Did I do the right thing by putting my dog to sleep?

I am so sorry to hear about your loss, I sincerely am. One of the hardest things to do is so put our fur babies to sleep. It is so hard to get our head around and sometimes people don't quite understand because in their eyes "it's only a dog" where if you have ever owned a dog, you know they become your family and your best friends. He sounded like he had an amazing life with you and your family and whole heartidly I can say you done the right thing at the end. Normally if a client asks me when is the right time to put your animal to sleep I would reply with make a list of 10 things the animals loves to do, if they can't do more than 3 of the things on that list them their quality of life is not so great. He sounds like he was ill at the end and you done the right thing. The thing with our fur babies is that as they get older an the body gets weaker they don't really understand what is happening to them. They just try to go on as everything is ok! That is why we are here to make their life better and make that call when the time comes.

Acceptance will come eventually but it will come with time. You need to take your time, Think of all the happy memories you have had together and think of how you made your dog's life awesome. Put a photo box together so you can think of the happy young pup you once owned. Do things every day that make you happy. Make a memorial to your pet to as this can help. If you feel like things are getting to much, speak to your mum or dad and tell them how you feel as they are probably feeling the same way. Try not to be sad as your fur baby is mostly watching over you and wagging their tail and knowing someday that you will meet again and will be playing ball. Big huge hugs and love! Time is a great healer, do not feel guilty and talk to people. Chatting is a great way of getting things out and do not be afraid to cry, we are all human and we all understand!

You did the right thing, Max's quality of life was gone. He could not play or go for a walk, or even eat comfortably. You feel bad because he has been with you your whole life. You didn't say what breed he was but 20 (17+3) is old for almost any breed of dog. The fact he was loosing weight makes me think there was something else wrong (maybe cancer). Making the decision is never easy, but sometimes you just have too. Maybe this site can help you get over your guilt feelings http://www.rainbowbridge.com/ So sorry for your lose, but it was for Max's best.

I am very sorry for your loss. We had to put my dog to sleep this year too. She got cancer. I definitely felt the same way. For a while it seemed as of she was getting better, but then suddenly she went downhill really fast. I was so sad when my parents took her in. Trust me, you did the right thing for Max. He probably was holding on for you guys, but really that's all he could do. He is in a better place now where he isn't falling all the time and there aren't any more struggles. He isn't in pain anymore and even though it will take a long time for you to heal, just know that what you did was the right thing. As for your cat, I think he senses the absence of your dog. He will most likely be fine after a little while. I wish your family the best. "Death holds a heartache no one can heal, love holds a memory no one can steal."

You did the right thing. 2 years ago I had to put my 10 year old golden down, who I also had since I was 3, and for the exact same reasons. It was best to put your dog down before the suffering got worse, and you just have to know you gave him the most incredible life he could ever dream of. Yeah, it's not just a pet, it's family, and its hard to loose a family member. I still cry over my dog, even though we recently rescued another dog 2 months ago. My cat and dog were best friends, and my cat spend a good few weeks searching for her, where as my other cat did the same as your cat. It will take a long time to get over, but you just have to realize how great of a life you gave him, and know hes in a better place. May he rest in peace.

This is positively the worst, and again the best, thing you can do for your beloved friend. For you it's the worst, for him, it's the best. And it is the one final unselfish act you can do for him. You will feel awful now, but just know you did absolutely the right thing! We have always had to help our friends over the final step and it most definitely doesn't get any easier the more often it happens. With the help of your vet, together you have given him peace, and he will be smiling down at you and thanking you. Gradually the pain will ease and you will know it was for him, and remember only the best times. It always must be quality of life for any dog, and for sure, your lad was probably not enjoying his life any more. So don't beat yourself up over this sad time, you did exactly the right thing. Hope the pain stops soon, but let it out, kick the walls, scream and shout about the fact they simply don't live long enough, you will feel better for it. And the sun will come out again.

I'm so sorry you had to go through such a life-changing experience, it's just part of the responsibilities we take on when we become or are part of being a 'guardian' for a family pet/member. Max had no quality of life, and he had lost his dignity when he became unable to relieve himself on his own four legs. He will always remember what you did for him, he loved you, and he wants you to remember the good times, many years of good times. It's easy to wonder 'did we do the right thing'. What else could we have done, and if we knew better would we have done different? Don't second guess yourself, it's just your mind playing tricks on you, it's your guilt for not speeding enough time with him, It's just LIFE. I recently. went through the same situation with my dog 'Mikey', he was only nine, he had contracted a blood vessel cancer, he died peacefully in his sleep after five days of not being able to walk, we had six good months with him after the diagnosis. My husband carried him outside several times a day and night to let him do his business or he would pee on the towels we had underneath his orthopedic dog bed. I hand fed him and gave him water up until about two hours before he died. We had discussed having him put down, I'm glad we didn't, in that instance Three years earlier we put his mother down, and I always wonder if we should have gotten a second opinion or done just one more test to see if she could have been saved. It's a head game we play with our self. It's guilt I think because in a way we are playing God. In the end however, either way, it's the 'right thing to do', whatever way you chose, it was the right thing to do, in that situation with that dog. It's just your grieving process, you will find that as time goes by you will cry over him in the middle of the night or during the day, something will remind you of him, and you will cry. That's normal, don't let anyone tell you it's not. the greatest thing that a friend of mine told me years ago was that when one of our pets die, something bad was going to happen to us, and they loved us so much that they took our place instead, that 'Crow Indian' tell has brought me so much comfort over the years any time one of my beloved pet's passes on. On another note, I believe that our pet's never really leave us, he is right there with you always, close your eyes, and he is right there with you. Remember how his fur felt, how his breathe sounded, how he barked, and how he looked into your eyes. close your eyes and you will see all that. The best thing to do to mend a broken heart and one that has a huge hole in it from loosing a pet is to get another puppy ASAP, it will never replace Max, or Mikey, however, the JOY that a new puppy brings into a household is magical! Good luck and I hope you have many more happy years with your new puppy, he or she is waiting to find you right now!

Also, I agree with an earlier comment, Max's weight loss was probably due to a condition associated with cancer.

The thing with the cat is that cat's like a routine, and it's routine has been changed, it is scared right now because something is different in the house, and you all are probably in a solemn mood, cat's scents that, it will return to normal as you all do.

If he couldn't stand for more than five seconds you did the right thing, even though he was happy he probably would have only lived for at most a year, and most of that would be very painful for him, it was better for him to die while still feeling good instead of suffering, and I can't answer about the cat but I believe it will get over it.

Putting down a family pet is always one of the hardest things to do. You're literally losing a part of your family. With the dogs age, and condition, putting him down was probably the best. Even though he may have seemed so happy all the time, know your family was treating him right. Arthritis for dogs can be a tough thing on them, and you wouldn't want him to have to suffer continuously. Just know he was a happy dog when he went & putting him down was the right thing to do.

God bless.

You did the right thing. Arthritis + weight loss pretty much means he was

in the process of dying, and you stopped it from being a long drawn out process.

He may have greeted you with the appearance of 'happy' but if he couldn't

even stand to do it, trust me, he wasn't happy.

The cat probably misses his 'buddy', may even have regarded him as a protector.

You did the right thing. If you didn't put him to sleep he would have suffered with pain. At least now he is in doggy heaven where he can run around and play all he wants to! I feel for you but you did the right thing :)

Good luck.