad time.
Rhona

Unfortunately nothing will make this easier Pauline.  We've all been there and know exactly what you're going through.  It's the only downside of being a dog owner.  My thoughts are with you.

Dear Pauline,

On a previous similar thread someone wrote 'better a day too early than a moment too late' and I was forced to acknowledge with our old GSD Max, I had left it more than a moment too late; in the end he had to make it clear that he'd had enough and I will always regret that my cowardice forced him into that situation.

Take courage and do your best for Cooper.

All best wishes to both of you,

Linda

Pauline,
          My heart goes out to you and the tears started reading your post......
A year ago, we were faced with the same decision when our GSD went into heart failure and had a heart tumour........

She stopped eating ''dog food'' about 6 weeks before she died and we just let her have what she wanted..... It ended up that I was getting up every two hours in the night to feed her soup which she enjoyed. She ended up losing half her body weight and one day she just looked at me and I knew that she had had enough. It took every ounce of courage I had to take her to the vets, where she was pecaefully put to sleep in my arms......

Part of me now looking back, feels that I held onto her and refused to take her to the vets because I couldn't bear to part with her...... In the end, I knew the day I took her that she wasn't coming back.......

I will be thinking of you, please PM me if you need to talk.....

((((Hugs))))
Gabrielle xxxxx

Its two weeks today that I had to make the heart-breaking decision to help Bree to the Bridge. I had thought things through in advance, Vets coming to the house etc etc, and I still found my head was in a mess on the day :(  However looking back, things went as well and as peacefully as I could ever have wished for her, it did help having such a wonderful Vet and VN. Who have since sent me a 'sympathy' card too.........and that set me off again!

My thoughts are with you, extra cuddles for Cooper too.

libs 

I am so sorry for you, having to face up to this is so hard. There will be a time, as others have said, when you know you have to make the decision. I doubt there is a way to cope to make it easier. Until someone has had to bear this themselves they cant quite comprehend the grief we have. Do keep sharing though as it helps more than keeping it to yourself.
Karen

I can understand like others what you are going through at this time.We also had to make the same heartbreaking decision in August last year for our 15 and half yr old Rough Collie Kyle my most beautiful boy we know we had made the right decision as he was having accidents and found difficulty walking he looked so peaceful at the end when I held him in my arms , we all loved him so much it was the last thing we could do for him ..I know we will be together again ..one day!

You will know....

Oh dear my face is watering.....

{{{{HUGS}}}}

Roni

I understand completely what you are going through. Our first dog 'Shandy' was always my dog, but suffered from a bad stomach all his life, but somehow I knew when his dignity would take it no longer & last year when Solo had mouth cancer, which was operated on, but she never really recovered & at 14 I felt i was keeping her alive for me ,not her & the vet came & put her to sleep in the garden. He was wonderful & like someone else said, sent us a sympathy card & also a lovely verse with her ashes, which are buried under the apple tree ,where she always lay. It is a very difficult time, but you will know when the right time is. Thinking of you.

Diane

pauline- my OH's mum is going thru exactly the same as you, she has a 17 yr old longhaired minidaxie, he can barely see or hear, his smell is still okay, but everything else is failing fast. he has heart problems and prostate problems, so i know what this must be like for you.

we say- when george refuses his favorite food like chicken or any special treat or refuses to go out of his bed, we know the time would be right to let him go. but we are hoping he falls asleep in the night peacefully...

thinking of you and your beloved daxie xx

A tip that might make it easier is to get a sedative from the vet in ready so that when the time does come you can give it to him an hour or so before the vet comes.
I agree with that statement 'better a day too early than a day too late'
Best wishes
Amos

Thanks for al the replies, it makes me feel a little better to know that I am not alone.
Cooper is having a good day today, resting comfortably. As it is winter here (Australia) he is spending most of his time in front of the heater. The funny thing is that the food he seems to want more than anything is Baked Beans.
I have already made arrangements with my vet to do a home visit when the time comes, and he will arrange for the cremation.
Cooper is not my only dog, but he is my first as an adult. I have two other L/H Dachshunds, Mini and Rover and they are being especially nice to Cooper.
Pauline

We are all here for you when you need us, I know that when I had to have Abby pts at the begining of this year that I found it a great help to have people who understood what I was going through.
My thoughts are with you at this difficult time.
Mary

Sad update.
I took Cooper to the vet this morning and it turns out he has had a stroke :(
He is in no pain, just in his own little world. We will take each day as it comes
Pauline

Pauline I am sorry to read your latest post,things seem to be getting worse rapidly,I will be thinking of you. PM if you need a chat or send an Email.

