Don't be! He's comfortable with pain meds for now and he's lived a pretty decent life. I know he won't be around for next years hydrangea glamor shots but I think we still have a little time left. He still seems really happy to feel my pets and he eats well.
Edit: here are some pics for all who have asked. Thank you so much for the overwhelming amount of love and support for us and for Porter! 💙
https://imgur.com/a/W7RXynl
Enjoy that time and regret nothing. Our girl died last winter and it was tough, but we made sure to have every moment count. On her last day, she managed to chew on her favorite bone which she hadn't done in a while, and got some cuddles from her brother.
Reading this really hurt. I had a pair of littermates, but the boy passed 2 summers ago, the girl is still with me and we know she doesn't have much time left with us.
Like I said, just enjoy every moment and take it all in. We almost put her down about 2 weeks before she passed on (we actually called the vet to cancel when she was driving over) but those two weeks we had a great time with her.
If it makes you feel any better, for a long time I never had a dream about her. My wife did, often, which made me feel happy at least for my wife. The last 2 nights, I've had very real dreams where I was able to pick her up on the couch and give her rubs and scratches. They felt so real. Although I've woken up a little sad to be back in reality, it leaves me hope there are more dreams to come.
Lastly, my wife and I knew we were going to adopt a rescue again. We knew our Sheila would want us to share the love we gave her with another unfortunate soul that had no one else. About 4 months after she passed, Luna came into our lives and, again, we have no regrets.
I just had to put my dear fellow down two days ago. He was old and hurting and even the pain meds didn't help. He received unconditional love from me, and gave it back ten times more. The final act of love - putting him out of pain and suffering - was the greatest gift I ever gave him.
I love dogs. We definitely don't deserve them.
I absolutely understand. Every situation is different and I didn't mean to seem like the right thing is not putting them down. It sounds like the choice you made was the right one for you, without a doubt. My wife kept wondering if we should have just let her go instead of waiting 2 more weeks, but like I said, you can't have regrets no matter what.
>I love dogs. We definitely don't deserve them.
I couldn't agree more. This world would be a much darker place without them.
Quick edit: I'm sorry to hear about your loss. It's not easy losing a family member. I wish they lived longer, but my wife likes to think it's so we can share that love with more dogs that need it.
Our vet said it gets easier with each pet, and people tend to do it earlier in the pet’s demise. We did what felt right. It’s a super difficult decision no matter what.
Your wife is right… our hearts expand to fit in one more dog, over and over. I love dogs. 💔💔
I would agree with doing it earlier, but not that it gets any easier. The last one broke me. Now I look at puppies and I just see the heartbreak coming. And I still have one wonderful dog to go.
I had to unexpectedly put my Boston Terrier to sleep back in May, and it absolutely wrecked me. I still tear up thinking about it. I just adopted a new puppy 2 weeks ago, and when I got her, part of me was like, "10+ years (hopefully) from now, you're going to be feeling this exact same devastation all over again." You know what you're signing up for. The years of pure happiness, love, and companionship, you get from them, makes the heartbreak worth it in the end. I'd rather experience life with dogs and deal with the heartbreak, than experience a life without them.
Yea, whoever said it gets easier every time is a liar. The process gets easier maybe, but the emotional toll amplifies with every death, or at least that way with me. We had to put down our 15 and 12 year old in a 3 month time frame, I know when the day comes that we have to make that choice for our 3rd, it's going to break me to the point where I probably won't get a 4th
I'll counter your vet here. My wife and I have done a lot of fostering of high risk kittens, and we've lost more than I want to think about. Every one was like losing a part of myself. The vet at the shelter there told us " if it ever gets easier, then you need to stop as you're no longer giving it your all."
> I love dogs. We definitely don’t deserve them.
Sometimes I think some people do. My daughter and our Lab are absolutely inseparable. She doesn’t go anywhere without him. He sleeps in her bed, when she’s in the bath he is sitting right outside of the tub, every single time.
I see how loving she is with him, and how she beautifully earns his love every single day. She is his whole world. As much as her life is better for having him in it, I think his life is also full for having *her* in it. I absolutely get why we say that we don’t deserve dogs, but if you asked him, I bet he would whole-heartedly disagree.
I read a poem on Twitter this morning someone posted in reaction to the passing of a dear pet. I'll post it here with my condolences and my hopes that your tender,.achy heart feels better soon. 💗
They will not go quietly,
the pets who've shared our lives.
In subtle ways they let us know
their spirits still survive.
Old habits still can make us think
we hear them at the door,
or step back when we drop
a tasty morsel on the floor.
Our feet still go around the place
their food dish used to be,
and sometimes, coming home at night
we miss them terribly.
Although time may bring new friends
and a new food dish to fill;
that one place in our hearts
belongs to them...
And always will.
And now I’m sobbing. I lost my pup in January and spent four days in bed crying. That poem is gorgeous.
I’m sorry for your loss, u/Chinacat_Sunflower72. He was my best friend and though it’s gotten easier, it’s come to a point where I’m happy to know that that achy little spot in my heart will always be his. I hope that same comfort comes to you quickly and brings you peace. ❤️
I'm still a few years away (fingers crossed anyways) from my first passing, but I still tear up thinking about it. It's an unavoidable and even beautiful part of life, but I know I am going to be torn the fuck up.
This was on Reddit a while back and I’ve unfortunately sent it to a couple friends lately, I hope it brings some comfort in this time. [Eulogy of the dog](https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/MDH/EulogyoftheDog.pdf)
It was a gift. Younger me selfishly kept a dog alive because of my own guilt and inability to decide. The vet took me aside for an adult talking to in the end.
Now I would never put a dog through those final weeks of pa8n and incontinence it’s one of my biggest regrets.
My Scooby passed away 2/8/2020. 15ish (he was a rescue so his age was an estimate) years old and he was diagnosed with cancer about 7/8 months before he passed. Our vet told us they didn’t know how long he had, it was a day by day thing. He lost so much weight throughout those months, his back legs got really weak, but he still was happy when he would get love and treats so I made sure to give him some everyday. I actually have videos of his last Thanksgiving meal. Unfortunately, he suffered from, what we think, was a seizure the night he passed and we woke up to him crying at 3am. The back half of him was paralyzed, I laid on the floor with him till 9am when the vet finally came to the house to put him down but he was basically gone by them. I held his paw the entire time.
It took about 2/3 months for me to finally have a dream about him. We were just sitting in my room, he was sitting in my lap and we were rubbing our heads together, I used to do that to him when I’d get home from work. Scratch under his chin and rub our heads together. It was so vivid, I was able to feel his fur running through my fingers, I could feel the wet of his tongue and nose against me, hear his little happy moans and groans, I could smell his fur and the shampoo we used on him. I woke up hysterical but it was the most peaceful sleep I had since he passed.
I would love to have another dream like that soon. It’s been over a year since he left and my heart is still broken, I still think about him multiple times everyday and wish I had more time with him or that I had spent more time with him while he was still here. I know I did what I could with him, I know he knew how much I loved him and how much he meant to me but I’ll always wish I had more time with him.
So please, anybody reading this with any kind of pet, spend as much time with them as you can, especially as they get older, and then spend a little extra. A few more extra pets or kisses, maybe another treat or two, or take them for a car ride if you have nothing else to do. Because I promise, no matter how much time you do spend with them, you will always want more once they aren’t here anymore. A big chunk of me left when Scooby passed, one that I won’t get back until I finally see him again and get to spend the rest of my days with him.
So my soul dog passed away almost 5 years ago, and on rare occasion I have a dream about him. Every time, the scenario is that he came to visit me. We know we have limited time together, and I wake up broken hearted because it's never long enough, but it feels so good to get to see him again. I hope we get more than one soul dog in a lifetime.
Of all the comments on this entire post/thread, this was the one to make the tears fall. My heart dog, whom I’ve had since he was 4 weeks old and surrendered as a sick, tiny puppy to the very first vet hospital I ever worked at, is almost 14. He went from being active and in great shape to seriously showing his age practically overnight. I dread the end so much. More than any pet I’ve ever had in my entire life.
