URGENT! Need some advice, pretty fast! Sick dog - Page 4

Ruger1, you ask what benefit there is to allowing a natural death...and it's a fair question, though equating it with 'going grey and getting wrinkles' is rather trivializing something worthy of far greater gravitas, IMO. [Aside from the fact that some of us ARE getting grey naturally, while twenty-somethings like Kelley Osborne are dying their hair grey...]

A natural death spares the owner the cruel self-doubt that often arises after euthanasias, the fear that they failed the pet by making that decision sooner or later than was necessary.  You get the comfort of knowing that you didn't miss even a single second of the time available with each other.  You don't go through the guilt that too often comes with having to euthanize because treatment of a condition is cost-prohibitive or not possible, either. 

BUT--to attempt to obtain these things at the expense of the pet's dignity or comfort, for no reason save convenience or for lack of any consideration at all, is an abhorence, a neglect worthy of the most painful punishments the universe can concoct.  I trust Jenni was exaggerating in saying the dog would need be "in agony" before she'd euthanize.

Betty, I wish you and your boy a gentle passage, regardless of the route taken.

Hexe,,With all do respect.. me equating the comfort and care of our companions with 'going grey and getting wrinkles' was only suggesting that if we disregard the natural progression of things in trival matters such as our vanity, how much more do we disregard the natural progression of things in weightier matters such as our companions comfort and care..Hope that clarifies my point..

I totally understand that there will be times that one might doubt the decision was mad too soon. However, I personally would much rather have made that decsion a day too soon rather then a day too late..

It is distressing to me personally to know that I allowed my dog a day of suffereing that I had the power to control. This can of coarse be taken to an extream as with all things, but IMO I truly believe that our creatures let us know when the time comes. I think the confusion comes from our inability to let go of them..

I liked your last paragraph it was worded very powerfully..I would assume that Jenni did not mean to use the word agony. By the time agony is experienced it is too late IMO..That's just me and I feel very convinced of it..

I have never heard of hopice care for dogs. I suppose if one could afford that service it would be very benneficial and comforting when the time comes under the right cirrcumstances...

Betty, Yes, I do hope your dog passes as easily and peaceful as possible..My regards..

Betty said, "There are no pleasant deaths, natural or aided."...true indeed.
 

Deanna..

Best thing I ever read about letting your dog die naturally at home:
 
http://www.petmd.com/blogs/thedailyvet/jlee/2012/mar/letting_your_pet_die_at_home#.T8-EFcV2Oq9

I'll be damned if I'll ever let my dog suffer like that. If he can be fixed, I'll pay whatever to fix it. If he's a goner no matter what, I'll make sure he doesn't suffer. Had to do it lots of times. Every time I thought about what the dog was going through not what I was going through. Once I took care of the dog I could think about myself.

Wish you could talk some sense into the dog's owner. Awfully decent of you to look after the dog and do what you can for him.

Thanks for the support, this is getting harder for me by the day.  I've had a crazy work schedule this week, not much time to breath, but I thought I'd drop in to give you an update (that unfortunately isn't much of an update).  He's sticking to keeping him giong and I wouldn't be able to help if I could.  I'm covering for my boss, who's on vacation, so I'm working so many hours, I'm feeling bad for my own dog!  I'm lucky that Drake is as good as he is, he can be trusted to even not be too mad when he really isn't getting the exercise he deserves.  He's still happy to see me, when I know how pissed he should be.  Between work and thunderstorms, the walks haven't been what they should be.  But at least I got him to the cemetery for a good run on Sunday, he so needed it!

So, as you can tell, I'm now avoiding the subject because I think Murphy deserves better care in his last days.  Jim works early in the morning and goes to bed early, but at least he is there for the late afternoon/early evening and when he's home, he takes great care of Murph.  But, I still think he should curtail his weekend excursions and take care of his dog because that would be the only reason to allow him to go on.  His head looks huge because his body is getting so small, he's starving to death and it's just really hard to watch.  I'll respect Jim's wishes and not fight with him, but I also won't help him to shirk his duty.  So, I probably won't post an update again until it's time so let you know that it's finally over.

