I just put my dog down

[Absinthe]

It feels like I've taken a sledgehammer to my gut. He had cancer for over a year and we put him through surgery and chemo when his first tumors started appearing. Despite his age at 12, he was in extremely healthy shape all things considered (golden retrievers tend to die around 13 or 14).

Unfortunately, when taking him to the vet for a clean bill of health for flying overseas, we discovered massive inflammation on his underside from more growth. This was just last Thursday or so, and we decided it would be best if he was put down.

So there I was, sitting in the vet's office with his head in my lap while he was given the injections. And he just slowly drifted off until he let out a few last sighs of breath. I've been to funerals of relatives that cannot even begin to compare in terms of the sadness I felt.

I'm not really expecting any responses to this topic. I figured I needed to get it off my chest somehow, as I feel so horrible at the moment.

 

[Mutley]

I understand how you feel but you did the right thing and think your Dog couldn't really thank-you enough for making that decision to not let him suffer any longer.

I had a pet Guinea Pig when I was younger, who also had a growth where I had to decide if to keep him for maybe a few days or put him to sleep, it was a horrible decision but I knew putting him to sleep was best.

Very hard thing to go through losing a pet and you can't let it put you off getting another! The fun times with him defiantly out weigh the very hard process of letting him go!

 

[Geogaddi]

D:

I'm not usually very good at empathy but how about a hug?

 

[Absinthe]

/hugglez <3

 

[sinkoman]

We?

:O

 

[Danimal]

I've had to put down previous pets myself, it's a terrible thing, I know. But he is better off now, so don't feel guilty of anything.

 

[Absinthe]

"We" being my family. Technically, it was more their dog the last two years since I moved out and was just visiting when this was decided. But we had him since I was in elementary school, so it was still very difficult.

 

[Jintor]

I would say a dog's a dog... but then again, a human is a human.

Awww, Abs. *pat pat*

 

[sinkoman]

"We" being my family. Technically, it was more their dog the last two years since I moved out and was just visiting when this was decided. But we had him since I was in elementary school, so it was still very difficult.

ah.



...

.......

.........

I had to put a turtle down when I was in what, around the eigth grade/freshman year. If that was hard, I can't imagine having to put down an intelligent companion

 

[The Monkey]

I know it's a hard time for you, Absinthe, I went through the same thing when I put my guinea pig to sleep 8 years ago. He had cancer too. I still remember seeing his eyes drying out after they gave his the injection. It was heart-breaking.

 

[Raxxman]

Loosing a pet is very hard. I lost my dog (who I'd known since I was 3) nearly 8 years ago, it's really the first emotional scar I ever earned. Nothing I can say to make you feel better, know exactly what you're going through though.

'Fraid to say, that's the one true constant in all life.. it ends.

 

[Baal]

aww

I miss my childhood dog now

I was too young to be extremely hurt by it, but it did suck. If it were to happen now I'm sure I'd feel the same way you do.

 

[Shippi]

.

 

[nutcrackr]

it sucks. I had to put my old dog of 17 down a few months back. She could hardly walk, see or hear. She was really tough though and I could see she wanted to try her best. In the end it just felt like the right thing to do but I still don't feel happy about it at all. Sorry you had to do that though.

 

[Sloth]

Sorry to hear that mate, never had a pet myself but...
Atleast he died with someone that loved him. {sounds corny but :shh:}

 

[Zephos]

Lost the family guinea pigs within a couple of months of each other earlier, as well as a dog we've had since I was probably four years old last year.

I didn't even have the guts to go to the veterinarian to see her put down. I just gave her a big hug as she got in the car and that's the last I saw of her. Depressed for weeks on end afterwards, couldn't imagine the experience of being there.

Sorry to hear

 

[Absinthe]

Took that this morning before we headed to the vet. Just recently it's really started to settle in and I'm already missing him so much.

 

[-Psy-]

So there I was, sitting in the vet's office with his head in my lap while he was given the injections. And he just slowly drifted off until he let out a few last sighs of breath.

That reminds me a lot of when some of my pets have died...It's just that you can have a bond with a pet that you can't have with humans and when that breaks...

Great, now you've got my eyes watering a little!

 

[Asknoone]

 

[hool10]

I once had a pet hampster when I was like 8 or something. It bit me all the time and slept a lot. Then one morning you could see it on it's side and breathing hard. I watched my own pet hampster die and the worst feeling was that I knew I could do nothing for it. My mom saw it too and got angry when it appeared to stop breathing but started breathing again my mom said "oh just die already!" :flame: Worst part was my parents made me go to school after putting it in a box in the patio so after school I could bury it. I could'nt tolerate it anymore and came to the teacher during lunch and broke down. She knew it too because I brought it in for a school report I did. She sent me home but there are other times that I really just question how ****ed up my parents are mentally. Other times too with pets that I had to put down and ugh I just don't about this anymore.

 

[Jintor]

Man...

 

[Sloth]

Thread making me sad ;(

Good luck with the grief - looked like an awesome dog.

 

[lePobz]

I know how you feel, when I was 11 my family dog was taken to the vets for a cough he had, but they found out the cause was a huge tumor on his lungs that they couldnt operate on, he had to be put down. We'd had this dog ever since I was 1 year old, I couldnt rememember a time without him and he was like a best friend.

I didnt find out till I got home from school. He was the best dog in the world, and I still miss him to bits...

You'll always have the memories.