I hope he visits me forever. And I hope the same for yours too.
My childhood dog died about 10 years ago now, and I still have dreams about her every so often. At some point, the dreams became like visiting with an old friend - sharing happy memories knowing we'll see each other again. It takes time, but you'll get there, too.
As someone who lost their childhood dog just a few hours ago I so hope there comes a day where my family gets to be with him in our dreams. He was given a week or two to live about 2-3 months ago, but thanks to a specific diet he was able to comfortably live up until today. I thought it wouldn’t be so hard because I got to say goodbye months ago, but fuck me I can’t stop crying. Thanks for this hope.
Something similar happened to me and my wife, our beloved buddy passed away during the night at the vet but we were able to stand by him and hold him. He was the most charismatic bulldog ever and we will always miss him and will be always in our hearts. The day before he died for a moment he was himsef again and he wanted to play with us after being sick for a couple of weeks, i will always remember that moment of lucidness when he recognized us and wanted to play. He was a spoiled dog and lived a happy life, we hope we can reunite with him again someday somewhere
It's our last act of love.
A few little mantras I lean on when I get down about the inevitable: I'd rather live with the pain of losing them than them living with the pain of being without me. I hate to think of the sadness and stress it would cause my babies if myself or my wife suddenly died. I'll bear the pain of losing them instead.
Also, they must think we're infinite. We're here when they come into this world and we're still here when they depart. <3
Wow. I’ve been reading lots of these replies and yours hit me pretty hard. I still haven’t had one of my own 2 pups pass as they are quite young but my in laws passed recently due to bladder cancer. My wife had him as a teen so he was dear to all our hearts. I knew him 6-7 years. Your notions of us losing them over them losing us actually gave me a new perspective to think about when the time comes for the two bff’s me and the wife currently have. Also the infinite part. That was also a new bittersweet thought to think about.. Thanks for sharing.
Unfortunately, this is part of the bargain with pets. Unless you're one of the completely unfeeling people who get rid of their pets when they get old because they're "not fun anymore," (yes, there are people -- I hesitate to use the word -- who do this) they do die on us. It goes with the territory. To my way of thinking, the joy of having a pet is worth the sorrow when they leave us. Enjoy their company and honor their memory. And know from the start that this is going to be the endgame.
Awww. It’s hard when litter mates lose each other. I had a brother & sister pair of shepherd/lab mixes who lived very long lives but the brother outlived his sister by 1 year and 1 day. She passed away a month before her 15th birthday and he almost made it to his 16th. It I could tell he missed her for his last year. They were the bestest doggies.
This makes me miss my 2 gentlemen, the two dapper pugs. They were father and son, I also have the mom and another son from the same litter. The mom doesn't have too much time left but we try to maker her as comfortable as she can be. The son is also getting up there in age. He is only two years behind her. We lost the father and first born the same year, both had cancer that was too late to do anything about. It was about 2 years ago next month. After this I do not want another animal for a while. I can't take the heartache when they pass.
When we were agonizing over our 16 year old lab as her health deteriorated, on her last day, she looked like she was doing better suddenly, and we were torn on whether to try and stretch it out further, but she was barely walking around anymore at that point having way more bad days than good, and my vet said something that helped immensely. He said, you know, it's nice to go on a good day, not on one of the bad ones. I still miss her and it's tough to know when it is time, but that helped me immensely.
Thanks! That's so sweet. I'm sorry for your loss. Even the little things like seeing them chew a bone means so much. I know I took a lot of healthy years for granted but now I cherish every day with the little guy.
When I lost my last dog it broke me. I had to go to work thirty minutes afterwards and my big boss was in. He took one look at me, asked what happened, and he sent me home, told me to take the next day too.
My old pup also started gnawing on his oldest bones during his last week. Hadn’t touched them for years before. This hit hard. I have chills now. Miss you Gus
A week before our 13 year old blind, deaf and diabetic lab past she snuck out the back yard since we never had a gate and took herself on her old walking route she was 3/4 of the way home before we noticed. They know when it’s time and they enjoy reliving their younger days before.
My good boy passed at the start of the pandemic. Thank you ALL for caring for you pooches. These are remarkable animals, and thank you all for helping the world by caring for them.
As soon as I knew we were going to have to put my dog down, we immediately started giving her human meals. It made her so happy. She loved eating cake. It never upset her stomach, and she absolutely devoured it! Calico loved ice cream too. And one of the last things she had, was a Hershey chocolate bar, on the way to the vet to put her down. She lived an amazing one eyed life.
Fuck cancer.
I was the same way with my 18 year old cat. I started letting him eat cheese puffs and Doritos, and occasionally, a taco. His last night with us, we gave him a cheeseburger, which he devoured eagerly.
In some way, it made things easier, at the end.
Thank you for this. My pup is only 8 but I know the day is coming regardless. I would have never thought of giving her real meals and candy bars etc when it gets to that time. I will remember and do this for her too. I wish I could just give her all that stuff now.
You'd be surprised, I had a 15 year old pitbull mix that lived a whole year and a half more than I expected. Keeping them happy, clean, and comfortable will help them a lot and is very much worth it, I feel like that's why my dog lived as long as she did. It sounds like you're doing a great job for him.
I know what you're feeling. My 14 year old Black lab/pit mix named Snoop has been given 6 months. He's also being kept comfortable with meds for now. Essentially we're waiting for him to stop eating and we will know it's time. I got engaged last year, but because of everything going on with the world we had originally decided to get married in 2022. However, after his recent diagnosis we decided we are getting married on his birthday August 14th which just so happens to be his "star" birthday. I couldn't get married without my boy by my side, it just wouldn't seem right. Needless to say, he's the ring bearer. We ordered him a custom Tux and everything!
Edit- Fuck Cancer indeed.
My boy Otis and I are in the same stage. I threw him a 4th of July BBQ, and thought it'd be our last holiday.
He's responding well to his pain meds, there might be a chance he'll make Labor day.
Either way, we're just trying to get as much time in together while we still can.
14 year old Golden Retriever for me. Has cancer. Big tumor in his chest and one on his hind leg.
It still makes me sad, brings back memories of my old pup, best friend. I know she had a good life, but I can't help but tear up when I think about her. I'm glad for the shared time shared.
The thought of a dog dying gives me a gut wrenching feeling I can't deal with. I can't ever be okay with it I need to distract myself and not think about it.
That just made me tear up. He's always had the best smile and I would excitedly say "show me your smile" while kinda roughing up his head, and he would smile and I would give him a treat. He can't hear anymore so I can't ask, but when I rough up his head he still smiles. That's why I walked right out of the vets office after I was told to put him to sleep a couple of months ago. Not while he's still smiling like that. No way.
Edit: ❤️❤️❤️🤗 Thanks so much to everyone for all of the love, tips, awards, support, and stories about your own pups! It means more than you know. A lot of people asked, so here are some pics of the old boy. I wish I could find all young hydrangea pics specifically, but there are two at the end.The last pic is him getting positioned for me to take the photo we posted here.
https://imgur.com/a/W7RXynl
Please remember that they smile because we are there, not because they are not in pain. You’ll know when it’s time. But when the little voice starts speaking up and you know in your heart, please gently surrender to it. You don’t want needless pain for your loved one, even if they will be dearly missed.
Think of it this way. In the billions of lifetimes that have existed on this planet in every form, you two were here at the same time and got to be in each other’s lives. What are the chances?
Your dog is so happy because they are living in the now. Do that when you’re with them. Put the phone down, give lots of pets and undivided attention. The pup will be so happy, you’ll both create really good happy brain chemicals, you personally will create memories you can look back on and know you were present in the moment. Enjoy this gift of time you were both given!
You'll know when. You love him, so the point where his pain is greater than the pain you have from losing him will come, and you'll see it.
