Rest in peace my Faithful Compainon

[Kimarous]

My family's dog was put down a couple years ago. She was a Cocker Spaniel (American breed, I think) that ended up with a cancer-like disease that left her in constant pain. Although it was hard, we felt it was best to end her suffering. My mother took it the hardest, since she was at work when the people came and was the only one of us who didn't get to give her a send-off.

 

[The_Echo]

I had to put one of my dogs, Kirby, down because of heart problems. He could have lived longer, but it would have been painful.

He was probably the best dog I'll ever have. I loved him more than just about anything. I couldn't even be in the room when they gave him the shot. I had to wait in the lobby, crying my eyes out.

That was the last time I ever actually cried. It's been a number of years since then, and there have been some pretty bad things going on in those years. Just to give light on how much that dog meant to me... The years that followed included the birth and death of my niece (who was born with only a portion of her brain), my father being diagnosed with prostate cancer, and my parents getting divorced. And that's only some of it. Putting Kirby to sleep hit me harder than all of that combined.

Thanks, thread. Now I'm sad.

 

[hazabaza1]

Never had a pet. Probably because I get too easily attached and something liek this would depress me straight away.

 

[Daniel_Rosamilia]

Yes I had to put my dog to sleep

Same, he had a blood clot somewhere and cancer in his leg.
Somehow, he lasted until he was 13.
That was one of the orst days of my life, watching him be taken to the vets, knowing he would come back in an urn.

 

[twistedmic]

Over the course of about four years or so my family and I had four cats die (two of natural causes, two were put down.) The first one that died was a gray and white long-haired girl cat named Lady ,she lived the last two years of her long life (14-16 years) with Feline Aids and Leukemia before dying in her sleep.
The second was an Orange stripped long-haired boy cay named Sandy, he had a rare bone tumor (usually found on a dog's leg bones) on his lower jaw and had to be put down. He was 14.
Our third cat, a gray and white Snow shoe girl cat named Missy died in her sleep. She had been hiding a lot, acting sick and was (we found out the evening before she died) infested with fleas (which were brought in with a new kitten). We gave the cats flea baths that night and Missy died even later, I found her lying on a blanket the next morning. She had been around ten years old
The fourth cat that died was mine (or I was his boy). He was a black short-hair named Jasper. He started meowing a lot, then hiding and not eating. I took him to the vet and at first it looked like he just had an inflamed/infected tooth with a slight fever. He had to stay overnight until the fever broke and he got re-hydrated before the surgery. We then fond out that he had gone into kidney failure and he had to be put down. He was 16.

 

[Ashes2Ashes]

I just had to put one of my cats to sleep Jan 23rd, he had a cancerous growth in his abdomen. He had been losing weight and drinking a lot of water, which is how we found out about it in the first place. After some exploratory surgery in September we found out that it was spreading to other organs and couldn't be removed. For months the I thought the worst part was not knowing how long it would be. He seemed fine, not in pain, acting normal. Then all of a sudden he stopped eating, and made the most pitiful yowling sounds before trying to drink water. We really didn't want to take him to the vet to put him to sleep, because he always hated the car and we didn't want his last moments to be frightful, but then again we didn't want him to hurt anymore. He was literally my best friend for 14 years, he was mine and I was his. I can't even remember life without him, and now he's gone. It still breaks my heart and it's been 2 months... I probably will never get over it completely.

 

[Cody211282]

Had a 13 year old Bull Terrier that I had to put down 2 years ago. She was my first pet and it really sucked, I ended up staying at my then girlfriends house for almost 2 weeks because I didnt want to go back home.

 

[Snotnarok]

I only had a turtle, and apparently (since it was an outside pet) a cat came by and ate it. I wasn't exactly happy to find out that my turtle wasn't exactly floating around relaxing when I walked up, but it was his empty shell.

The only tumor/oddity infested friend I had was, well me, a giant one on my back bigger than a golfball for sure. I got that removed, here's to sitting back.

OP: Sorry to hear about your loss. Never fun losing anyone.

 

[Housebroken Lunatic]

In my lifetime we've had to put down four dogs. One because he was simply too old (couldn't even walk down or up stairs anymore), two because they had cancer, and the last one becase he was also getting to old and he took it out on our most recent puppy. The thing is when he attacked our recent puppy she fought back, and because he was so old he couldn't really defend himself and got hurt a few times. So it was the best we could really do for him.

Sucks each time it happens. Pets do get equivalent to family members eventually...

