How do you know? End of Life question

[kjc]

Originally Posted by beachdog

I don't think he is in pain and I think he is comfortable, except when he has a breathing or coughing episode. I hate it when I have to go to work and leave him alone for hours, and can't comfort him if he has an attack. Right now I am off until 1/3 so that is good.
I am taking him to the vet for a recheck on Monday.

Just wanted to share this: My Peek a Boo has coughed for years... CT was not found unless it is where the trachea first goes into the lungs (does not show on xray if it's there). Anyway, when he got pneumonia two years ago, I noticed a great improvement in his breathing after the course of Antibiotics he was given for the pneumonia. He always has moist breath sounds, no fluid in his lungs (after the pneumonia cleared), but the Doxycycline really helped him and lessened his coughing.

I asked the vet if this is something we could do every so often when his coughing gets bad, and he said that would be fine to do for him. I also have another drug for him to use as needed... the cough suppressant, but he hasn't needed that since taking the AB's.

Hoping your vet can help you both... prayers and Best Wishes....

[nanahas3]

It is so awfully hard to go through this I am praying for your peace of mind right now. When little Lolo was bad she would look at me with those sad sad little eyes like please help me,
but then she didnt want to be held because I guess it hurt her to much. I kept thinking I knew it wasnt fair for her to have to suffer and I was going to have to do something but I also kept praying thinking there had to be a chance for her to get better. She finally took that decision away from me and passed in my arms one day. It broke my heart to lose her but watching her suffer was excrusiating. I pray that when the time is right you will know. God bless you and my prayers are with you and your little one.

[Teresa Ford]

to beachdog, My heart goes out to you. It is awful to have to decide when. It truly is about suffering and love. I think you have gotten some very good advice. Like the others that responded, I have had to go through this too, with loved ones, parents, my husband and loved dogs. I think there is so much more than the here and now. It is that belief, that brings comfort. I think animals and people can deal with sickness and pain if they know they will recover and be well again. When they understand that is not going to happen, the suffering becomes an unbearable burden, and the waiting for relief, turns their world inward. I have seen this happen with very ill and elderly people. They accept dieing and just wait for it. Animals mostly live in the moment and when they can not live life, they need us to be compassionate and help them end the waiting. God Bless You, and prayers for you and yours.

[lucky999]

Originally Posted by beachdog

As some of you know, my Paris has collapsing trachea and is blind. He is steadily getting worse but I am distraught over choosing the level of suffering I want him to endure. He is eating, but not gobbling up his food like he used to and not eating right as I put the food down, he will come later and eat it. He hasn't played squeaky sock in several days. He has coughing fits all day long and each breath is noisy. He wakes up in the night fighting for air. Some days he crys almost all day.
The vet said on 12/9 he wasn't in pain, and his heart sounded good and no fluid in his lungs.
Some people have said you can see it in their eyes, but Paris is blind.
It breaks my heart to see him like this, but how do I know it is time?
My eyes fill with tears to even think about it, but I want to do the right thing for my best friend.

I just lost my Maltese Monique...just today...she seemed fine, then she started coughing and was gone...one never knows...she had been on meds for her heart, but was active and ate well..she was 13 Yrs. & 7 mos...I lost my Lucky at 13 1/2 in 2008...we are never prepared for the grief...ask your vet what is best...Lucky999

[Denzilla]

I'm sorry you're going through this. I've been where you are and know it's not easy. When it becomes obvious that Paris is having more bad days than good ones it's time. I agree with some other posters that you'll just know in your heart when the time has come.

[SophieandZiggy]

Originally Posted by lucky999

I just lost my Maltese Monique...just today...she seemed fine, then she started coughing and was gone...one never knows...she had been on meds for her heart, but was active and ate well..she was 13 Yrs. & 7 mos...I lost my Lucky at 13 1/2 in 2008...we are never prepared for the grief...ask your vet what is best...Lucky999

so sorry for your loss

I had to have my Black Lab mix and my Spitz put down at 15 1/2 and 16 years old. For me it was knowing that the quality of life was gone.
i didn't want to hold on for myself.
it was still so very hard, but I knew in my heart, it was the right thing to do.

[beachdog]

All these personal stories of loss and how you all dealt with it are so comforting, thank you all. Paris had a very good day yesterday, my Christmas gift from him. He actually wagged his tail when he heard my older sons voice. He hadn't wagged that little tail in days! He also played with his squeaky sock for a few moments. It was so touching when my older son left when he bent down and kissed Paris and told him how he was such a good dog. Paris was a gift from my son 11 years ago.
Last night was not too good he woke up several times hacking and coughing. He is still asleep right now. Thank you all again for the gift of hope and understanding.

[beachdog]

Originally Posted by lucky999

I just lost my Maltese Monique...just today...she seemed fine, then she started coughing and was gone...one never knows...she had been on meds for her heart, but was active and ate well..she was 13 Yrs. & 7 mos...I lost my Lucky at 13 1/2 in 2008...we are never prepared for the grief...ask your vet what is best...Lucky999

This is so sad, sorry for your loss.