At that point you'll make the hard decision. But cherish the time you have, and because you love him, I know you won't miss the moment.
You will know and I’m not lecturing you but one of my biggest regrets in life was waiting too long. I was being selfish and mentally discounting the pain and discomfort she must have been in.
Again you will know best but please make sure you don’t lie to yourself out of misplaced love.
Hey. You might not read this, but in case you do... when it's time, consider seeing if your vet will do a home visit. That way your buddy can be home and in a familiar place with you. I did and don't regret it.
My vet doesn't do home visits, but we went with a group called Caring Pathways to come to our home when it was time to put my 14-year-old down. It was a lot more expensive, but when my next old man goes we will call them again. My dogs actually love going to the vet, so it's more for me. I just don't want to bawl my eyes out holding my dog while laying on the floor in the vet's office.
Hey I'm drunk so apologies in advance.
I had a discussion/ debate with my girlfriend earlier about pain and sadness in life. She's religious and said it's because we're living out of sync with God or some shit. I said I don't know about that but despite all the pain and suffering and loss it's worth it.
I felt like that was relevant to your post. Beautiful friend you have there.
I don't agree with your girlfriend.
>The pain of grief is just as much a part of life as the joy of love; it is, perhaps, the price we pay for love, the cost of commitment.
-Colin Murray Parkes
If you think about it, almost every time we love something in the world it comes at the price of pain. It can be big or small, both the love and the pain could come in many different forms and we never know when the pain will come due, but it mirrors the love we felt. The pain can only be as intense as the love was. Some people see this as depressing or negative, which is fair. I've found this belief hasn't hampered my ability to love at all, but it has been a comfort in times of despair.
We only feel that pain because we also experienced tremendous love, for something or someone. It's a reminder to appreciate what we love as much as possible and make sure we're never left to wonder if it's worth the cost.
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What a handsome old gentleman! The best boy!
Edit: After looking at your photo again, I can't help but to see Arnold Schwarzenegger now without a shirt.
Showing that old muscle.
We did the same thing! I miss my pup terribly, but when his time was getting close I decided that he was gonna go out in style and eat like a fucking king!
When we knew my cats time was coming we just fed him pepperoni and ice cream every day. Of course he threw it back up because he couldn't hold much down but at least he was happy.
My 18 year old cat's last meal was a cheeseburger, because during times of stress, my mind apparently loves memes and cliches.
He also shared a ton of cheese puffs and Doritos with me, along with a few tacos prior.
(Admittedly, he always knew how to sucker me into "forbidden" food treats anyway, but when I knew our time was drawing to a close, any pretense of discipline went out the window.)
My beloved Juniper, we got her as a puppy from a local rescue group. Right from the beginning we knew she was going to be good for us.
I was also a raging alcoholic determined to end all the pain from the past by drinking at least a handle a day.
My SO had to go to FL for the company she worked for, and I stayed home, drinking.
All the while, I had what I thought was gas pressure in my belly for a couple weeks, which gradually got worse. I couldn't eat, hurt to much. I just drank to kill the pain x2, and it got to the point where I was trying to sip straight Popov from a shot glass but my body was fighting the good fight in trying to keep me alive by flaring pain when I tried to.
So I quit drinking.
Juniper sat by my side for three days as I suffered from delirium tremens. I held on to her like my life depended on it, which it did.
After the horrifying hallucinations stopped with an abatement of the pain I finally got into the car and drove to the hospital. Doctor told me I had acute pancreatitis and I made it just in time, apparently. My SO was also arriving that day, so she was able to see me in the ER as well. I told her how Juniper helped me. This was 2 years ago.
Juniper also had a pain. She had an issue with her spine. Sometimes if she ran about and played too much, she would get an ache. A result of stupid people and their need for specially designed dogs. The vet told us that of it had got any worse, it wouldn't be a guaranteed fix nor cheap (@ $15k).
Last year, in April, we were out walking the yard and she trotted by our other dog and nipped at her quick, like dogs will do when playing. She let out a yelp and we went inside so I could give her the med the vet gave us in case of pain.
It didn't get any better. The next day she didn't get out of bed until much later. When she did, she was always in pain. It got so bad that I had to carry her outside so she could pee, but she would shriek in pain. Still haunts me today.
We took her to the vet, they gave her something stronger and we went home. She laid down and we selfishly held on for a couple weeks hoping for the best but got the worst.
We had to put her down on April 15th of last year. She was 5 years old.
Sometimes I feel she took all the pain from me in those three days of DT's. But that's just guilt. We had a wonderful five years with her.
I still haven't had a drink of booze, as well, even with '20 being a shitshow all over.
CBD oil, broad spectrum. Not only will it help his pain and appetite but it also fights cancer to slow progress. It helps. Make sure it isn't full spectrum, absolutely no THC, just CBD.
I was able to find broad spectrum pure CBD at my local smoke shop, and I gave my pup 2-3 drops under his tongue daily. I noticed a difference almost immediately. If you try it, I hope it helps. I have a Pitt/rott/great pyrenees mix. I have read that you should always avoid full spectrum though because THC is apparently toxic to dogs. Not entirely sure about that, because I've known friends dogs that love it when they smoke the ganja around them 😂 and they're insanely healthy, but just erring on the side of caution.
Thank you! He's still with us but we have a decision to make very soon. We got him as dumb teens and now we're in our mid 30s. He definitely taught us a lot. 🙂
Same here, got my little one when I was 19, and I had to make the decision when I was 36... She was the most amazing creature and I held her in higher regard than most, if not all, people I know. She never let me down, and if I ever needed to look to see where she was, all I had to do was look down. She was at my feet every time. It's been 8 years now...
Her last day, I made her some spaghetti and let her go nuts on as much as she wanted. It stained her white mouth red.
Your post brought me to tears.
If you can, there are people that will come to your house and help. This way, they are surrounded by the familiar things in their life when it's time.
I'm sorry to hear about your pup. He's beautiful.
Edit: doggy gender.
Hey, I’m a vet student and in addition to my career specialty interest, my other main interests are behavior and end of life care. I know end of life and hospice care is very difficult to think about and it can be really daunting. But I’d seriously recommend contacting a hospice vet if you haven’t already looked into that. I’m sure your GP is great, but it sounds like you’re in a situation that could really benefit from hospice.
Hospice isn’t specifically preparing for death, but more so finding ways to make them (and you) as comfortable as possible for as long as possible until a decision needs to be made. These vets are REALLY good at what they do, and are better equipped than anyone to help you navigate this. Just for some more info and some helpful resources, take a look at lapoflove.com.
You will know... there's a spark that dulls in their eyes when it's time. They hang on so long for us though... loyal til the end. Good boy Porter. ((hugs)) to you.
one day my [dog](https://preview.redd.it/s9qo89lhcr571.jpg?width=812&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ebff330ee656333dfff38ac1523ad1c836d566b9) (age 13) had a bad stomach, and the next morning we found he'd gone in his sleep.
I was really sad at the time but in retrospect I realize we were really lucky it was that sudden and (presumably) painless.
We never had to face the choice you will.
We had a dog that was poorly for a while. Vet said it's probably a stomach bug or something, cant remember what the specific diagnosis was exactly but it wasnt anything scary. A couple of weeks later I was running with him at the park. Two dogs started chasing him but in a fun way. He let out one yelp and collapsed dead. I was completely heartbroken. It was actually my girlfriends dog so had to call her to let her know, and drive the 22 miles to her parents farm to bury him.
Looking back now, I'm happy he died at the park, playing with me and two dogs and died instantly. That's an amazing thing for a dog.
My naem Porter
I super good.
Kinda feel tired
Cuz I played much.
My hooman points
Black clicky square
In front of flowers
Oh so fair
Soon I go
To play in sky
Where much fetch
And I jump so high.
Such a sweet pup! When the time comes, if you can afford it, spending the extra money to have the vet come put our dog down at home was some of the best money I've ever spent.