 

[ProtoChimp]

My dog Petra was 18 years old when she had to be put down. She wasn't well for a while and one day I had a really nice day at school and when I got home my mum said she had to be put down. We waited for a while, brought over relatives who wanted to see her one last time. I was distraught, and the one thing that got to me was my brother, who always gave me those bullshit man talks, was crying with me while and hugged me while I cried. I didn't see it happen, my mum and aunty took her to the vet and I knew she was gone when they came back. I dont know why but I went into school the next day, which you should never do when you're grieving, and let slip she died and nearly punched someone out who laughed at me.

 

[King of the Sandbox]

Beautiful Persian Siamese + Feline Leukemia = T_T

 

[Shockolate]

My first dog died of a triple seizure that was too much for his heart. This is what 10 pm mind you, so we wrapped him up in a blanket and put him on the back porch. My first reaction to seeing his body was to yell out "FUCK!" As loud as I could, and that was about it. I didn't cry, but I also didn't sleep that night.

My second dog we've had about 2 years and he appears to be perfectly healthy and will probably live for quite a long time. I'm dreading the day we have to put him down.

 

[Private Custard]

Years ago we went to a recue centre to get a dog. We ended up going home with a ten year old called Candy! She was overweight and a bit ill, so we put her on a diet and sorted her out. She was a good friend, really placid. She was so lacking in confidence that she didn't bark for the first few months.

We had her for a couple of years, and then she stood up one day and just fell over with a burst appendix. A couple of weeks after her op, the results came back. Turns out she was riddled with cancer too. No amount of medical attention could cure her. We took her to our local vets and had her put down. It was hard enough as it was, but she was sitting up when the injection went in, and I had to catch her on the way down and let her fall gently. Broke my heart.

I love dogs, I'd love to own another one, but the time when they go is a lot to take. I'll own another rescue dog at some point though, I prefer to give abandoned animals a second chance. They've already been dumped once, and they have feelings too.

 

[Pyoot]

My cat ;____;
He was the one of the BEST cats ever, he had some kind of Cancer thing, he ran away for almost a week i think, then he came back, 3 weeks later (guessing) He was lying down in the garden heavily breathing, we took him to the vets and they had to put him down or he'll haft to breathe through a tube and have needle poked into and stuff.. ;_____;

 

[Valksy]

I had to make the decision for my cat on the 4th of June last year. Her name was Artemis which I shortened to Missy which suited her just fine because she was dainty, fine boned and precious. She was old - I don't know how old as she was a rescue and the vets believed her original owner had told a bit of a lie to try and improve her odds of adoption. They put her at between 17 and 20.

I loved her desperately, she was my world and I would do anything to have her back. But that is life with animals.

Over the space of a week it became obvious she was ailing, she had become blind and her world shrank down to a space about 6 feet square. She was medicated for various age related issues - mainly hyperthyroidism and I believe that she had CRF as well towards the end. But she would sleep quietly and eat a little (cooked chicken, little tiny bits of tuna, anything she would take. old cats who don't eat go downhill so fast it is scary).

I really didn't leave her side for days but something told me that she was in real trouble so I took her to the vets. Her body was shutting down organ by organ and she was battling to breathe - her tiny lungs barely working. The vet gave me two choices - make the decision, or take her home and bring her back the next day. The inference being that she would have died of natural causes. Her time was up. And to take her home would have been for MY benefit, not hers, to abdicate my responsibility for her. She could barely breathe and her little heart was struggling. She would have asphyxiated.

Under advice from my vet I made the decision. To prolong her suffering would have been an act of cruelty. either way she was done and she could go quietly in my arms or struggle in pain and fear for her last breaths. As a conscientious pet owner I believe that it is our duty to be responsible for our pets - we are their guardians. The vet put the needle in her and she was gone in seconds. She was ready to let go and it was almost as if she needed permission (why yes, I am crying right now). My heart broke that day and it hasn't recovered.

It was the hardest thing that I have ever done. But I knew it was the right thing. My vet knew it was the right thing. I would do the same thing again if I had to.

I would only wish that when my times up someone will show me the same humanity.

And here is a pro-tip for all pet owners in the UK faced with a pet in need of veterinary care. Your vet cannot refuse to give you a printed prescription. They may charge for it, but they legally cannot refuse. Shop around for meds on line. I literally saved over £800 buying proper licensed meds from vendors other than my veterinarian (also custom diet foods). If you are worried about costs - get your pet insured and be wise with meds and it may mean you don't have to make awful choices before you need to.