[gracielove]

Originally Posted by lucky999

I just lost my Maltese Monique...just today...she seemed fine, then she started coughing and was gone...one never knows...she had been on meds for her heart, but was active and ate well..she was 13 Yrs. & 7 mos...I lost my Lucky at 13 1/2 in 2008...we are never prepared for the grief...ask your vet what is best...Lucky999

I'm sorry for your loss of Monique. It's especially difficult when everyone is celebrating the holidays and you are in the midst of heartbreak. I hope you will be able to receive consolation from the years she gave you. I guess one of the really sad parts of loving and living with these creatures is the fact that their life spans end in what seems to be such a short time span. However, I find that there is always another life in need of someone to love and care for it. Life helps cancel out loss.

[yorkieusa]

Originally Posted by beachdog

I don't think he is in pain and I think he is comfortable, except when he has a breathing or coughing episode. I hate it when I have to go to work and leave him alone for hours, and can't comfort him if he has an attack. Right now I am off until 1/3 so that is good.
I am taking him to the vet for a recheck on Monday.

I have followed Paris for a long time now. You have done such a wonderful job with the things you have both faced together. I wouldn't question any decision you make. Sending prayers for Paris.

[beachdog]

Originally Posted by yorkieusa

I have followed Paris for a long time now. You have done such a wonderful job with the things you have both faced together. I wouldn't question any decision you make. Sending prayers for Paris.

Thank you for being there for Paris also! He is having a pretty good day so far. He is worse at night for some reason.

[MikaTallulah]

I have always believed it is better to help by furry loved ones over the rainbow bridge before they are scared and possibly suffering.

Example:
My Lucky passed at 13- 11/13/2010 from liver cancer that spread to his spleen causing it to rupture. I did not even know he was sick. No weight loss or gain. No changes in behavior or activity level. He was playing ball the previous evening. He just was slow getting up in the morning which was not like him and his belly was hard. The emergency vet did surgery because an x-ray showed blood in his abdomen. She told me after opening him up his spleen had ruptured so she removed it and no further bleeding was present. However she did find a football sized tumor on his liver and it was probably the primary cancer site. She said she wanted to let me know and they were in the process of stitching him up to then move to recovery. I told her not to wake him up. I know liver cancer that has spread to other areas of the body has a very poor prognosis. I did not want him to suffer in anyway. Why put him through so much pain to only have a few months at most more with him? If he did not have the giant tumor I would have nursed him back to health but this was an active dog who loved to eat and play ball and swim. He would have never got to play ball or swim again. That would have been torture for all involved.

All my yorkies all retrieved indoors and outdoors all day because he taught them. Every time the retrieve a toy now I have Lucky to thank. I just rescued a golden who does not know how to retrieve but I love him because Lucky would want another golden to have the same life he had.

[gracielove]

Originally Posted by MikaTallulah

I have always believed it is better to help by furry loved ones over the rainbow bridge before they are scared and possibly suffering.

Example:
My Lucky passed at 13- 11/13/2010 from liver cancer that spread to his spleen causing it to rupture. I did not even know he was sick. No weight loss or gain. No changes in behavior or activity level. He was playing ball the previous evening. He just was slow getting up in the morning which was not like him and his belly was hard. The emergency vet did surgery because an x-ray showed blood in his abdomen. She told me after opening him up his spleen had ruptured so she removed it and no further bleeding was present. However she did find a football sized tumor on his liver and it was probably the primary cancer site. She said she wanted to let me know and they were in the process of stitching him up to then move to recovery. I told her not to wake him up. I know liver cancer that has spread to other areas of the body has a very poor prognosis. I did not want him to suffer in anyway. Why put him through so much pain to only have a few months at most more with him? If he did not have the giant tumor I would have nursed him back to health but this was an active dog who loved to eat and play ball and swim. He would have never got to play ball or swim again. That would have been torture for all involved.

All my yorkies all retrieved indoors and outdoors all day because he taught them. Every time the retrieve a toy now I have Lucky to thank. I just rescued a golden who does not know how to retrieve but I love him because Lucky would want another golden to have the same life he had.

I could not agree with you more. I live with regret now that I was unable to end my baby's suffering sooner. Of course sometimes we are too close to a situation to see it objectively. Family members were seeing things I had chosen not to. I guess we live and learn. I will never allow another one of my furry friends to suffer because of my inability to face parting with them again. You did a wise and courageous thing for your Lucky. I also admire the fact that your loss did not prevent you from rescuing another life in need of help. There is no better way to honor the life of your loved one.

[BLowry]

I am so sorry to hear this....We had to have our 19 yr old Maine Coon boy put down the Monday before Thanksgiving....We knew this day was coming and tried to prepare ourselves for it....there is NOTHING you can do to make the horrible decision any easier..This is the first time I have ever had to do this (my x husband used to bring them)...It was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life...but it was the right thing to do for McKenzi. He couldn't go up and down stairs anymore, he was making a funny sound when eating and 2 days before we made the decision he had a hard time walking and a HUGE lump at the base of his tail...We cried all night as we knew the day had finally come...We gave him TONS of attention and told him how much we would miss him....He would just look up at us with those big green eyes and we knew we were making the right decision...he looked at us as if to say...please do what you have to do so i'm not in anymore pain....didn't make our decision any easier but, he isn't in pain anymore and romping up on Rainbow Bridge with all his brothers and sisters...
My heart goes out to you.

[yorkieusa]

Originally Posted by beachdog

Thank you for being there for Paris also! He is having a pretty good day so far. He is worse at night for some reason.

I think people feel worse at night, too, when we are sick.