I went to the vet yesterday for my labs rear leg thinking it may be a ACL tear, well we got bad news, Kalani has bone cancer and I don't know how long she has, we're taking it day by day and managing her pain for now and being 14 1/2 yrs old I don't want to put her through the stress of amputation or chemo. Now the hard part for us is when do we make the decision to put her down, this is the part of pet ownership I hate.
our and the local basset rescue vet of decades experience always advisesI went to the vet yesterday for my labs rear leg thinking it may be a ACL tear, well we got bad news, Kalani has bone cancer and I don't know how long she has, we're taking it day by day and managing her pain for now and being 14 1/2 yrs old I don't want to put her through the stress of amputation or chemo. Now the hard part for us is when do we make the decision to put her down, this is the part of pet ownership I hate.
Thanks, I will know when it's time, when she no longer wags her tail and not eating, we waited too long with my other lab 2 yrs ago and we're not going to let her suffer any more than she has to. I wish I could tell her what's going on, she is going blind and hard of hearingour and the local basset rescue vet of decades experience always advisesI went to the vet yesterday for my labs rear leg thinking it may be a ACL tear, well we got bad news, Kalani has bone cancer and I don't know how long she has, we're taking it day by day and managing her pain for now and being 14 1/2 yrs old I don't want to put her through the stress of amputation or chemo. Now the hard part for us is when do we make the decision to put her down, this is the part of pet ownership I hate.
"do it one day early instead of one day late"
IMHO
once they stop functioning like a dog, it's time...my Reggie barely ate, could hardly move around, and changed from a lab to a paperweight...it was time before she fell, broke something, stopped peeing or pooing, threw a blood clot, stroked, metastasize, stopped eating, etc
I weighed the real possibility of her going into pain vs a few days or a week more with nothing that could stop the inevitable. I find it best to have a special last morning with them, and then take an extra long ride to the vet in the afternoon. Stop at a burger drive through for a cheeseburger treat.
Two of my hounds' ashes are in a beautiful box with a lock of hair provided by the nearby "Heaven's Pets". A quiet, loving, gentle last day means making a courageous decision, really for the dog to have a great last day with no memories of pain, growling, moaning, and suffering while trying to get them peace under very difficult circumstances. Believe me when I say you want that avoided that at all cost.
When you dog no longer functions as a dog...it's time to make the decision and plan a beautiful last 24 hours.
below is my Reggie's very last picture sitting in my minivan just before her last ride (to the vet)...she was 14 and they say pretty old for a lab...sweetest dog around
Wish you the best and will pray for courage
Dayum man...Sorry to hear this. I hate it when my animals get sick. Our thoughts are with you.I went to the vet yesterday for my labs rear leg thinking it may be a ACL tear, well we got bad news, Kalani has bone cancer and I don't know how long she has, we're taking it day by day and managing her pain for now and being 14 1/2 yrs old I don't want to put her through the stress of amputation or chemo. Now the hard part for us is when do we make the decision to put her down, this is the part of pet ownership I hate.
I emailing with a few breeders up in your area. Which is a more suitable climate for these dogs. I do not think these dogs are really capable of harming a child without completely braining washing the dogs default dispostion, but 160 lb dog that is not obedient is a train wreck in the making.Man, that's going to be quite the dog! Nice pup there. With training you will have Golden Retriever disposition, without good training you will have a well protected house and the neighbor's kids will provide little snacks
consider checking out Scotty Rescues and saving a dog in need of a furever home...most all have options on transport...the basset rescue here is fortunate to be on the bi-weekly route of Rescue Road Trips (if you want to see amazing pics of the start of new lives of hoomans and hounds, check them out on FB and their website...they are out of Ohio and transport 50 or so hounds from all gulf coast states to new homes in New England).What the above statement about acting a day earlier rather than a day late is good advice.
Due to shortcoming of personal fortitude on my part, I failed to do so with my 14 year old Scottie 3 years ago. And while I was with her when she died in her bed at 4am, I know she suffered the 48 hours. I will always regret that.
So, the morning things went really bad for my 11 year old Scottie after dealing with other medical stuff due to aging, I had the vet put him down in a couple of hours. I wish I could have done better for him, but I'm glad I didn't do worse this time.
The good news is: after a year of getting over the loss and not wanting to bury another one in the back yard, I will be in the hunt for a new Scottie buddy in a couple of months. I've decided life is better with them than without them-- even if I will probably out live another one. First time being without a dog in 37 years just don't get it.
If anybody should know of some good spring pups being available within 200 miles of NE Missouri please pop me a PM. Scotties are a bit rare around here-- good quality or otherwise.