 

[PvtRyan]

Sorry to hear that Abs

But at least you can take comfort in the fact that he had a good and pleasant life.

My dog's (labrador) 10.5 years now, and you can tell old age is getting to her. She's in good health still but not as fit and lively as she used to be. A year ago I used to hear from people how they thought she was only 2 years or so old and they were always shocked to hear how old she really was. However, recently people comment that "she must be an old one right?".

 

[Tyguy]

sorry to hear that absinthe....losing a pet sucks, especially one you grew up with. If he was suffering though you did the right thing.

 

[leib10]

It feels like I've taken a sledgehammer to my gut. He had cancer for over a year and we put him through surgery and chemo when his first tumors started appearing. Despite his age at 12, he was in extremely healthy shape all things considered (golden retrievers tend to die around 13 or 14).

Unfortunately, when taking him to the vet for a clean bill of health for flying overseas, we discovered massive inflammation on his underside from more growth. This was just last Thursday or so, and we decided it would be best if he was put down.

So there I was, sitting in the vet's office with his head in my lap while he was given the injections. And he just slowly drifted off until he let out a few last sighs of breath. I've been to funerals of relatives that cannot even begin to compare in terms of the sadness I felt.

I'm not really expecting any responses to this topic. I figured I needed to get it off my chest somehow, as I feel so horrible at the moment.

I completely understand man. We had a border collie that we loved to death, a truly fine dog. She was too old and weak to even lift her head to eat, her stomach was badly distended, and she had tumor growths. We had to put her down because it was obvious she was suffering. I'm not going to lie, I cried when it happened.

Just remember the good times you had with the dog. It'll help.

 

[CyberPitz]

Putting a pet down is both a big relief and a big pain. You know you're doing the right thing for the animal...but it's just so hard to let them go.

I've never personally done that..but I know what it's like to lose a pet that was extremely close to you. Since Middle School, I had a dog...was my best, and mostly only, friend. Then about sophomore/junior year in High School, he "ran away" and never came back. But I'm sure my dad took him to the vet. It still hurts when I think about it....;(

Sorry to hear for your loss, Abs. <3

 

[leib10]

I had a dog disappear on me too. She was a German Shepherd, probably the smartest dog I had ever been around. But she would hop the fence and bite joggers and other pedestrians on the street, so much that we nearly got sued several times. Then one day, she disappeared and never returned.

I was sad, but not as sad as I could've been because the realization came to me slowly rather than suddenly, and because I knew deep down that we couldn't keep her any longer. I think Animal Control picked her up and put her down without notifying us.

 

[Pulse]

That really sucks man, my condolences go out to you. Can't imagine what it would be like to make a decision like that, but think positively at least you saved your pet from a lot of unnecessary pain and discomfort.

 

[Beerdude26]

D:

/hug

 

[Absinthe]

I completely understand man. We had a border collie that we loved to death, a truly fine dog. She was too old and weak to even lift her head to eat, her stomach was badly distended, and she had tumor growths. We had to put her down because it was obvious she was suffering. I'm not going to lie, I cried when it happened.

Just remember the good times you had with the dog. It'll help.

Yeah, I'm just trying to remember all the fun, goofy, stupid stuff he did over the years. It's still sad, but far less morbid.

I too cried when it happened. I'd think it would be pretty abnormal if somebody didn't cry when their pet passes away after years of companionship.

 

[leib10]

It really is like losing a close friend that you've known for years. My dad, usually a very emotionally stoic person, cried when we put that dog down too.

Do you have any other pets?

 

[Warbie]

Condolences dude. I had to go through the same with my dog just over a year ago - it was probably the hardest thing i've ever done and the only time I cried in the last 10+ years.

It's easy to tell yourself that these things are for the best, which of course they are, but either way it's still a ****ing kick in the bollox (I actually feel quite emotional about it just writing this thread)

It sounds like your dog had a happy life - it couldn't have wanted for more than that.

 

[Bad^Hat]

I've had a bunch of rats put down, and that's always been kinda sad, but never anything I was hugely attached to. It's gonna be really sad to see our cats go...

Hang in there, man.

 

[Xendance]

Sorry to hear that dude.

When my dog snuffs it, I will be badly upset. I mean, when she knows I'm upset or angry, she comes over and lifts her paw.

And shes getting on.

 

[Qonfused]

Putting pets down is always a tough thing to do, but, in most situations, is the best thing to do. The only pet that I've had to put down was a cat when I was eight due to feline AIDS. He roamed outside every night so it was kind of expected. The saddest thing wasn't the actual euthanization but his decline instead. On the way to the vet's he could barely meow which hurt so much more than the actual death.

 

[Shift]

A dog will always stick by you, everyone can walk out on you, but if you have a loyal dog, it will always stick by your side, to lose a friend like that is downright tragic.

 

[Krynn72]

Im sorry to hear that Absinthe. Its a sad thing, but it was the right thing to do.

 

[DreamThrall]

Sorry to hear that My childhood pet died a few years ago as well, also had some sort of cancer. Its rough!

On the upside, I've got a rescued lab mix puppy that needs a home if you want! Not sure how we'd get her from Louisiana to NC though :\

 

[Wanted Bob]

Hope you're doing alright mate. I too know about losing childhood pets. Last year, my 20 year old cat passed away (to put it in perspective its been around since before I was born) and that sucked. I'd like to get a new cat, but I dunno...