Hard decision

[Forever_frost]

Today I noticed that my best friend has a growth on his spine. I have a cocker spaniel that I adopted from a pet store in 03 and he was the only thing my exwife and I almost went to court over in our divorce. He was by my side when I was homeless when I got out of the Army and kept me from making a bad and very permanent decision when the VA messed up my medications and I hit some very bad depression. He's been my constant friend and this shaggy old dog that is getting near sighted, barks at air and dammit this is hard.

I'm going to make arrangements to see a vet but 10 years old is an old age for a lab/cocker mix and he's been having trouble getting on the bed at night for a year. I just thought I'd reach out a bit because if this turns out like I"m thinking it will, I'm going to be down a very good and very loyal friend and it's going to hurt.

[asphaltjunkie]

When that day comes, it's gonna suck like nothing else. You may not want to do it, but I'd recomend, after allowing yourself a few days/weeks to mourn, trot down to your local pound, and just take a look. It's a 50/50 shot that it'll either make you sad and want your old friend back, or you just might find your new best friend.

Just be prepared for the memory of your current buddy to be with you for a very long time.

And in your case, Frost, I'd be sure to let your docs know about whats going on, so they might can adjust your meds to help you through this. He kept you from doing something permanent. Losing him might/might not bring you right back to that point. Don't let that happen.

Sent from my LGL45C using Tapatalk 2

[soap]

Wow dude. Hope Everything works out. If you need any kind of help with the vet let us know. Ever since I had to put my Doberman Down. I made a promise to myself. That i would never get attached To Animals Ever again.

[JC316]

Putting a pet down was one of the hardest things that I have ever had to do. Every time a pet dies, I make an effort to get another ASAP, always helps me.

[jakesford]

It is so freaking hard to do, but you gotta do what's right for them... If the vet thinks he has some more quality time then it might be time to adopt another rescue dog. Sometimes it seems like older dogs get a little pick-me-up with a younger dog around to play with.

[0 GT 2]

Dogs get benign tumors all the time. Just go get it checked out.

[03trubluGT]

That's a good looking ball of fur!

[Baron Von Crowder]

hopefully its nothing major. It does suck in a bad way to have to put down a best friend.

I too wanted to get another asap, but my wife's been convincing that two others are plenty with the two kiddos.

[kingjason]

Dogs get benign tumors all the time. Just go get it checked out.

x2

[line-em-up]

True about the benign tumors. We've had 2 dogs with cancer and it seemed to spread faster after they tried to cut it out. It seems almost better to let them be.

Best wishes to your little friend. Letting go of them is never easy.

[ceyko]

I've never forgotten about any of my dogs and think of them sometimes with nothing but great memories. I miss them all, but it's not intended for them to live real long, just have to give a great life to them while you can.

I used to raise my dogs with a strong hand (It was the only way I knew how to do it). I refrain from that now that I'm older - specifically because usually yelling - firm holds work - and I don't want to regret hitting them.

A strange dog I don't want around is totally different though, but my own are my family.

[BP]

I had to put my cat down last Monday due to kidney failure, it sucks. He was my best friend for the last 10 years. He had a great time while he was here and I'm going to miss him for a while.

Hopefully your buddy comes out this okay! You gave him a much better life than he would have had otherwise.

[blownaltered]

Man that sucks, I just put one of my boxers down last month because of cancer. She had it for a couple years and it finally was taking its toll. It was a very hard thing to do, I cried like a baby. Good luck on this decision, it took me a few weeks to come to mine.

[jluv]

Don't think the worst just yet. As mentioned, dogs get growths all the time. Also, it's normal for an older dog to not be able to jump as high (like up on a bed). That means nothing. They could still have plenty of years left from that point. Think about it - old people start getting stiff and achy and have a harder time getting around for the last 10-20 years of their life, if not more. It doesn't mean they don't enjoy life.

I tend to believe in letting a dog get old and die on their own, unless they are clearly miserable. Getting old and achy, even blind or deaf, should not equal a death sentence. If you know for sure that they have a failing organ, or something is causing them tremendous, untreatable pain, then that's different.

Either way, good luck. It's an awful hard thing. I just had to put my mom's 16-year-old dog down two weeks ago. She had a huge growth on her face that was inoperable, issues getting around, and had pretty much lost the urge to even get out of bed for the final few days. I'd bonded with that dog more than my mother or anyone else had, so I wanted to be the one with her at the end. I brought her some Whataburger the night before, and an Egg McMuffin the morning of. She enjoyed that!

On that note, if/when you have to do it, stay with your buddy the whole time. I dropped off one of our dying cats many years ago, and I've regretted not begin in the room ever since. You really want them to feel comfortable and safe for the last few minutes, not freaked out and lonely. It's hard, but knowing they passed peacefully in your arms should bring you some level of comfort.

Also, you might ask the vet about giving two shots. Mine did. The first one is an anesthetic, so they are asleep and pain free before they get the final shot. It made things seem more gradual, and just a little more peaceful.

You can also have them cremated. This has been my choice the past couple of times, and I'll probably do it for all of my pets in the future.

Again, good luck. Maybe it's not even that time yet.

[Gtracer]

Hope its nothing and he has 10 more years left.

But if not,
Dont let him go alone, be there by his side if that is the decision that is to be made. If not, realize that everyday just became more valuble.

All these pictures and stories online of dogs staying by their owners side; even after death. Its the least we should be able to do for them.

Thats all I can say, between my allergies today and sleepyness, my eyes get a little red and glossy...

<---had to bury every pet my family has ever had because they couldnt do it...grew up pretty quick but the feelings are still there, just suppressed