I think it may be time in the next few weeks to say goodbye to Mars Bar my eldest Lab. She seems to be struggling a bit now with eveything she does, getting up, walking but the appitite is still there.The youngest Moose, and Min her puppy spend alot of the lying with her and cuddling up and licking her. It is almost as if they know She did however come out for a leisurely stroll for five mins last night but this is now occuring less and less.

We have had many a conversation concerning when her time sould be up and I think the day is coming for ever nearer. We are all going to find it hard but I do not want her to suffer any more that she deserves which is none.

The only thing is when we call the vet out when it is time I want one particular vet to come out but what if he isn't on duty ?

One of the other vets is a young girl just out of college who we have seen a couple of times and she doesn't seem to be at all comfortable with animals. I want this to be as stress free for Mars as well as ourselves and would just hate her to come out but will I have a choice ?It is really hard to write this as it sounds although I am booking this in advance but I want the best for Mars. She was my first ever dog and she will remain a very special girl in my heart...

Any suggestions or help would be most gratefully received in getting round this.

Many Thanks

Lucy

Hi Lucy

I'm sorry to hear that things are not too good...you could always call your vets in advance and check when your particular vet is on/off duty and that will give you an idea..the other vet (just out of college) might not be a good idea. If you have seen one vet the whole way though, I would advise to stick to him. If a new one comes along at a crucial time, you girl might sense the change..

You could always explain the situation to your vet and I'm sure he would let you know what his off duty dates are.

When I had one of my horses pts a couple of years ago, I would only deal with two vets...and it was one of them that came out..If you do book the vet in advance, I don't see any reason why you can't have your normal vet, if he's on duty...

Regards

Natasha

I am so sorry it is getting to that sad time for you Lucy. I think it would be very good and kind of you to plan ahead and check when your vet will be available, perhaps they will be able to tell you when their days off are this week, next week etc and then if you feel she would not be comfortable for the duration of any break I feel you will be doing your very best for her not to keep her waiting. I heard a saying once about this sort of thing, better a day too soon, than a day too late, I hope I have the courage to follow that myself. Very best wishes, Isabel.

It's such a horrible time, isn't it?

Our vet came out to put our girl to sleep a few years ago, she was on duty anyway so it worked out well. I took Rescue Remedy to help me cope, and fed my dog special treats as the needle slipped in. She felt nothing and the last thing she knew was my voice. It can be a very gentle and gracious way to go, and to sort it all out beforehand is in my humble opinion very wise and will lessen the stress.....

My thioughts are with you and Mars.

Lindsay

Hi Lucy,as you may know I've just gone through this same thing with William our old lab and the build up was terrible as we kept thinking will today be the day,well when the day came I knew straight away he had had enough I was lucky even though it wasnt my favourite Vet as he was off that day the Vet they sent was lovely and it was tastefully done,I was able to hold him a tell him all nice things and say goodbye in his favourite place.
Only you can decide when the time is right.
I got Williams ashes back and now I feel settled about it all,I miss him like mad,but sadly we have to let them go,we have to do that one special thing that only we can do for them,its our last proof of our love.
I'll be thinking of you as I'm sure all on here will,the messages and cards and overwhelming kindness I received from the people on here was wonderful it really helped me. xxxx

Dear Lucy
I'm sorry to hear about Mars. She is very lucky to have such a lovely owner as you. Apart from that I can't really add much to what the others suggest.
Love Jane

Dear lucy
So sorry to hear, it's such a difficult decision but only you really know when the time is right, glad to hear you are getting the vet to come to your house as I took my GSD to the vets and i can honestly say it was the worst moment of my entire life i cried so much i really thought i would die and even though i knew it was the right decision the moment the injection was given i would have given anything to have reversed it. I even had my husband in tears and the nurses. It makes me well up just thinking about it and that was over two years ago. I don't know if all dogs are the same but steffi was my own first dog after leaving home and she had been through a lot with me, but when she was ten she developed a debilatating disease that killed all of her nerves in her back legs and one friday she weed on her back legs and when she realised what she had done she gave me this look and even though I had never seen the look before i knew exactly what it meant.
Do wait for the vet you know it does make a tiny bit of difference.
all my sympathy
Jacqui

When we lost Imogen we arranged to wait until a certain doctor was on duty before we turned off the machines. He was a wonderful man who wasn't afraid to show his emotions.

