I had no idea where to put this thread, so admins, feel free to move it anywhere you want.
I just want to explain what we (husband and I experienced today) and to pass it on in case someone faces the same situation in their future.
Today we put down dog number 2. Dog number 1 had to be put to sleep about 6 months ago due to a stroke, she was elderly, it was sudden, and there was no decision to be made really. My husband took her to the vet, and she was incapacitated from the stroke, so they gave her a sedative then the euthanasia drug.
Dog number 2 was only 7, and had been diagnosed with lymphoma shortly after Dog 1's death. He went into remission then relapsed with a vengeance. We knew the time was near because his neck glands were affecting his eating and breathing, but we also knew he was Dogzilla at the vet's office (we adopted him when he was 2 and wasn't really sure why he hated vets, but he hated them...and he was a BIG dog and scary at the vets, even though he was always gentle everywhere else.) So we were in a dilemma about how it was going to play out. We didn't want him to suffer, he had times of seeming healthy if you don't count the two lemon sized nodes in his neck, and we didn't know when to make the decision to put him down.
Enter "in home vets that specialize in hospice evaluations and in home euthanasia." I had heard about this type of vet but never investigated. We filled out some forms online, then they said to call them when we felt he should be put down, or wanted an assessment. So we made the call yesterday and it was such a relief to have a vet examine the dog, and discuss the situation without the dog being in freak out mode because he was at the vets.
She confirmed our fears about the large nodes in his neck affecting his breathing. And we made the decision to have him put to sleep. He was relaxed and "at home" which made it easier on us and easier for him. The cost was only a little more than at the vet's office. But well worth the extra money for our peace of mind, and the dog's non-stressful end of life.
So just wanted to pass that on to anyone who might find they have to euthanize your pet. See if you have an in home vet service in your area.
I just want to explain what we (husband and I experienced today) and to pass it on in case someone faces the same situation in their future.
Today we put down dog number 2. Dog number 1 had to be put to sleep about 6 months ago due to a stroke, she was elderly, it was sudden, and there was no decision to be made really. My husband took her to the vet, and she was incapacitated from the stroke, so they gave her a sedative then the euthanasia drug.
Dog number 2 was only 7, and had been diagnosed with lymphoma shortly after Dog 1's death. He went into remission then relapsed with a vengeance. We knew the time was near because his neck glands were affecting his eating and breathing, but we also knew he was Dogzilla at the vet's office (we adopted him when he was 2 and wasn't really sure why he hated vets, but he hated them...and he was a BIG dog and scary at the vets, even though he was always gentle everywhere else.) So we were in a dilemma about how it was going to play out. We didn't want him to suffer, he had times of seeming healthy if you don't count the two lemon sized nodes in his neck, and we didn't know when to make the decision to put him down.
Enter "in home vets that specialize in hospice evaluations and in home euthanasia." I had heard about this type of vet but never investigated. We filled out some forms online, then they said to call them when we felt he should be put down, or wanted an assessment. So we made the call yesterday and it was such a relief to have a vet examine the dog, and discuss the situation without the dog being in freak out mode because he was at the vets.
She confirmed our fears about the large nodes in his neck affecting his breathing. And we made the decision to have him put to sleep. He was relaxed and "at home" which made it easier on us and easier for him. The cost was only a little more than at the vet's office. But well worth the extra money for our peace of mind, and the dog's non-stressful end of life.
So just wanted to pass that on to anyone who might find they have to euthanize your pet. See if you have an in home vet service in your area.
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