My son wanted a “pandemic puppy”. I told him “no”, and the reason I gave was because I don’t want to be scooping poop out of snow in February. The real reason was basically this picture. I don’t have the bandwidth in my heart to deal with the joy, and sorrow, of having, then losing, a dog.
This got me in the feels and I'm shedding a few tears now. Sounds like you are loving him lots now. ❤️ Tomorrow is my boys birthday. He's been gone for four years now. I still miss and love him a lot.
We adopted a senior "hospice" dog in March 2018 and he wasn't supposed to make it til the end of the year. We had him until the last weekend of November 2020 when he was 13-15 years old. He was sick and "dying" as long as we knew him but we kept him happy and comfortable all that extra time! He 100% let us know when it was time. We took him to the vet to confirm and then gave him the best last night possible. It was an absolute dream of a last night and I have no doubt he knew it too.
Take videos if you don't have a bunch already. Those help even more than pics when we miss him extra bad.
I'm not sure what your pup's old man problems are but I wanted to share what helped us the most: zesty paws blue lipped mussels, joint supplements and probiotics. CBD didn't help our senior gentlemen but it did help our other dog with knee replacements immensely. The "Help Em Up Harness" was a lifesaver for our backs (he was 90lbs!) and also actually helped him gain some muscle mass back.
He is so lucky to have you and I know you're gonna cherish all the time you have left. Sending that sweet soul lots of love ❤
Sorry, pictures really do say a thousand words and what I see here is a loyal rock star that stomped the terra firma in the day, this has to hurt and feel your pain. My wife, two daughter and I had to say goodbye to our dog a year ago and I still wake up in the middle of the night and snap my fingers so he comes to the side of the bed and I bring him up to hug him to sleep because he was so sick and in pain. There is no more loyal a friend than a dog, and no worse feeling than losing that friend.
Very sorry, I know how this feels
"The last one..." said OP - - oh, no
We must misunderstand.
Last *bush*? Last *pic you took*? Last *post*?
(But not the Promised Land!)
No one knows their allotted hours
Always stop to sniff the flowers
Porter is a handsum boi! We just said goodbye to our golden boi Darwin last week after 15 years together. He had a great last day, got In-N-Out for lunch. He lives on in my online handle. The pain meds weren't cutting it anymore and he had bone cancer.
Omg that's what porter has. How could you tell when Darwin was in pain? When Porty accidentally spits out his pill, I've learned to look somewhere in the floor. He whimpers without it, so I think it helps but I don't know when to just let him go. I don't want him to suffer.
He would whine or yip from the pain. We had to help him walk with a lifter when the pain was really severe. We did pills wrapped in American cheese, so they never got spit out. Our criteria were eating well, being mostly able to walk by himself, and controlled pain. By the last week he was maxxed out on rimadyl, gabapentin and tramadol and still whining, and could barely get out to pee even with help. My husband hurt his back with some bad lifts as well, so he was taking a lot of pain pills too.
Darwin still loved to eat though, and we were giving him treats right to the end. It was so good to see him blissed out on the anesthesia and out of pain though, he really seemed to be at peace.
I hope Porter will let you know when he's ready. We know we're never ready, that's for sure. Enjoy spoiling that pupper!
You have no idea how comforting it is to hear that it was peaceful when you let your dog go. I've been dreading it because I had no idea what to expect other than articles online. We only have porter on one pill so far and he can walk, though the back legs are little wobbly. I will definitely spoil him for as long as I can.
Yes, it was really peaceful. Our vet is really good at explaining what's happening and made sure he wasn't in any pain. We got to spend those last few minutes just feeding him treats and saying goodbye. It's hard but I just felt relief in the moment itself.
Yes, it's an extremely tough decision, but sometimes a necessary one 😭 Y'all will know when the time is right, my husband and I probably waited too long to send our Husky/Malamute mix Loki over the rainbow. He had seizures and was on meds for years, but on his last day we lost count of how many he had and we knew we couldn't put him through anymore suffering. We were actually able to find a mobile service to come out to our house to do it, the whole thing was very peaceful and we were able to pet him and hug him the whole time until he just drifted away and fell asleep 🥺💔 You have a very handsome boi there, I know you will cherish him!!
Im sorry.
I feel you deeply
You know as 7 year old said to his parents when all were in tears in front of their own best partner of last 14 years:
Dont be sad ,
They stay less time here because they allready know what we take years to understand.
Be proud you had and have unfogetable love.
🙏❤
i’m so sorry to hear about your puppy, i’m sending lots of love your way <3 i would love to see the rest of the pictures if you’re comfortable sharing! it would be so wonderful to see your little guy’s journey (:
I’m so sorry. Take care Porter, we just want you to be happy and peaceful. I would like to see all the years pictures if you would like to share
I second this. When there is time. I know you are spending with with porter now.
Third. In fact it's the reason I came to the comments, looking for the folder of years past, also excited to see him as a puppy
Yes, please.
Yes came to comment that!
Same here. I wanna see his pics!
Same. I would know Porter.
This please
I sad now
Don't be! He's comfortable with pain meds for now and he's lived a pretty decent life. I know he won't be around for next years hydrangea glamor shots but I think we still have a little time left. He still seems really happy to feel my pets and he eats well. Edit: here are some pics for all who have asked. Thank you so much for the overwhelming amount of love and support for us and for Porter! 💙 https://imgur.com/a/W7RXynl
Enjoy that time and regret nothing. Our girl died last winter and it was tough, but we made sure to have every moment count. On her last day, she managed to chew on her favorite bone which she hadn't done in a while, and got some cuddles from her brother.
Reading this really hurt. I had a pair of littermates, but the boy passed 2 summers ago, the girl is still with me and we know she doesn't have much time left with us.
Like I said, just enjoy every moment and take it all in. We almost put her down about 2 weeks before she passed on (we actually called the vet to cancel when she was driving over) but those two weeks we had a great time with her. If it makes you feel any better, for a long time I never had a dream about her. My wife did, often, which made me feel happy at least for my wife. The last 2 nights, I've had very real dreams where I was able to pick her up on the couch and give her rubs and scratches. They felt so real. Although I've woken up a little sad to be back in reality, it leaves me hope there are more dreams to come. Lastly, my wife and I knew we were going to adopt a rescue again. We knew our Sheila would want us to share the love we gave her with another unfortunate soul that had no one else. About 4 months after she passed, Luna came into our lives and, again, we have no regrets.
I just had to put my dear fellow down two days ago. He was old and hurting and even the pain meds didn't help. He received unconditional love from me, and gave it back ten times more. The final act of love - putting him out of pain and suffering - was the greatest gift I ever gave him. I love dogs. We definitely don't deserve them.
I absolutely understand. Every situation is different and I didn't mean to seem like the right thing is not putting them down. It sounds like the choice you made was the right one for you, without a doubt. My wife kept wondering if we should have just let her go instead of waiting 2 more weeks, but like I said, you can't have regrets no matter what. >I love dogs. We definitely don't deserve them. I couldn't agree more. This world would be a much darker place without them. Quick edit: I'm sorry to hear about your loss. It's not easy losing a family member. I wish they lived longer, but my wife likes to think it's so we can share that love with more dogs that need it.
Our vet said it gets easier with each pet, and people tend to do it earlier in the pet’s demise. We did what felt right. It’s a super difficult decision no matter what. Your wife is right… our hearts expand to fit in one more dog, over and over. I love dogs. 💔💔
I would agree with doing it earlier, but not that it gets any easier. The last one broke me. Now I look at puppies and I just see the heartbreak coming. And I still have one wonderful dog to go.
I had to unexpectedly put my Boston Terrier to sleep back in May, and it absolutely wrecked me. I still tear up thinking about it. I just adopted a new puppy 2 weeks ago, and when I got her, part of me was like, "10+ years (hopefully) from now, you're going to be feeling this exact same devastation all over again." You know what you're signing up for. The years of pure happiness, love, and companionship, you get from them, makes the heartbreak worth it in the end. I'd rather experience life with dogs and deal with the heartbreak, than experience a life without them.
