I have to take my dog to vets tomorrow and I am worried her time has come as she is 17 now. If there is no hope for her I would like the vet to come to the house and put her to sleep as I feel that I want her to be in her own surroundings with family around her. My question is, I have another dog who is nearly three and my older dog has been like mum to her. Do I ask someone to look after the young dog and not have her in the house when the vet is here. Or is it better for her to be here so she can come to terms with what is happening to her (mum). It is breaking my heart at the idea that my baby has to be put to sleep and I hope the vet is going to tell me there is a miracle. She is my baby and I love her with all my heart but I also know that I dont want her to suffer. My other dog is going to pine as she is her best friend and I also feel for her. Any advice welcome please.
Donna

So sorry to hear of your dillema.  Hugs to you.

I would say, that either way you do it (your other dog there or not) isnt going to stop the grieving process that the younger one has to go through.  Just play it by ear, and see what feels right for you.

Again, hugs to you.  Bless your heart.

I had the vet come to the house to hve Gemma PTS, and I shut the other 2 in the kitchen while she was. we then carried her out to the car without my other 2 seeing her. Interestingly enough, they stayed very quiet, where normally they create when shut in the kitchen when I am in the house.
I let them back into the room once the vet had gone and taken Gemma, they sniffed the bed she died on and didnt go near it or sleep on it for about a fortnight.
It is your decision what you do, but I dont think there i anything that will make things worse or better for the remaining dog.
I am sorry you are probably going to have to make this decision.
Stay strong
Lea.

That's a wonderful age Donna.  Sorry you have to make this awful decision.  When I've had dogs PTS, I've always put the others outside whilst it's happening, then they come in after the vet's gone to say their goodbyes.

The best way for us we have found is to remove the young dog into another room where she can hear what's going on while the older dog makes her departure. Then when the old girl is asleep, you let the younger one back in to sniff her friend, to understand that's she's gone and to say her goodbye.
You'll be in bits of course as this happens and it's then, that is a good time to leave them alone together for a few minutes.

We have always included the other dogs in the whole process of the death, the preperation and the burial of the body. Allowing them to follow us around the garden as we dig the grave etc, we've certainly found that they adapt and seem to understand death. It sounds traumatic I know, but I'm sure that alough they miss their old friend, they don't fret for a missing companion because they know exactly where they are and accept it.

Oh lord!  This whole thread just made me cry, spiritulist what a lovely response.

I've spent the last few days reading some of the more heated discussions about breeding and behaviour.  Some of the responses can get a bit emotional but, on a subject such as this, you can see why CD works: you're getting real advice from people with different experiences who care enough to take the time to share them.

weim1 I'm thinking of you, I hope your vet is able to help you and your dog in the best way possible xx

When our old girl Sani was put to sleep at home in May our neighbor took Sasha, our puppy (9 months at the time) out while my mum stayed with the vet and Sani.
When Sani was gone, they brought Sasha in to say her goodbyes to Sani.
She sniffed Sani and obviously knew she was gone as she was particulary sniffing Sani's face/nose/mouth area.
They then carried Sani to the car...
For few weeks Sasha was bit lost and found it hard especially at night time she would wonder around the house...
She would also keep taking my mum to where Sani went to sleep like she was trying to show her something, just stand there and look at the spot and my mum and the spot and my mum...often with a excited face on!
So we really do not know what she was seeing or thinking!
Very weird behavior but as suddenly as she started doing she also stopped doing it!
But Sasha definately handled losing her leader a lot better than Sani did when she lost her leader years before. Sani was pretty traumatized when we lost our older dog when Sani was young.
I believe it does help them to see their friend is gone to sleep instead of their friend just suddenly disappearing...

