Dog has cancer, final decisions

We had to let our 16.5 year old go a few months ago. I knew the day was coming, and one morning she just let us know.

I had a full on panic attack just thinking about having to take her to the vet and be in the room with her. I was terrified of the entire situation. Thankfully, my husband called and talked to our vet and she recommended an in home hospice that did euthanasia. We called, and they were at our house within a couple of hours.

They were amazing and they made the experience as positive as it could have been. I was very glad that we were able to be with our girl, in our own home where she was comfortable.

I am so sorry you are having to think about this. Hugs to you and your boxer.

It's not easy. And I am not a super-freaky-do-anything for my pets kind of a person. But it is really hard to put one down.

We are SO lucky that our vets will come out to us, so we don't have to stress out the dog. We can go sit under their favorite shade tree and hold them. Heartbreaking experience though. Makes me tear up thinking about it, even now - so big hugs to you! ♥

I'm sorry you are in this position.

I've had to put down two dogs with no warning. it is hard, but I would absolutely go. For years they never left my side and I wont leave theirs. For us, it truly wasn't a big deal (dramatic or painful or stressful for the dog). Our vet had a special room where they take you + your dog. You come in and exit via a private door so you dont even have to deal with other people or noises. They gave us time to love on them alone and then they come back and get started. After saying goodbye, it was probably less than 5 min.

Edited to add: we've never gotten a new dog after we've lost one. Both times we had added a new adopted dog to our family (so 3 dogs total) and then within a year, we found ourselves having to put one down because of pain and quality of life. Now we wont ever have three dogs at one time. 

For me euthanasia is the ultimate proof of love we take their pain away and make it ours

Dogs hate to go to the vet so for that last visit I make my vet come to my home where the dog is confortable,I believe that it’s less stressful for them and I don’t make a fool of myself in the waiting room sobbing .
The dog was there for you for the last 12 1/2 year I know it’s so hard to say goodbye and I’m not going to be popular when I say that but you owe it to him to hold is paw at the end , It’s OK to cry vets are used to it.

We just went through this exact thing a few months ago. I took Sophie (13-1/2) for her rabies shot in mid December. She was acting totally fine and normal. The vet noticed that she had swollen lymph glands on her neck, and thought that seemed off since she didn't have a fever. She tested for lymphoma and it came back positive. Further testing and chemo seemed tortuous for a dog that old, so we decided to just let her live her life comfortably until she couldn't.

She was fine for about a month, and then one morning she didn't want to eat and was having trouble breathing. We took her into the vet's office to have her euthanized. My husband and I both took her. Honestly, I'm really glad I was there because I was able to hold her and say goodbye. DH and I cried so hard, and Sophie had us both holding onto her and telling her what a good dog she was. It was very peaceful for her. I'm glad that the end wasn't dragged out, and that up until the last morning she was acting like her normal self. Our vet is a saint, and made all three of us feel comforted at such a difficult time.

I'm not sure if we'll get another dog. We have two cats that are 11, and I think another animal will upset them too much. Plus, DH and I are both around 60 and not sure we can commit to another 15 years of caring for a dog. But it's still too soon in any case.

It's hard to let them go, but they will usually let you know when it's time. We lost Max in October - he was having breathing trouble for a while, but it was obvious that he was struggling and it was time. DD and I stayed with him and held him while we said goodby, but DH couldn't - so he waited in the car for us. It was very quick and peaceful. It helped that he was struggling, because giving him peace was a relief for us.

DH swore so many times that when Max died, we would NOT be getting another dog. We got Max two weeks after we lost Mocha, and he swore then that he didn't want another dog. But he loved Mocha, and he loved Max.

The morning after Max died - a Thursday, he said that it wasn't a home without a dog. So we went looking. Our dog didn't find us that day. We went to the Humane Society the next morning and he found us. He had been at the county shelter but nobody was interested, so they were transferring him to the humane society on Thursday and he hadn't been available because he was shooting his video segment for the local Pets on parade show. He's a great dog, very sweet and not at all what we originally went looking for. DH wanted a black dog, female, adult, Australian Shepherd. We ended up with a white dog, male, 9 months old, Australian Cattle Dog. He's super smart and very affectionate. He's not Max, he's not Mocha - but he's ours and we love him for as long as he's in our lives.

I'm so sorry you're facing this, it is extremely hard. We had to euthanize our dog that had been in our family for thirteen years. He had a tumor near his heart, he was so healthy and then all of a sudden not. It happened very quickly. It fell on me to be there ( or not ). Our vet was amazing and we could have done it at our house but I didn't want my girls to have to go through that. I made the choice to be there with him. I'm so glad I did even though it was so hard. It was very peaceful and I know that I comforted him. I felt like he had always been a part of our family and I wouldn't want a family member to be alone if I had a choice in the matter. We still love and miss that dog.

We did get another dog but it took us about a year after saying goodbye to do it.

Oh and it was about 14 years or so before I had a dog in my life again. Wish it was sooner but with a very medically fragile child it wasn't ideal.

I’m sorry 😔 Love on your pup and then love her by letting her go.

We lost our boxer in 2015, he was eleven. When he started to go downhill it went pretty fast. We had a really bad night with him and took him in at 8:00 am. We both stayed with him, it was very peaceful. After the night we had it was a blessing to see him at peace. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be and I felt closure being there.

I’m sorry you are going down this road. Whatever you choose to do is the right thing. There isn’t a right or wrong.

My husband took her in. I couldn't go and neither could my son.

I am so sorry and so devastating. Hugs and prayers for you and your pup.

I'm unfortunately familiar with this - I had to euthanize my sweet 10 year old cat Sophie on Tuesday. I was with her for the procedure; the same decision I made two years ago when I had to euthanize her sister. It's hard but I wouldn't have it any other way. The ending was quick and peaceful for my pets and my veterinarian is very compassionate.

I was actually grateful to be able to be with Sophie at the end, as my veterinarian's practice hasn't allowed owners to come into the office for routine visits for several weeks now.

Our little dog was killed right before Christmas.. it was heartbreaking.  We still cry over it here and there.  BUT we rescued two Pomeranians  from my niece's mothers house.  She didn't want them and I couldn't bear to see them ending up somewhere bad.  It was right after our Chippy was killed but I went ahead and took them.  They are so cute and lovable I think they really are helping us get over the death of our other dog.  

We have been through lots of dogs. All of them died of old age mostly (there were usually issues that we decided not to extend their lives as they were older.. like our Husky who was 11 or 12 years old with hip problems.  She started peeing and sleeping all the time, so we decided it was her time.) We would mourn their deaths but there was always another dog around the corner with different lovable traits.  No one dog can replace another the same way.  Chippy was the hardest since he was only a few years old and it was sudden. 

Lily and Poppy are our babies now..