Thank you for being there, I know I haven't been around much and  I appreciate the responses and the support.

Travels, my heart aches for you, and for Murphy.  I'd love to ask Jim if this is how *he* wants to be handled, should his life path follow a course similar to Murph's.  Betcha he wouldn't want to spend the weekends lying in his own bloody shit.

So very sad, and worse that it's sadder than it has to be.

Travels, you missed my point. I said I wasn't excusing him, but offering the only reason I can think of that someone would appear so callous if he's not truly evil; he must be in denial and simply unable (read- TOO WEAK) to deal with it. If you can't stand up to him, then he's not going to get it through his thick skull that he needs to take better care of his dog. I would go postal on him;-) In fact, if you like, send him my number;-). lol

Deanna, if that's how you took my post, I'm not sure I can find a way to explain it that would make any more sense. If you think scientific advances like hair dye equate to the convenience of euthanasia as a more pleasant alternative to a natural death, I'll say we'll have to agree to disagree. I read your clarification and still think it's a bit narrowly focused. Agony is subjective. You say you can't allow your dog a day of suffering; is that mental or physical? How much suffering defines agony? Pretty slippery slope. Lots of gray areas. A parvo puppy has several days of agony. Shall we automatically kill them to avoid them suffering? Suffering is part of life and death. No creature is immune. 

Who gave us the right to decide the exact hour someone needs to die? You can't spare anyone all pain in life and death. Death is a natural occurrence. I see so many people using euthanasia as a cop out and then patting themselves on the back for their compassion. How many times have you heard the explanation "He was just old." WTF??? Aren't we all going to get old unless we die young? 

My only issue with this situation is that Jim has betrayed his dog in the worst way. If he had chosen to let nature take his course and was there for Murphy in all possible ways until the end, then that's his right to choose not to provide an early death. Instead, he's being a coward, like so many pet owners when it comes time to face the hard stuff. 

Betty, all the best with your old boy. Sorry to hear. 

Instead, he's being a coward, like so many pet owners when it comes time to face the hard stuff.

 
I find this statement absolutely offensive. IMO. Also, equating a puppy with parvo, that can survive and live a full life is a poor comparison to an aged dog with a fatal disease.

Having the desire to save a beloved pet the suffering of pain and indignity by the use of euthanasia, that shortens their lifespan by an unknown timespan, is honorable and caring. Blanket judgments such as the above are what I call, an easy thing to do. 

However, I don't think Jim is doing right by his dog by allowing GSDtravels to deal with the burden of care for his dog who is dying, without the authority to make the final decision on what is best for the dog.

We need to remember that dogs aren't human.  Euthanasia is compassionate for pets who have no hope of recovering.  Why allow them to suffer and prolong their inevitable death?  

Jenni, defining agony is NOT a slippery slope--that's an antiquated notion that has been used by people who still believe animals don't experience the same type of pain as humans.  Agony and pain can now be measured and quantified thanks to science's ability to correlate cortisol levels, brain activity, blood pressure, respiration frequency and depth, pupillary response and so forth.  Yes, a puppy that is in the throes of a parvo infection does suffer, but the reason we don't look to euthanasia as the first option for those cases is because there is the potential that the suffering can be aleviated through treatment of the causative illness--a dog that is dying of something for which there is no hope of recovery, however, suffers needlessly, because it assuredly will only decline, because improvement is not possible regardless of how much money or treatment efforts are thrown at the underlying ailment. 

Travels, I'm thinking it's safe to say that this situation gives a pretty good illustration as to why it wouldn't work for the two of you as a couple...Do you think he might take advisement from the vet, if the vet told him that he was putting Murphy through something he shouldn't have to endure?  I would expect that if you called Murphy's vet and explained how bad things had gotten for the poor fellow, he or she would agree that waiting for a natural death isn't the right option in this case...just a thought.

Jenni, just as you see it that people use euthanasia as a cop-out, I see people using 'letting nature take it's course' as a cop-out as well.  When 'letting nature take it's course' means neglecting to provide for the aid and comfort of an animal, it's not a valid argument...just an excuse for doing nothing for a creature that is reliant on us to take care of it compassionately.