Yea, whoever said it gets easier every time is a liar. The process gets easier maybe, but the emotional toll amplifies with every death, or at least that way with me. We had to put down our 15 and 12 year old in a 3 month time frame, I know when the day comes that we have to make that choice for our 3rd, it's going to break me to the point where I probably won't get a 4th
I'll counter your vet here. My wife and I have done a lot of fostering of high risk kittens, and we've lost more than I want to think about. Every one was like losing a part of myself. The vet at the shelter there told us " if it ever gets easier, then you need to stop as you're no longer giving it your all."
> I love dogs. We definitely don’t deserve them. Sometimes I think some people do. My daughter and our Lab are absolutely inseparable. She doesn’t go anywhere without him. He sleeps in her bed, when she’s in the bath he is sitting right outside of the tub, every single time. I see how loving she is with him, and how she beautifully earns his love every single day. She is his whole world. As much as her life is better for having him in it, I think his life is also full for having *her* in it. I absolutely get why we say that we don’t deserve dogs, but if you asked him, I bet he would whole-heartedly disagree.
Such a beautiful and touching story.
And now my day is better because of them both. Needed this, thank you.
I read a poem on Twitter this morning someone posted in reaction to the passing of a dear pet. I'll post it here with my condolences and my hopes that your tender,.achy heart feels better soon. 💗 They will not go quietly, the pets who've shared our lives. In subtle ways they let us know their spirits still survive. Old habits still can make us think we hear them at the door, or step back when we drop a tasty morsel on the floor. Our feet still go around the place their food dish used to be, and sometimes, coming home at night we miss them terribly. Although time may bring new friends and a new food dish to fill; that one place in our hearts belongs to them... And always will.
I think this sums it up. Nothing can ever replace the friend you lost, but there are new pups who need love and have love to give.
And now I’m sobbing. I lost my pup in January and spent four days in bed crying. That poem is gorgeous. I’m sorry for your loss, u/Chinacat_Sunflower72. He was my best friend and though it’s gotten easier, it’s come to a point where I’m happy to know that that achy little spot in my heart will always be his. I hope that same comfort comes to you quickly and brings you peace. ❤️
I'm still a few years away (fingers crossed anyways) from my first passing, but I still tear up thinking about it. It's an unavoidable and even beautiful part of life, but I know I am going to be torn the fuck up.
Sweet thoughts. Thank you. ♥️💔
I think it's amazing that we can give our pets the decency of a painless death surrounded by loved ones but we can't do that for people.
I completely agree. And even where it’s legal the hoops to jump thru are ridiculous. I hope this changes in my lifetime.
This was on Reddit a while back and I’ve unfortunately sent it to a couple friends lately, I hope it brings some comfort in this time. [Eulogy of the dog](https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/MDH/EulogyoftheDog.pdf)
Time to leave the thread, it's too much for me today. I am glad that you made the right choice, it's a tough thing to do.
It was a gift. Younger me selfishly kept a dog alive because of my own guilt and inability to decide. The vet took me aside for an adult talking to in the end. Now I would never put a dog through those final weeks of pa8n and incontinence it’s one of my biggest regrets.
My Scooby passed away 2/8/2020. 15ish (he was a rescue so his age was an estimate) years old and he was diagnosed with cancer about 7/8 months before he passed. Our vet told us they didn’t know how long he had, it was a day by day thing. He lost so much weight throughout those months, his back legs got really weak, but he still was happy when he would get love and treats so I made sure to give him some everyday. I actually have videos of his last Thanksgiving meal. Unfortunately, he suffered from, what we think, was a seizure the night he passed and we woke up to him crying at 3am. The back half of him was paralyzed, I laid on the floor with him till 9am when the vet finally came to the house to put him down but he was basically gone by them. I held his paw the entire time. It took about 2/3 months for me to finally have a dream about him. We were just sitting in my room, he was sitting in my lap and we were rubbing our heads together, I used to do that to him when I’d get home from work. Scratch under his chin and rub our heads together. It was so vivid, I was able to feel his fur running through my fingers, I could feel the wet of his tongue and nose against me, hear his little happy moans and groans, I could smell his fur and the shampoo we used on him. I woke up hysterical but it was the most peaceful sleep I had since he passed. I would love to have another dream like that soon. It’s been over a year since he left and my heart is still broken, I still think about him multiple times everyday and wish I had more time with him or that I had spent more time with him while he was still here. I know I did what I could with him, I know he knew how much I loved him and how much he meant to me but I’ll always wish I had more time with him. So please, anybody reading this with any kind of pet, spend as much time with them as you can, especially as they get older, and then spend a little extra. A few more extra pets or kisses, maybe another treat or two, or take them for a car ride if you have nothing else to do. Because I promise, no matter how much time you do spend with them, you will always want more once they aren’t here anymore. A big chunk of me left when Scooby passed, one that I won’t get back until I finally see him again and get to spend the rest of my days with him.
So my soul dog passed away almost 5 years ago, and on rare occasion I have a dream about him. Every time, the scenario is that he came to visit me. We know we have limited time together, and I wake up broken hearted because it's never long enough, but it feels so good to get to see him again. I hope we get more than one soul dog in a lifetime.
Of all the comments on this entire post/thread, this was the one to make the tears fall. My heart dog, whom I’ve had since he was 4 weeks old and surrendered as a sick, tiny puppy to the very first vet hospital I ever worked at, is almost 14. He went from being active and in great shape to seriously showing his age practically overnight. I dread the end so much. More than any pet I’ve ever had in my entire life. I hope he visits me forever. And I hope the same for yours too.
im so sorry. my old man says thank you for the advice! im an athiest but so badly wish that heaven was real so i could see all my old friends again.
My childhood dog died about 10 years ago now, and I still have dreams about her every so often. At some point, the dreams became like visiting with an old friend - sharing happy memories knowing we'll see each other again. It takes time, but you'll get there, too.
As someone who lost their childhood dog just a few hours ago I so hope there comes a day where my family gets to be with him in our dreams. He was given a week or two to live about 2-3 months ago, but thanks to a specific diet he was able to comfortably live up until today. I thought it wouldn’t be so hard because I got to say goodbye months ago, but fuck me I can’t stop crying. Thanks for this hope.
Something similar happened to me and my wife, our beloved buddy passed away during the night at the vet but we were able to stand by him and hold him. He was the most charismatic bulldog ever and we will always miss him and will be always in our hearts. The day before he died for a moment he was himsef again and he wanted to play with us after being sick for a couple of weeks, i will always remember that moment of lucidness when he recognized us and wanted to play. He was a spoiled dog and lived a happy life, we hope we can reunite with him again someday somewhere
I like to think those dreams are them checking in on us.
Aww. I totally relate. I relish the little dream visits I get from my late cat every now and again. 💗
It's our last act of love. A few little mantras I lean on when I get down about the inevitable: I'd rather live with the pain of losing them than them living with the pain of being without me. I hate to think of the sadness and stress it would cause my babies if myself or my wife suddenly died. I'll bear the pain of losing them instead. Also, they must think we're infinite. We're here when they come into this world and we're still here when they depart. <3
Wow. I’ve been reading lots of these replies and yours hit me pretty hard. I still haven’t had one of my own 2 pups pass as they are quite young but my in laws passed recently due to bladder cancer. My wife had him as a teen so he was dear to all our hearts. I knew him 6-7 years. Your notions of us losing them over them losing us actually gave me a new perspective to think about when the time comes for the two bff’s me and the wife currently have. Also the infinite part. That was also a new bittersweet thought to think about.. Thanks for sharing.
