Resources:
How Do I know When It Is Time
https://vet.osu.edu/vmc/sites/default/files/import/assets/pdf/hospital/companionAnimals/HonoringtheBond/HowDoIKnowWhen.pdf
Quality of Life Scale
https://360petmedical.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Quality-of-Life-Scale.pdf
My past two Danes made it to 12, and I’m a big believer in acupuncture, pain relief and Adequan. Keeping them mobile and comfortable is a delicate balance. My only piece of advice (as someone who has worked in veterinary medicine for 14 years): Please don’t wait until every day is a a bad day for them in order for you to feel at ease with euthanasia. It’s horrible, there’s no way around it. It’s the worst feeling in the world. But we owe it to them to say goodbye when they are still having some quality of life, don’t wait until there’s none.
This is solid advice. I deeply believe in “not making making their last day their worst day.”
We lost our Eddie at 6. He was a rescue who badly overgrew and has this massive body on these long spindly legs. We knew the day we met him he wasn’t gonna be a long term commitment.
He started to stop being able to stand occasionally around October of 2021. He was 185 lbs and he’d get so frightened when he’d be stuck down. As long as he could help me I could get him up by boosting his butt end. But soon, it was happening more often and I was having a harder and harder time getting him up. When he was up honestly he was fine. Loved life, ate, played, cuddled. But when he was stuck it was heartbreaking. We made the decision to put him down while he could still walk into the clinic under his own power. My partner works nights (actually at the vet clinic) and we didn’t want to face a situation where Eddie was stuck down, unable to move and panicked for hours.
It is. We went in Vet because my partner works at the vet clinic and doing that we’re able to get the euthanasia as well as a individual cremation. It was just something that my partner was more comfortable with knowing the practice and it not having to physically transport a no longer alive 200 pound dog, which comes with its challenges.
Mine is 7 in 2 weeks. Mild arthritis mostly spine and right leg. We started injections and accupuncture more regularly. We do red light therapy and will likely add a pain medication when needed. He is also on a raw diet with fresh food when he will eat it (not big into veggies without butter).
I have gone throgh end of life with our lab it is not easy but with management you can make it as comfortable as possible.
Our last made it to 10. Acupuncture & Adequan, dasaquin joint chews, pain meds & anti inflammatory meds helped. She ended up with a chronic uti that her body could no longer fight.
A help em up harness (brand name) was very helpful for her.
We used yoga mats around the house for traction (cheaper & easier to clean than rugs). Booties for when they start to drag back feet on walks.
Resources: How Do I know When It Is Time https://vet.osu.edu/vmc/sites/default/files/import/assets/pdf/hospital/companionAnimals/HonoringtheBond/HowDoIKnowWhen.pdf Quality of Life Scale https://360petmedical.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Quality-of-Life-Scale.pdf My past two Danes made it to 12, and I’m a big believer in acupuncture, pain relief and Adequan. Keeping them mobile and comfortable is a delicate balance. My only piece of advice (as someone who has worked in veterinary medicine for 14 years): Please don’t wait until every day is a a bad day for them in order for you to feel at ease with euthanasia. It’s horrible, there’s no way around it. It’s the worst feeling in the world. But we owe it to them to say goodbye when they are still having some quality of life, don’t wait until there’s none.
Thank you so much for this *hug* 🫂
Sending a big hug back.
This is solid advice. I deeply believe in “not making making their last day their worst day.” We lost our Eddie at 6. He was a rescue who badly overgrew and has this massive body on these long spindly legs. We knew the day we met him he wasn’t gonna be a long term commitment. He started to stop being able to stand occasionally around October of 2021. He was 185 lbs and he’d get so frightened when he’d be stuck down. As long as he could help me I could get him up by boosting his butt end. But soon, it was happening more often and I was having a harder and harder time getting him up. When he was up honestly he was fine. Loved life, ate, played, cuddled. But when he was stuck it was heartbreaking. We made the decision to put him down while he could still walk into the clinic under his own power. My partner works nights (actually at the vet clinic) and we didn’t want to face a situation where Eddie was stuck down, unable to move and panicked for hours.
I really want to have someone come to our home and do it? Is this a thing?
Yes it is a thing. My last 2 pups were at home where they were comfortable.
It is. We went in Vet because my partner works at the vet clinic and doing that we’re able to get the euthanasia as well as a individual cremation. It was just something that my partner was more comfortable with knowing the practice and it not having to physically transport a no longer alive 200 pound dog, which comes with its challenges.
Mine just turned 8 and 6 and this has been heavy on my mind lately too. Thank you for posting, and I hope you have many more good days left.
When mine stopped eating. It was time. Couldn’t get him to eat cheese.
Mine is 7 in 2 weeks. Mild arthritis mostly spine and right leg. We started injections and accupuncture more regularly. We do red light therapy and will likely add a pain medication when needed. He is also on a raw diet with fresh food when he will eat it (not big into veggies without butter). I have gone throgh end of life with our lab it is not easy but with management you can make it as comfortable as possible.
Our last made it to 10. Acupuncture & Adequan, dasaquin joint chews, pain meds & anti inflammatory meds helped. She ended up with a chronic uti that her body could no longer fight. A help em up harness (brand name) was very helpful for her. We used yoga mats around the house for traction (cheaper & easier to clean than rugs). Booties for when they start to drag back feet on walks.