It was a completely horrific experience but having him there really made all the difference.

Planning the death of a loved one is very strange, it feels very disloyal to make arrangements like this but as you're the one that has to live with the memories you must do what feels right.

I hope things work out the way you want them to,

Fiona
x x x

My heart is breaking for you so I cannot imagine how you feel but just think of her happy life she has had and that it is better to go before she is not happy.

She will go to Rainbow Bridge..

Best wishes

Pam

Dear Lucy,

Sorry that Mars is so poorly. I truly no what your going through, we lost Tubbs our family B C a month ago almost now he was pts was 16 and stuggling with his age getting up etc. walking around. Mum was very brave and took tubbs to the vet who said that he has had a stroke and she cuddled him while he went off to sleep. It's terrilbe, the lose I feel is like a big hole my house is full of his photo's and he will always have a special place in my heart. Molly and Tubbs never go on which was sad?

Sending your love and support.

Julieann and Molly

I am sure most of us know what you are going through, its just awful deciding when the right time has come, rushing downstairs every morning to see how they are. When the time does come, it may be worth asking your vet do give a dose of valium first, before the main injection as this will make 100% sure they go very peacefully with no struggling. It only costs a very little more. I had two dogs pts who struggled violently and appeared to be in great distress, though the vet asured me they were "out of it" it was still dreadful to witness and very upsetting for us, in fact with one, it was so bad, I couldn't stay and left her while she was dying, for which I will never forgive myself, I feel I betrayed her. So when I had my last dog pts I asked if anything could be done to make sure it didn't happen and she had the valium into her back leg and then a few minutes later the main jab and literally went to sleep in my arms, a very peaceful and dignified moment. Perhaps I had been unlucky with the first two, but I was determined to make sure it didn't happen again. My thought are with you, and hope this post hasn't distressed you further, but I would always wish to save anyone from that experience.

I just want to wish you well and to tell you that my thoughts are with you.

Debbie

Thank you all for your support.

I am in a right state at the moment. As Mattie said it is the build up that is the worst.

She is still there but she is slipping very slowly. When I went down this morning she was looking a lot younger than she has for a long time but I think it is me just wishing.

I had a really bad night last night as Moose the youngest decided to make a bid for freedom. I was out the front watering the plants and the gate was slightly ajar. A oldish chap with two dogs I know walked past. I turned round to say hello and took my eye away from the gate.The next thing Moose appeared. She ran round in circles trying to play with the other two dogs and was far too excited to listen to my voice. She hadn't yet been out for her walk. In the excitment of me trying to get hold of the monster one of the dogs collars slid over it's head and it decided to scarper with Moose in tow chasing it. I called her but no response. They both ran straight towards one of the main roads that run through the village. My heart nearly stopped thinking it was six o'clock the road would be busy with people coming home from work................. Moose suddenly stopped in her tracks realising that it was a bit further away than perhaps she should have gone and I thought she had better go back. The other dog luckily stopped just before the road and the chap went and retreived it. The poor thing looked really shaken up. I am not surprised having a lump like Moose chasing after it. Finally got her back in the house and went out to make sure the other dog was Ok and to apologise.

I was so angry with Moose when I got in but also angry at myself for letting it happen. When my husband got in I relayed the tale and told him that I had sent her to Coventry for a while until I could really calm down.It was the fact that a nasty accident could have happened and we could have lost Moose and also the other dog.

I then had a couple of drinks and we stared to discuss Mars. That was it, after the Moose incident ( I don't normally get so wound up but thinking about Mars has made me feel very stressed and weepy) and discussing Mars and what we were going to do I ended up sobbing for hours. I ended up just about crying myself to sleep.

My husband has been wonderful though and has said that he will organise everything for me so that I avoid getting so upset by talking to people to arrange it all. We are also going to get a plot in a Pet cemetary which is just up the road. It is in a lovely situation with countryside all around and she will have lots of friends to keep her company.

