How do you help a dog pass away the easiest?

It would depend on the overall condition of the dog.

Option 1 seems a bit off if the dog, since the dog is likely too old to overcome it.

Option 2 and 3 can be combined.
I would likely go for option 2 and see if the dog still keeps on enjoying life. (that is… Lives life as a dog, doing dog things, etc.) If that doesnt work well, one can still go foroption 3.

You have to keep an eye on the dog and as his owner you’ll ‘know’ whether he is still better off alive, or not. In case you do need to euthanize him, ideally the vet would come to your house. Then he (the dog) can go in the peace and comfort of the place where feels most at ease. In general, your dog is a strong social animal that will take his cues from you. Stay with him and comfort him.

I just…sat by my dog when they euthanize her. One of the most painful memories of my life.

I agree with @whitenoise. I would not do major surgery on all old dog. I would try palliative care but if I saw it wasn’t working, I would euthanize the dog. I had to do that with my dog when he couldn’t breathe well any more and it was a very peaceful ending for him. Of course, the sorrow was there for me but I felt he could not live well any more.

Don’t do the surgery. I would be torture.
IMO even the palliative care – drug therapy – is torture for a dog that is in pain and has no idea what is happening.
Sadly, I think you know what you need to do.

I have held a dog when it was euthanized. The process was gentle, respectful and kind. It honestly appeared like he was just falling asleep.
Hugs to you.

When I was about 6 years old, my cat Grettle got run over by a car. Her face was busted, she could not walk well, and was in a fair bit of pain to say the least.

We took her to the vets, they said it would be best to put her to sleep. I said no, no way. Instead they treated her, gave her pain killers, and fixed her up. After about a month or two she recovered, she went on to live almost another 20 years, died in her sleep at the grand total age of 24. (give or take a month or two)

I say go with option 1 and remove the leg.

Before anyone goes crazy at me, allow me to defend myself on this one. I think it is the best option, as it will combine the minimum “force” on the dog, and most ethical choice. You are not imposing so much on it by taking the leg.

With option 1, you impose a missing leg, and the chance of a death that would follow soon. Obviously this is not good for the dog, but there is a chance that it could recover, and it could indeed have another 2 or 3 years in it. Honestly, probably not, but it could. In total, with option 1 you impose pain, a chance of death, and a chance of life.

With option 2, you impose pain, and death. This option has no up side, and has more negatives than option 1. In my opinion, this means it does not beat option 1.

With option 3, you impose death. You could try to claim that you prevent pain, but you don’t. The dog will not enjoy being killed, however humane it may be. There are many regulations about the execution of prisoners, yet you still hear horror stories. You can say option 3 does minimize pain, but it has no up side, and it imposes the harshest option, death.

Yes, the poor guy does not have long left anyway, yes I know he will suffer a bit with surgery, but it is the more ethical option to me.

Dogs have no concept of death, so it wont feel the terror a condemned man feels on the long walk, but dogs also don’t have a complex understanding of suffering like humans do.

If we assume your dog is a human, who has been turned in to a dog with a magic spell, the best thing to do in my opinion, if he has lost the capability to communicate with humans, is to assume that he wants to live.

If he could talk, what would he say? would he go all spiritual on you and tell you everyone has to leave some day? or would he tell you to crank up the pain killers and bring him a bitch a bone and a good head scratch?

If you think he is ready, and he has had his time, and that he wants to go, then let him go. If he looks like he still has some fight in him, go with the leg.

Palliative care is the relief of suffering. If it doesn’t do that, it isn’t working right.

Thanks for the responses, I’m an emo mess right now, and not hot either…lol

So when I get home at night, he still runs to greet me, he just doesn’t use that leg at all. On good days, he will run in the yard and use it as well. He just seems to have good days when the arthritis meds (anti-inflammatory) work and other days he needs a pain pill in the am then again in the pm. He has a pallet on the floor now and we get down and love on him all the time. He is eating and drinking and pottying, but getting up less frequently.

On option 1, I am against it, it’s just too invasive. My mom has breast cancer and chose another path as well, plus it could have already spread but a bunch more tests would prove that or not if this was our choice.

Option 2 is the one I’m leaning toward because I’m selfish and I think he still gets enjoyment out of life. He still likes to go for car rides and wags his tail, so the pain is not all-encompassing at this point.