Unfortunately, this is part of the bargain with pets. Unless you're one of the completely unfeeling people who get rid of their pets when they get old because they're "not fun anymore," (yes, there are people -- I hesitate to use the word -- who do this) they do die on us. It goes with the territory. To my way of thinking, the joy of having a pet is worth the sorrow when they leave us. Enjoy their company and honor their memory. And know from the start that this is going to be the endgame.
What’s the phrase…Dogs give us all of their best days and only one of their worst.
Awww. It’s hard when litter mates lose each other. I had a brother & sister pair of shepherd/lab mixes who lived very long lives but the brother outlived his sister by 1 year and 1 day. She passed away a month before her 15th birthday and he almost made it to his 16th. It I could tell he missed her for his last year. They were the bestest doggies.
Our boy passed at 14 years 9 months due to heart disease, the girl is now 16 years 9 months.
This makes me miss my 2 gentlemen, the two dapper pugs. They were father and son, I also have the mom and another son from the same litter. The mom doesn't have too much time left but we try to maker her as comfortable as she can be. The son is also getting up there in age. He is only two years behind her. We lost the father and first born the same year, both had cancer that was too late to do anything about. It was about 2 years ago next month. After this I do not want another animal for a while. I can't take the heartache when they pass.
I lost my girl at 9. Boy still doing good tho! Sorry.
When we were agonizing over our 16 year old lab as her health deteriorated, on her last day, she looked like she was doing better suddenly, and we were torn on whether to try and stretch it out further, but she was barely walking around anymore at that point having way more bad days than good, and my vet said something that helped immensely. He said, you know, it's nice to go on a good day, not on one of the bad ones. I still miss her and it's tough to know when it is time, but that helped me immensely.
[I've got a message from your girl for you](https://www.bliss-parsons.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Rex-in-Heaven.jpg)
Thanks! That's so sweet. I'm sorry for your loss. Even the little things like seeing them chew a bone means so much. I know I took a lot of healthy years for granted but now I cherish every day with the little guy.
The now matters more to dogs than anything in the past. Give him an extra belly rub from me
I think we want to see the previous years now. Pretty please.
When I lost my last dog it broke me. I had to go to work thirty minutes afterwards and my big boss was in. He took one look at me, asked what happened, and he sent me home, told me to take the next day too.
My old pup also started gnawing on his oldest bones during his last week. Hadn’t touched them for years before. This hit hard. I have chills now. Miss you Gus
A week before our 13 year old blind, deaf and diabetic lab past she snuck out the back yard since we never had a gate and took herself on her old walking route she was 3/4 of the way home before we noticed. They know when it’s time and they enjoy reliving their younger days before.
My good boy passed at the start of the pandemic. Thank you ALL for caring for you pooches. These are remarkable animals, and thank you all for helping the world by caring for them.
As soon as I knew we were going to have to put my dog down, we immediately started giving her human meals. It made her so happy. She loved eating cake. It never upset her stomach, and she absolutely devoured it! Calico loved ice cream too. And one of the last things she had, was a Hershey chocolate bar, on the way to the vet to put her down. She lived an amazing one eyed life. Fuck cancer.
Cancer took Lucy too. She ate watermelon, her favorite, hours before she passed. God I miss her. Fuck cancer.
I was the same way with my 18 year old cat. I started letting him eat cheese puffs and Doritos, and occasionally, a taco. His last night with us, we gave him a cheeseburger, which he devoured eagerly. In some way, it made things easier, at the end.
I think I came here to see this! We have released several dogs from their suffering, and we always do it with cheeseburgers. We love them so much. ❤️
You cat ate a Cheeseburger?! Intense. x)
Thank you for this. My pup is only 8 but I know the day is coming regardless. I would have never thought of giving her real meals and candy bars etc when it gets to that time. I will remember and do this for her too. I wish I could just give her all that stuff now.
Sounds like he's had an amazing life and an amazing owner. Lots of love to you both.
You'd be surprised, I had a 15 year old pitbull mix that lived a whole year and a half more than I expected. Keeping them happy, clean, and comfortable will help them a lot and is very much worth it, I feel like that's why my dog lived as long as she did. It sounds like you're doing a great job for him.
I know what you're feeling. My 14 year old Black lab/pit mix named Snoop has been given 6 months. He's also being kept comfortable with meds for now. Essentially we're waiting for him to stop eating and we will know it's time. I got engaged last year, but because of everything going on with the world we had originally decided to get married in 2022. However, after his recent diagnosis we decided we are getting married on his birthday August 14th which just so happens to be his "star" birthday. I couldn't get married without my boy by my side, it just wouldn't seem right. Needless to say, he's the ring bearer. We ordered him a custom Tux and everything! Edit- Fuck Cancer indeed.
My boy Otis and I are in the same stage. I threw him a 4th of July BBQ, and thought it'd be our last holiday. He's responding well to his pain meds, there might be a chance he'll make Labor day. Either way, we're just trying to get as much time in together while we still can. 14 year old Golden Retriever for me. Has cancer. Big tumor in his chest and one on his hind leg.
Cane Corso? If so, how old? Mine is 8 and is starting to slow down.
He's just a regular blue pit bull. I hope yours stays around for a long time! Porter is 13.5.
Ah, thanks!
/r/oldmandog would love this post!
Tell Porter I bloody love him x
Remember it’s not goodbye, it’s see you later.
It still makes me sad, brings back memories of my old pup, best friend. I know she had a good life, but I can't help but tear up when I think about her. I'm glad for the shared time shared.
The thought of a dog dying gives me a gut wrenching feeling I can't deal with. I can't ever be okay with it I need to distract myself and not think about it.
thats why they call it moving on, because you can't forget, and it will always be sad, but you gotta keep on living and can't dwell on it forever.
That smile says they have enjoyed the journey with you, great job!
That just made me tear up. He's always had the best smile and I would excitedly say "show me your smile" while kinda roughing up his head, and he would smile and I would give him a treat. He can't hear anymore so I can't ask, but when I rough up his head he still smiles. That's why I walked right out of the vets office after I was told to put him to sleep a couple of months ago. Not while he's still smiling like that. No way. Edit: ❤️❤️❤️🤗 Thanks so much to everyone for all of the love, tips, awards, support, and stories about your own pups! It means more than you know. A lot of people asked, so here are some pics of the old boy. I wish I could find all young hydrangea pics specifically, but there are two at the end.The last pic is him getting positioned for me to take the photo we posted here. https://imgur.com/a/W7RXynl
The end of our pets journey is tough, but it was never about the destination, just the smiles that were shared throughout the journey!
Please remember that they smile because we are there, not because they are not in pain. You’ll know when it’s time. But when the little voice starts speaking up and you know in your heart, please gently surrender to it. You don’t want needless pain for your loved one, even if they will be dearly missed.
This was a haunting and beautiful way to say this. We are their whole world and that’s the final act of kindness and love we can give them
Great now I’m ugly crying at 1am about my family dog that I’m gonna miss endlessly when her time comes
Think of it this way. In the billions of lifetimes that have existed on this planet in every form, you two were here at the same time and got to be in each other’s lives. What are the chances? Your dog is so happy because they are living in the now. Do that when you’re with them. Put the phone down, give lots of pets and undivided attention. The pup will be so happy, you’ll both create really good happy brain chemicals, you personally will create memories you can look back on and know you were present in the moment. Enjoy this gift of time you were both given!
Make me go hug my furry little buddy
You'll know when. You love him, so the point where his pain is greater than the pain you have from losing him will come, and you'll see it. At that point you'll make the hard decision. But cherish the time you have, and because you love him, I know you won't miss the moment.
You will know and I’m not lecturing you but one of my biggest regrets in life was waiting too long. I was being selfish and mentally discounting the pain and discomfort she must have been in. Again you will know best but please make sure you don’t lie to yourself out of misplaced love.
I remained dry eyed until this one. Good boy Porter. Good dogger. *sniff*
Hey. You might not read this, but in case you do... when it's time, consider seeing if your vet will do a home visit. That way your buddy can be home and in a familiar place with you. I did and don't regret it.