When my old boy was put to sleep my 2 girls were present for the entire process. My old boy had behaviour issues due to abuse and did not like strangers and so I chose to drug him and once he was sleepy, a friend who used to be a nurse gave him the first injection once he was almost gone the vet who was waiting outside came in and gave him the 2nd jab. He was unaware she was there at all. One of the girls aged 6 yrs slept on the sofa the whole time, whilst my older girl was around in the background and the only time she came close to him was when the vet came in at which point she didn't want the vet near him. A little reasurrance and she was fine.
We then all spent time together before we carried him to the vets car and he went off to the chapel of rest at the cemertoriam.
From the tablets to the final injection was 1 hour 30 minutes and it was hard but it was the kindess way for him to go in his own home and with his friends around him.
The dogs were quiet that day but they have not suffered for being there and I felt that they would cope with the experience and that they would see that he had gone. Although I don't see me having to do it the way this happened ever again because my other dogs haven't been abused so they trust the world, I would definately have my other dogs present in the future.

Weim1.

Whatever you chose i will be thinking of you.

God bless you all.
May it be a peacefull ending for your freind.

my heart goes out to you

there's some wonderful replies here, I know when then time comes for any of mine, always supposing it's not sudden, then I would wish to do as so many other people on here have done, and have my dogs present at the time, and to be aware of death

thinking of you

x x

At the end of the day, your decision will be the best one for your baby, and the rest of your family.
By your words alone you have proved how much love you have for your family.
I wish you all the love, strength and courage in the world.
xx

I've always when possible allowed other animals to sniff a departed friend, I really don't know if it is of benefit or not it is just the soft side of me not wishing other animals to wonder what happened and where their friend has gone. I feel that if they know he/she has died it  is closure, but that may just be a human thing, I've had animals PTS on an operating table too, and had no different reaction from other animals.

I think it makes us feel better allowing them to sniff a departed family member, so I would do that.

Sorry for your perhaps imminant loss, most of us know how you must be feeling.  ((hug))

Donna
Had to make the same decision last week. I took my three youngsters around to a friend and just left my old girl with her. I knew the youngsters would be barking and noisy with excitement when the Vet arrived and I didn't want that to happen. Afterwards, I brought the three youngsters back and let them see her before we went off to the Pet Crematorium. We then all went in the car to collect her ashes 2 hours later.
Just hope you haven't reached that time yet, but obviously at that grand age anything can happen.
Horrible time.

(((((((Donna)))))))))))
So sorry to hear you're going through this :-(
My lovely cat was PTS 3 weeks ago and I wish I'd let my other cat (his littermate) see him so she'd know he's gone. To start with she was fine and lapped up the extra attention but now she seems sad and lonely and cries alot.

Good luck with whatever you decide. You must do whatever you feel is best for you and your girl.
Take care, xx

my heart goes out to you,do whatever you think is right for your girl.

like others have said what a grand age she is!

good luck with what you decide

xxxx

Thinking of you x

I have just had to have my old girl put to sleep today so I have found the advice re the younger dog very useful.
She's going to be buried in my mum and dads garden so hopefully the other dog should see what's going on.  He's had a good sniff of her but it was sad when his tail stopped wagging - I don't know if they realise or not :(
Best wishes for whatever you choose and remember 17 is a very good age.

I am sorry georgepig, what a sad day for you :(

Many thanks to all of you who gave me advice. Decision was taken out of my hands today when vet said it would be best to put her to sleep there and then. Hardest thing I ever had to do, but when I looked in her eyes I dont know if I imagined it or not but it was if she was telling me the time was right. She just looked like she was sleeping. I love her so much and she will always be in my heart, I keep imagining she is at my side and I have cried all day. Rosie my other dog has been looking round the house for her but I am trying to keep her routine as normal as possible to make it easier for her. Once again thanks to all.
Donna

so sorry to hear of your loss, run free at the bridge little poochy xx

Am so sorry you had to make the decision, but you did your best for her.
Run free at the Bridge
{{{{{{{{{{{Donna}}}}}}}}}}}}
Lea

Run free little girl, my thoughts are with you.

Hayley

So sorry Donna.
Hugs to you and Rosie.

Sarah.

So sorry for your loss georgepig. Hardest thing we ever have to do is to let them go. But they know we love them. My thoughts are with you as I know what you are going through. I had to have Tanya put to sleep this morning and I feel like my insides have been ripped out. But I know I did the right thing for my best friend. Love and Hugs to you. x

So sorry xxx

I'm so sorry (((((hugs )))))

The last and greatest honour we can give them is to set them free to run from fear and pain.

Run free