Option 3, I can barely even think about before bursting into tears. We’ve been trying to reconcile ourselves to it since he’s 13, but like a lot of people in the US, we don’t have kids, the dogs are our babies.

Ultimately it’s up to my husband since he had Fleetwood Mac before we got together, and my husband’s bday is this weekend (yeah sux right?) But I think my husband is also leaning towards option 2.

After the last few months of gauging his pain and activity levels, I think we’ll be able to tell if the meds aren’t working and if he’s miserable. We are his parents after all. Thanks again all!

Go with your heart….#2.

I would let the poor soul go to sleep and relieve it of its pain. It’s torture to see it suffer. It may sound heartless but in the long run it is an act of mercy.

When he is suffering you can bet I will, no matter what. Right now, I just don’t feel that we’re at that point. Thanks again.

So play it by ear and just be by his side. Wish you all the best…..

I am so sorry to hear that you are going through this, @KNOWITALL.

I had to have my dog put to sleep a couple of weeks ago. She was 12 years old. Her heart failed, she was fighting for breath all the time, even when resting, and she could barely walk at all. It came on very suddenly over just a few days. The vet told us that medication might ease her breathing a little, and maybe give her another two to four weeks, but there was no guarantee it would work at all.

My partner and I decided that if we we took the medication route it would be for our benefit, not hers, and I couldn’t bear to see her suffering. On that friday afternoon she was “begging” at me, and I realised what she was saying was “Help me”. But there was nothing I could do. So we called the vet and booked her in for the following day.

Her appointment was 1.30pm; by 11am I was beginning to think that she would pass away before we even got there; she was laid on the floor by my chair; awake but barely breathing at all.

The whole process was very relaxed and gentle. Xena was laid on a blanket, I sat on the floor next to her with my arm round her and her head on my lap. The injection took just a few seconds and she was gone almost before he’d finished it.

It was a heartbreaking decision to have to make, but I don’t regret it. She was suffering dreadfully, she was scared, and there wasn’t anything that could be done. I’m grateful that the whole illness was so sudden and so short, and that her suffering wasn’t dragged out over weeks or months.

Only you, with information from your vet, can decide what’s best for your dog. You’ll know when it’s time.

@downtide My experience was not exactly the same but quite similar and I am almost in tears. And I agree, it was a loving and peaceful end.

@KNOWITALL What breed of dog and how is it’s condition physically now?

Yes, I say go with option #2 and you will know when he is no longer able to remain comfortable. It is about quality or life, not quantity, and since he is an elderly dog already the amputation is too invasive IMO. I’m so sorry, a good friend just put her 24 yr. old cat down yesterday due to advanced renal failure. Our furry friends are so special!

Make his last weeks/months as happy as you can and don’t put him through the torture of an amputation.
Recovering from the amputation will take weeks and weeks of adjustment and discomfort…why make the last months of his already limited life even more uncomfortable for him.
Also, remember…it is always better to euthanize a day too early rather than a day too late.

My heartfelt sympathies go out to you. :-)

I believe in keeping a dog as long as it is hungry and happy. When they stop eating and wagging their tail, you know the time has come. I would keep him pain free as long as you can then do what needs to be done. I have two wonderful poems that have helped me so often in the past. I will send them to you if you would like.

Also, when the time comes, insist that the vet tranquilize your dog before he euthanizes. Sometimes a dog can have a horrible reaction to the euthanasia drugs. It is not common but when it happens it is hellish. And it can easily be prevented by tranqing first. Sometimes vets argue about it and I have never understood why, it is more money in their pocket, but don’t cave, it is worth it for the peace of mind. I am assuming you want to stay with the dog. I also have always tried to have the vet come to my house. The last one I had to have put down was a 14 year old akita. We had evacuated 600k inland because of a cyclone and it was just too much for the old boy. We went to an unknown vet, my husband, myself and our other 2 dogs were all there. I requested the vet come outside and administer the tranquilizer, she told me it was unnecessary and I said I didn’t care, just do it. She did and we all walked around a little park until he just sank down and went into a deep sleep. the vet then came and injected the drug while I held off the vein. He never even twitched. His ashes sit on top of the kitchen cupboard.

