Pets

...I've had big dogs all my life and I've had to be the one to send them to the Bridge...hubby becomes inconsolable.

Before you do anything find the number of a vet who will do in home euthanasia Maybe call the service in advance and ask how long it would take for them to respond to your call once you make it.

With my dogs the time came when they COULD NOT get up to even pee. This is when they crash. and theres no way back from it. They are ready to give up. This is when they will usually urinate in the dog bed.

When they just needed assistance I had a Help Me Up harness that has a front and rear handle. I actually hurt my back pretty bad getting them up and down even with the harness. If your dog is going up and down the stairs he is still in fairly good shape. I slept for months on the downstairs sofa as my dog could not go up the stairs where they always slept in our bedroom.

Look for signs of obvious pain..heavy panting, eyes closed, licking at the area. Did the vet give you anything to keep him comfortable? We used Etodolac for pain control for our dogs severe arthritis. Its a human medicine with no liver complications..ask your vet about it?

Seizures could be another sign the end could be close. Both my Goldens had small seizures towards the end and that, coupled with not able to use their legs, was very stressful for them AND for us. I kept rolled up wash cloth handy.

They will refuse all food...even little hamburger balls we made for my golden, Cooper... he ate ONLY that then he quit eating.
When my other Golden, Emma quit eating.. I got a bag of ginger snaps to help with her tender tummy. Each night she and I would have two ginger snaps.

Enjoy this time with your dog..take about 1000 photos of all parts of him..his nose..feet, tail, ears. Spend hours petting him ,grooming talking, playing music. This is scary for them too and he will just want to be with you til his time comes.

I always took a photo of each of my dogs right after they passed...then we had them privately cremated and we have their ashes in urns. DH and I are going to be buried with their ashes.

Im so very sorry for your dogs illness. These things never get any easier no matter how old we are or how many times we go thru it. I am just more prepared now and have an idea what to look for The vet gave my last golden 4 months and she lasted 6. Relatively alert and enjoying some life until the day before she left for the bridge.

My grand dog is now hospice and since Ive had him for the last 6 years so I will be assisting him soon. Hes a rat terrier so he is easier for me to lift him up if needed. The vet feels there is cancer in his liver spleen and maybe lungs so we are enjoying him as much as we can and he still barks at stuff so hes not ready to go yet...but i have the number of the vet ready.

We will be here for you if you need to talk....
take care and hugs to your fur baby