Hi Pauline,

I'm very sorry to read about Cooper - FWIW my elderly girl had a similar experience and as you say she was in her own little world and so not suffering pain and after a few days she was her normal self again although left with a very slight head tilt.  She lived for a further 16/18 months and then had another stroke however she had other complications which meant we had to make the decision to let her go while she still had her dignity.  It was heartbreaking for us but so calm and peaceful for her.

I hope you have longer with Cooper, if that is what is best for him.  If he has lost his ability to move safely and freely or has any signs of incontinence I'd advise that you prepare to say your goodbyes :( :( :(   Even in their own little worlds I'm sure they are stressed by these things and I know you wont want that.

You're in my prayers and thoughts.
Bless you both, Teri xxx

Cooper was not good this morning, not eating or drinking, and his feet were cold, despite being in front of the heater all night. He could barely stand.

My dearly beloved Cooper crossed the bridge at about 12.45pm today. The vet was booked to come around at 1.00pm and my husband was coming home from work to be here. Steve came in and patted Cooper, who was laying on the lounge. A few minutes later, we looked and realised that Cooper was no longer breathing. Maybe he waited for his Dad to come home, and then he gave us the best gift he could have - taking that awful decision away from us.
Run free at the bridge my boy, no diets there and you will never be cold again.
Until we meet again.......

Pauline

Oh Pauline - I'm so sorry.   But you were both with him in his last few minutes - and he knew that you both loved him.    {{{Hugs}}}

Run free Cooper!

Margot

I am sorry to hear your sad news,as you said his time had come and the decision was taken out of your hands. Run free Cooper,painfree and youthful again.

Give your other two lots of extra hugs.

I will be thinking about you.

Rhona

Run Free at the Bridge Cooper

Mega cyber {{{{{hugs}}}}} to you

Cooper must have known how very much loved he was and in his own way your precious boy made things easier.   Try not to mourn his loss for long but remember him, as he is now at the Bridge, youthful and healthy.  He has many of our own friends to greet him and keep him happy until we're all together again.

Bless you Pauline & Steve too,
Teri xxx

Oh Pauline,
               I am sat at work supposed to be revising for an exam but just wanted to check if there was any news............. :-(
I am so sorry to hear that Cooper went to the Bridge...........
He is now at peace and hopefully eternally healthy with all of the other dogs that have passed before him.
Thinking of you and Steve today...........
(((Hugs))) Gabrielle x

Pauline I am so sorry to hear about Cooper :(

At least you were both with him at the end :)

Run free boy

Lucy
xx

I am so sorry to hear this - having not yet been there myself I can't imagine how you must be feeling.  At last now your boy is out of pain and can run free. 

Thinking of you today

I'm so sorry, Pauline and Steve, such a sad day for you both. 
Thinking of you.
xx

I'm so very sorry to read this - run free Cooper.

My thoughts are with you Pauline.

I'm so very sorry to hear your news Pauline.

My thoughts are with you at this very sad time. Your dog left after saying 'see you later' to the family, so you just hang on, and think of all the fun your dog will be having now playing at the bridge.

Warm thoughts, warm embrace xxxxxxxxxx

Run free at the bridge Cooper. My thoughts are with you at this very sad time.

Love & hugs
Dianexx

so sorry to hear your sad news 'run free Cooper'

Roni

I am so sorry. Cooper waited til he had his loved ones with him before he crossed the bridge, he obviously loved you as much as you loved him.
Rest in peace.

so sad to hear your news. what a brave little lad. run free cooper.
xxx

Thinking of you and Steve, Pauline.  Run free Cooper xx