Then of course my next step is to go adopt another immediately. The new one doesn’t replace the old one or take away the pain, but it gives you someone new to fall in love with and saves a life.

@Adirondackwannabe He’s a beautiful chestnut 80lb Dalmation/ Bird Dog mix. He has a wonderful gray face and is turning grey in several places. Think positive thoughts, I still can’t look at the xray’s yet, it’s all about my baby.

And to top it off, my car blew a rod or something. Happy freakin’ holidays right?!

He is still wagging, but will yelp occasionally if he lays on it wrong. I think they manipulated it at the vets so I’m hoping it’s just amped up for a day or so since he ran to greet me on Monday when I got home, all happy.

Here I go, tears again. And I have two birds and another little dog named Mona that we rescued 2 yrs ago, so right now I think that’s plenty, but maybe someday when my heart is healed. Thanks all.

You are a good dog mom. You will make the right decision when the time comes. IT’s never easy, that’s for sure.

What kind of birds do you have?

I have a gorgeous & semi-beeyotchy female green-cheeked conure who is about 8 years old, and a sweet male 14 yr old cockatiel who loves to give kisses, whistle and sing to his mom.

And of course my little Mona who is a rescued wire-hair terrier, she’s been very loving to her brother (my old dog) and kisses him, cleans his ears and is careful not to be too rowdy around him. :)

@KNOWITALL I might give the surgery a shot. Mixed breeds make it to 16 or 17, so he could handle not having the leg if he’s doing it already. My Golden Retriever had his thyroid out and lived 5 or 6 years. I would decide based on his heart. If he’s a fighter give it a go. It’s a really tough call. Best wishes Lady.

@KNOWITALL – you are definitely a good bird mom too. I have a young cockatiel and I love them. I also am about to adopt a sulphur crested cockatoo. It belongs to a customer and they don’t like it. It lives in a cage on the front porch, has nothing in its cage so it has almost all its feathers pulled out. It is in sad shape. I don’t know if I can get it back to physically or mentally but I am sure going to try. I can’t stand seeing it the way it is.

Sending positive energy to your old dog. Keep us posted on his health and yours!

@rooeytoo Oh….poor, poor bird. They are so intelligent and will self mutilate without stimulation and interaction. I hope you can turn him/her around. Those people ought to be punished for such cruelty!

People are so ignorant sometimes about their pets unfortunately. A local here put his bird and cage outside on the porch and a racoon or something tried to kill it, it’s unbelievable to me someone would leave a bird exposed to the weather and animals.

We have a rescue called A Parrott’s Perch (on fb) that offers free classes eow on bird care and behavior. We make toys, birdie bread and everyone brings their birds to class, it’s really fun. I think a lot of people make rash pet decisions and a year or two later either learn how to do it correctly or give up, but if you give up you have to provide a good home. The people I got my Petey the cockatiel from were moving out of state and just didn’t want him anymore…I don’t understand that tbh.

My birds have all their feathers (you can make jewelry out of those btw) and my conure Pedra is gorgeous green, teal and red. My cockatiel is a fatty and loves to eat, but he was a rescue so he hates hands. I let them fly around the house and pretty much take over….you should see Pedra on my old dogs back just riding around, it’s so funny.

I did some internet searching yesterday and it said manual massage of the soft tissue around the cancer “ball” would help so we did that on and off all evening, and used an ice pack 3x (they manipulated at the vet so it was a little swollen) and this morning he was feeling really good. I think for now the Nuvox (anti-inflammatory) and the Tramadol (Pain) 2x a day is controlling the pain, so we feel confident that for now it’s under control and his quality is still good.
Thanks!!

That’s good news, he can continue to enjoy his life if you can keep the pain under control. Dogs are so smart, they live in the moment and don’t worry about tomorrow. Makes life a lot simpler!

And it worked really well. I massaged for an hour last night (while in the recliner on my couch, he was next to me and relaxed), then iced, then massaged and ice 2x more before bedtime and this morning he was feeling better and the swelling was dramatically reduced.
I’M SO HAPPY!!!

Good job!!!

Yay!!

@KNOWITALL – just read this article. Very interesting and made me think of you.

Aw, that’s a good article, thanks Rooey!