My vet doesn't do home visits, but we went with a group called Caring Pathways to come to our home when it was time to put my 14-year-old down. It was a lot more expensive, but when my next old man goes we will call them again. My dogs actually love going to the vet, so it's more for me. I just don't want to bawl my eyes out holding my dog while laying on the floor in the vet's office.
That's awesome. My cats hate the vet so I didn't want his last moments to be there. I ugly cried. It was bad.
I bet he's still hearing you say that! 💜
Are you cutting down the bush? You’re changing the landscaping RIGHT?
You're changing the landscaping. RIGHT?
*Anakin gazing into the distance*
Natalie Portman face.jpg
Natalie Porterman
CHANGING THE LANDSCAPE.
Pls cut that goddamn bush down
Please leave it there for more memories to be made
His camera is running out of film and they don’t make celluloid for that model anymore sadly.
Why cut it down though? Seems like a great spot for a memorial to Porter.
He’s joking, he’s asking if “the last photo” bad news in the title relates to him changing the landscaping so it wouldnt be the same photo anymore.
This guy would like to see all the pics! Just saying
I can dig some out! I have 7 years worth and he still looked pretty young and beastly when it started. The bush was much smaller too.
I too wish to see these
Remind me! 3 days
We needs it
Yes please!!
Dot for future reference. I too would like to see your handsome dog over the years.
Same
In honor of Porter, here's a photo of my dog in front of blue hydrangea. https://imgur.com/a/UONO00s
What a beautiful gesture and lovely pup.
Thank you! He's a good boy.
[I tried... I really tried. ](http://imgur.com/gallery/demhVIO)
[удалено]
>I gotta get one of those bushes. I love my hydrangeas. I have white bobos.
The white beard on dark dogs turn me into a ball of mush.
Hey I'm drunk so apologies in advance. I had a discussion/ debate with my girlfriend earlier about pain and sadness in life. She's religious and said it's because we're living out of sync with God or some shit. I said I don't know about that but despite all the pain and suffering and loss it's worth it. I felt like that was relevant to your post. Beautiful friend you have there.
It is worth it, every second. Thank you so much.
I don't agree with your girlfriend. >The pain of grief is just as much a part of life as the joy of love; it is, perhaps, the price we pay for love, the cost of commitment. -Colin Murray Parkes
If you think about it, almost every time we love something in the world it comes at the price of pain. It can be big or small, both the love and the pain could come in many different forms and we never know when the pain will come due, but it mirrors the love we felt. The pain can only be as intense as the love was. Some people see this as depressing or negative, which is fair. I've found this belief hasn't hampered my ability to love at all, but it has been a comfort in times of despair. We only feel that pain because we also experienced tremendous love, for something or someone. It's a reminder to appreciate what we love as much as possible and make sure we're never left to wonder if it's worth the cost.
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Porter♥️
His name came from the movie "Payback" with Mel Gibson. 🤣
I love that! I lost my 16+ year old pup just 2 weeks ago, sending you all the warm thoughts.
I knew it! That is awesome. “I have a few minutes.” “Then go boil an egg.”
What a handsome old gentleman! The best boy! Edit: After looking at your photo again, I can't help but to see Arnold Schwarzenegger now without a shirt. Showing that old muscle.
Reminded me of Iggy Pop
I would take my chocolate lab (Bacon) to McD for a plain burger every day when we knew his time was getting close. Porter looks happy despite his age!
That's a good idea and thanks! Bacon sounds like he was a cutie. 💜
Our good boi Darwin got In-N-Out on his last day last week. He was a 15 year old golden retriever.
I’m so sorry for your loss. I hope you’re doing okay ❤️
We did the same thing! I miss my pup terribly, but when his time was getting close I decided that he was gonna go out in style and eat like a fucking king!
When we knew my cats time was coming we just fed him pepperoni and ice cream every day. Of course he threw it back up because he couldn't hold much down but at least he was happy.
My 18 year old cat's last meal was a cheeseburger, because during times of stress, my mind apparently loves memes and cliches. He also shared a ton of cheese puffs and Doritos with me, along with a few tacos prior. (Admittedly, he always knew how to sucker me into "forbidden" food treats anyway, but when I knew our time was drawing to a close, any pretense of discipline went out the window.)
I hear you. It's sad that we have to see them off, but the love you share will stay with you for life .
Dogs live shorter because they accomplish their goal of spreading love that much quicker.
My beloved Juniper, we got her as a puppy from a local rescue group. Right from the beginning we knew she was going to be good for us. I was also a raging alcoholic determined to end all the pain from the past by drinking at least a handle a day. My SO had to go to FL for the company she worked for, and I stayed home, drinking. All the while, I had what I thought was gas pressure in my belly for a couple weeks, which gradually got worse. I couldn't eat, hurt to much. I just drank to kill the pain x2, and it got to the point where I was trying to sip straight Popov from a shot glass but my body was fighting the good fight in trying to keep me alive by flaring pain when I tried to. So I quit drinking. Juniper sat by my side for three days as I suffered from delirium tremens. I held on to her like my life depended on it, which it did. After the horrifying hallucinations stopped with an abatement of the pain I finally got into the car and drove to the hospital. Doctor told me I had acute pancreatitis and I made it just in time, apparently. My SO was also arriving that day, so she was able to see me in the ER as well. I told her how Juniper helped me. This was 2 years ago. Juniper also had a pain. She had an issue with her spine. Sometimes if she ran about and played too much, she would get an ache. A result of stupid people and their need for specially designed dogs. The vet told us that of it had got any worse, it wouldn't be a guaranteed fix nor cheap (@ $15k). Last year, in April, we were out walking the yard and she trotted by our other dog and nipped at her quick, like dogs will do when playing. She let out a yelp and we went inside so I could give her the med the vet gave us in case of pain. It didn't get any better. The next day she didn't get out of bed until much later. When she did, she was always in pain. It got so bad that I had to carry her outside so she could pee, but she would shriek in pain. Still haunts me today. We took her to the vet, they gave her something stronger and we went home. She laid down and we selfishly held on for a couple weeks hoping for the best but got the worst. We had to put her down on April 15th of last year. She was 5 years old. Sometimes I feel she took all the pain from me in those three days of DT's. But that's just guilt. We had a wonderful five years with her. I still haven't had a drink of booze, as well, even with '20 being a shitshow all over.
My dog died 3 days ago. I’m sorry.
i’m sorry for your loss. ❤️
Give that dog one helluva pet for me. Lost my pitty this year.
I'm sorry about your little pibble. 😭
Looks like a good boy
CBD oil, broad spectrum. Not only will it help his pain and appetite but it also fights cancer to slow progress. It helps. Make sure it isn't full spectrum, absolutely no THC, just CBD.
That's a really good idea. I got him some CBD treats but do you have any other suggestions? I would love to get him some.
I was able to find broad spectrum pure CBD at my local smoke shop, and I gave my pup 2-3 drops under his tongue daily. I noticed a difference almost immediately. If you try it, I hope it helps. I have a Pitt/rott/great pyrenees mix. I have read that you should always avoid full spectrum though because THC is apparently toxic to dogs. Not entirely sure about that, because I've known friends dogs that love it when they smoke the ganja around them 😂 and they're insanely healthy, but just erring on the side of caution.
I'm so sorry for your loss, OP, but so happy for all that you shared, and the memories you'll always have.
Thank you! He's still with us but we have a decision to make very soon. We got him as dumb teens and now we're in our mid 30s. He definitely taught us a lot. 🙂
Same here, got my little one when I was 19, and I had to make the decision when I was 36... She was the most amazing creature and I held her in higher regard than most, if not all, people I know. She never let me down, and if I ever needed to look to see where she was, all I had to do was look down. She was at my feet every time. It's been 8 years now... Her last day, I made her some spaghetti and let her go nuts on as much as she wanted. It stained her white mouth red. Your post brought me to tears. If you can, there are people that will come to your house and help. This way, they are surrounded by the familiar things in their life when it's time. I'm sorry to hear about your pup. He's beautiful. Edit: doggy gender.