I thought I was going to be really brave about all this but I am finding this really hard. I also think this is upsetting me so much as my Dad died five years ago and Mars was his absolute favourite and I suppose it is another thing that I am letting go with her going as well.

Oh well it is life and I know we all have to accepts what comes but it doesn't make it any easier.

Lucy

Oh Lucy I feel so sorry for you, I do know exactly what you are going through. A couple of years ago my dad died very suddenly and we had his dog Katie. Katie was old and had arthritis. We tried everthing to make life easier for her, but as you say the time came when we had to make a decision. One of the hardest things (and probably made me decide) was when she was doing a wee and her legs gave way and she wet herself. The look on her face said it all. I just couldn't let her go on. My husband was excellent and took her to the vet. It was heartbreaking and I felt I was losing another part of my dad too.

Nearly 2 weeks ago we had to face the decision again when we had my adorable 18 year old cat PTS. She had a tumour. She wasn't in pain and was still eating and this made me feel guilty. However, I have come to terms with it more now and believe that she had a brilliant life and I spared her from any pain or further discomfort. We have Anna's ashes and that is a comfort. I think the pet cemetery idea is lovely.

I shall be thinking of you and hope you can get through it okay.

Brenda

Lucy - so hard to find the right words for you.
I think we have nearly all been there at some time in our animal owning lives and know how difficult it is for you right now.
Thinking of you and Mars
Sara xx

Lucy

Our thoughts are with you. Enjoy this time with Mars do the things you love to do and build up those happy memoris for the future.

Pam n the boys

Hi,
I know exactly how you are feeling because i myself went through this last year three times...!! We had to have our 15 year old Fox Terrier pts after a large stroke, we had her when she was 8 weeks old, then just six weeks later her son who was 13, had to be pts as well due to a brain tumor, which had made him very aggressive. We then decided to get a puppy Fox Terrier called Millie who lifted our spirits very much, but at only nine months of age she was diagnosed with a heart condition which she had to have a risky operation and there was a high risk of losing her, I will never forget her face as I left her there, because although her operation seemed successful she died while she was in recovery, we were and still are gutted, I am crying while I am writing this! We only got her in May last year and she died in November. We now have yet another Fox Terrier who is now 9 months old who again has helped us all to come to terms with the events of last year. We will NEVER forget or stop thinking of our beloved dogs.

How awful for you to have lost so many dogs in such a short space of time. I've, thus far, only lost the one who was an 8 month old pup and it took me a long time to cope with her death. I hope your new pup has filled a bit of that gap in your heart.

Hello Lucy,

This is the time that all Pet Owners dread. Remember though dogs live for today, they have no concept of the future as such. (People understand death and feel scared, dogs do not).

Try and enjoy the time you still have with Mars, don't let him see or hear you upset. I hold on tight to my emotions as I talk gently and softly to my dog as the Vet helps him on his last sleep, then I cry afterwards....

When that time comes, you will know. I am also sure your Dad will be by your side to help support you, and will greet Mars as he leaves this life to a youthful, pain-free new one. Have no fear for him, he will be safe and loved.

Denise x

Just to say Lucy I am thinking of you.
Anita

Lucy,my thoughts are with you, be strong,
Very best regards, nicky x x

Lucy,
Thinking of you and sharing your pain. Hang in there for the vet that you want. I lost my aussie before Xmas and he had gone for a spinal x-ray which detected a tumour. Because he was under anaesthetic and was at a veterinary hospital which was a big distance from me, he told me not to go back when we decided the kindest thing was to put him to sleep. This is a decision I will regret forever. I never got a chance to say goodbye........ Although the staff were brilliant with both me and him and they even cut a lock of his fur for me and sent it to me, (without me asking them to and in a really nice card). I really wish I had been there as I feel I let him down. I get by now on memories and knowing that I gave him the best 2 years of his life..........
Sending big hugs,
Gabrielle x

Lucy, we are thinking of you very much. It is a hard time for you and your family. Mars is a wonderful friend to you and he would not want to see you so sad for him. All I can say is how much we are thinking of you right now. With love Julieann and molly