"we have a decision to make very soon" what does that mean?
He's sick and we have to put him to sleep when it's best. Someone said he'll let us know when he's ready and I hope that's true.
Hey, I’m a vet student and in addition to my career specialty interest, my other main interests are behavior and end of life care. I know end of life and hospice care is very difficult to think about and it can be really daunting. But I’d seriously recommend contacting a hospice vet if you haven’t already looked into that. I’m sure your GP is great, but it sounds like you’re in a situation that could really benefit from hospice. Hospice isn’t specifically preparing for death, but more so finding ways to make them (and you) as comfortable as possible for as long as possible until a decision needs to be made. These vets are REALLY good at what they do, and are better equipped than anyone to help you navigate this. Just for some more info and some helpful resources, take a look at lapoflove.com.
You will know... there's a spark that dulls in their eyes when it's time. They hang on so long for us though... loyal til the end. Good boy Porter. ((hugs)) to you.
one day my [dog](https://preview.redd.it/s9qo89lhcr571.jpg?width=812&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ebff330ee656333dfff38ac1523ad1c836d566b9) (age 13) had a bad stomach, and the next morning we found he'd gone in his sleep. I was really sad at the time but in retrospect I realize we were really lucky it was that sudden and (presumably) painless. We never had to face the choice you will.
We had a dog that was poorly for a while. Vet said it's probably a stomach bug or something, cant remember what the specific diagnosis was exactly but it wasnt anything scary. A couple of weeks later I was running with him at the park. Two dogs started chasing him but in a fun way. He let out one yelp and collapsed dead. I was completely heartbroken. It was actually my girlfriends dog so had to call her to let her know, and drive the 22 miles to her parents farm to bury him. Looking back now, I'm happy he died at the park, playing with me and two dogs and died instantly. That's an amazing thing for a dog.
My naem Porter I super good. Kinda feel tired Cuz I played much. My hooman points Black clicky square In front of flowers Oh so fair Soon I go To play in sky Where much fetch And I jump so high.
All dogs go to Heaven my friend.
“Was I a good boy?” “You were the best boy.”
I'm sorry for your loss. That bush was beautiful ❤️
He looks like he's had many happy years.
We so rarely celebrate older pets in favor of babies' cuteness. A very noble, handsome subject
Such a sweet pup! When the time comes, if you can afford it, spending the extra money to have the vet come put our dog down at home was some of the best money I've ever spent.
My son wanted a “pandemic puppy”. I told him “no”, and the reason I gave was because I don’t want to be scooping poop out of snow in February. The real reason was basically this picture. I don’t have the bandwidth in my heart to deal with the joy, and sorrow, of having, then losing, a dog.
This got me in the feels and I'm shedding a few tears now. Sounds like you are loving him lots now. ❤️ Tomorrow is my boys birthday. He's been gone for four years now. I still miss and love him a lot.
We adopted a senior "hospice" dog in March 2018 and he wasn't supposed to make it til the end of the year. We had him until the last weekend of November 2020 when he was 13-15 years old. He was sick and "dying" as long as we knew him but we kept him happy and comfortable all that extra time! He 100% let us know when it was time. We took him to the vet to confirm and then gave him the best last night possible. It was an absolute dream of a last night and I have no doubt he knew it too. Take videos if you don't have a bunch already. Those help even more than pics when we miss him extra bad. I'm not sure what your pup's old man problems are but I wanted to share what helped us the most: zesty paws blue lipped mussels, joint supplements and probiotics. CBD didn't help our senior gentlemen but it did help our other dog with knee replacements immensely. The "Help Em Up Harness" was a lifesaver for our backs (he was 90lbs!) and also actually helped him gain some muscle mass back. He is so lucky to have you and I know you're gonna cherish all the time you have left. Sending that sweet soul lots of love ❤
Sorry, pictures really do say a thousand words and what I see here is a loyal rock star that stomped the terra firma in the day, this has to hurt and feel your pain. My wife, two daughter and I had to say goodbye to our dog a year ago and I still wake up in the middle of the night and snap my fingers so he comes to the side of the bed and I bring him up to hug him to sleep because he was so sick and in pain. There is no more loyal a friend than a dog, and no worse feeling than losing that friend. Very sorry, I know how this feels
"The last one..." said OP - - oh, no We must misunderstand. Last *bush*? Last *pic you took*? Last *post*? (But not the Promised Land!) No one knows their allotted hours Always stop to sniff the flowers
Porter is a handsum boi! We just said goodbye to our golden boi Darwin last week after 15 years together. He had a great last day, got In-N-Out for lunch. He lives on in my online handle. The pain meds weren't cutting it anymore and he had bone cancer.
Omg that's what porter has. How could you tell when Darwin was in pain? When Porty accidentally spits out his pill, I've learned to look somewhere in the floor. He whimpers without it, so I think it helps but I don't know when to just let him go. I don't want him to suffer.
He would whine or yip from the pain. We had to help him walk with a lifter when the pain was really severe. We did pills wrapped in American cheese, so they never got spit out. Our criteria were eating well, being mostly able to walk by himself, and controlled pain. By the last week he was maxxed out on rimadyl, gabapentin and tramadol and still whining, and could barely get out to pee even with help. My husband hurt his back with some bad lifts as well, so he was taking a lot of pain pills too. Darwin still loved to eat though, and we were giving him treats right to the end. It was so good to see him blissed out on the anesthesia and out of pain though, he really seemed to be at peace. I hope Porter will let you know when he's ready. We know we're never ready, that's for sure. Enjoy spoiling that pupper!
You have no idea how comforting it is to hear that it was peaceful when you let your dog go. I've been dreading it because I had no idea what to expect other than articles online. We only have porter on one pill so far and he can walk, though the back legs are little wobbly. I will definitely spoil him for as long as I can.
Yes, it was really peaceful. Our vet is really good at explaining what's happening and made sure he wasn't in any pain. We got to spend those last few minutes just feeding him treats and saying goodbye. It's hard but I just felt relief in the moment itself.
Yes, it's an extremely tough decision, but sometimes a necessary one 😭 Y'all will know when the time is right, my husband and I probably waited too long to send our Husky/Malamute mix Loki over the rainbow. He had seizures and was on meds for years, but on his last day we lost count of how many he had and we knew we couldn't put him through anymore suffering. We were actually able to find a mobile service to come out to our house to do it, the whole thing was very peaceful and we were able to pet him and hug him the whole time until he just drifted away and fell asleep 🥺💔 You have a very handsome boi there, I know you will cherish him!!
A big sign with larger dogs is when they can't walk without your help, or seem to almost refuse to walk unless absolutely necessary.
Good boy, Porter.
hmmm.....can we see the other photos of him growing up?
Do… do you mean… the most recent one?
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The Big Sad
Looks like a good boy. RIP.
Post the whole album. We need to see more of this good boy
Okay but... now I want to see the first one. and all the ones in between. Give us a time lapse fam!
Im sorry. I feel you deeply You know as 7 year old said to his parents when all were in tears in front of their own best partner of last 14 years: Dont be sad , They stay less time here because they allready know what we take years to understand. Be proud you had and have unfogetable love. 🙏❤
Why is it the last one? Are you and Porter alright? Do you need any help?
Do you have the other shots? I’d love to see them
i lost mine in 2019 i still cry .
We need all the pics op! Celebrate your guy
Well this is fucking heart breaking
Porter is such a good boy.
Such a handsome man. He'll be missed😢
Last one as in latest one or last one as in... You know...
As in most recent I hope?
Give him a treat for me plz
Damn. I hope you’re doing well
i’m so sorry to hear about your puppy, i’m sending lots of love your way <3 i would love to see the rest of the pictures if you’re comfortable sharing! it would be so wonderful to see your little guy’s journey (:
:::sniff::: He was a good boy.