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When do you know it’s time for your dog to cross the rainbow bridge

K

Knotsalot87

Tourist
Hi everyone,

I am looking for advice on when to put in the call to the vet.

I had taken my dog into the vet as he had a pretty nasty cough and I could tell he was having a rough time. After some X-rays, the vet determined that he has a mass in his lungs that is likely cancer due to the cancer we had removed a little more than a year ago. He is a bit over 13, and given his age and just not being able to afford the more that 10K surgical bill for removal, the vet gave him some steroids and cough suppressant and said he could last days to weeks.

From anyone that has experience with this kind of situation. When did you know that it was time to say goodbye. I am struggling with the decision myself and just don’t want to cut his life short if he still could have had a few good weeks ahead.

His cough has become less often on the meds, but I also don’t want him to suffer needlessly. Any advice would be appreciated.
 
As my boy's oncologist told me last March when he was diagnosed with melanoma in his mouth which metastasized to his lymphs, "he'll tell you when it's time for him to go". If you've had him for 13 years you should know his behavior and see his changes.

For my boy he had a fairly steady decline over 3 months, but in his last 2 weeks he took a sharp rapid decline and I knew it was time. He stopped sleeping in front of the door waiting for me to get home, stopped instantly getting up to greet me and be eager to go outside, when we were outside he started nosing around in and behind bushes (which I took as signs of him looking for a "nesting place" - a place to lay down and pass in peace), stopped following me into the bedroom to sleep in his bed beside mine (though he would come in sometime during the night, just not right away as usual), and he began eating less and less till his last few days basically stopped eating.
 
It was a struggle though. Only a week before his rapid decline that caused me to make the call I knew he was declining but posted on here "I don't think he has much time left, but I don't think it's quite time yet. I'd hate to walk into the vet with an excited happy dog and say please kill him." But as he took his rapid decline I knew the time when I saw it.

I did have a mobile vet do an in home euthanasia though, so that we could have our last time together comfortable at home and his last thing wouldn't be a trip into the vet (and no lonely drive home for me).
 
You'll know...the spark is gone, and he's just not himself. You already know there is no real chance of recovery, so it's all downhill. Don't wait too long....
 
dartel said:
It was a struggle though. Only a week before his rapid decline that caused me to make the call I knew he was declining but posted on here "I don't think he has much time left, but I don't think it's quite time yet. I'd hate to walk into the vet with an excited happy dog and say please kill him." But as he took his rapid decline I knew the time when I saw it.

I did have a mobile vet do an in home euthanasia though, so that we could have our last time together comfortable at home and his last thing wouldn't be a trip into the vet (and no lonely drive home for me).
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Yea, that is the struggle for me right now. He still seems to have energy and some life left in him, but also don’t want it to get to the point where he’s in pain.

I will likely go the same route with a mobile vet, as he does get anxiety heading into the vets office. I would rather he be comfortable at the end.
 
Knotsalot87 said:
Hi everyone,

I am looking for advice on when to put in the call to the vet.

I had taken my dog into the vet as he had a pretty nasty cough and I could tell he was having a rough time. After some X-rays, the vet determined that he has a mass in his lungs that is likely cancer due to the cancer we had removed a little more than a year ago. He is a bit over 13, and given his age and just not being able to afford the more that 10K surgical bill for removal, the vet gave him some steroids and cough suppressant and said he could last days to weeks.

From anyone that has experience with this kind of situation. When did you know that it was time to say goodbye. I am struggling with the decision myself and just don’t want to cut his life short if he still could have had a few good weeks ahead.

His cough has become less often on the meds, but I also don’t want him to suffer needlessly. Any advice would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
This can be one of the hardest things we have to do. I had a Border collie who tore her acl and vet was not very optimistic she would ever walk again, but with lots of care and getting a special harness for her and with strong pain meds in time she was able to walk on her own, then later in life she got arthritis and the harness was then used for any big walking. Then she got congestive heart failure. we put her on meds to control the fluid build up in lungs. Vet originally said to prepare as only expected a week to a month left, but with careful management of the meds she lived for another almost 2 years before her kidneys failed and had to make the hard choice. She let us know it was time, she was always a fighter, but when the time came she clearly told us she was ready. They will tell you in their own way.

feel free to pm if you need
 
This is one of those really difficult parts of loving. The answer isn't always simple. Things that should be asked are things like Are they in pain? Can they still enjoy life?
Even with any questions you may ask there may not be a clear answer. Unfortunately if you do or do not make that choice it will likely always feel wrong because there isn't anything that feels right about loosing someone you love and less so when it has to be your choice. We make decisions for them the whole time they are with us. This one seems to carries more weight then many but still should be done like the rest. What is best for them.
Give him as much good time as you are able to and if you do have to help him move from life then do so because it is best for him even though it will hurt you. Because that should be a part of love. Doing what is best for the one that you love. Even when that hurts. And you won't want to, you will want to hold on but part of you will also feel his pain and know you can't let him stay in that pain. Take comfort in the fact that you are protecting and loving him as you have done in the past.

Also remember that he is not his death, what you feel is all the love from his life and hold on to that love and the life not the death. No matter how he passes. Him and his love are a part of you.
 
Thank you for the replies everyone. I really do appreciate the feedback. It is a decision that is weighing on me pretty hard.

For now, his cough is still present and it does put him in discomfort, but it’s only when he breathes really hard(excited that im home/going outside/ walking up stairs/ food). It’s a stark improvement with the meds, since he was coughing almost every 5mins previously.

He generally likes to sleep beside my bed, but I have found that he hasn’t been the last few nights, but I think it is due to the meds. I give him the cough suppressant at night usually and it does say it has a sedative effect. Other than that, he still follows me up and down the stairs, and seems to be ok for now. I will make sure to keep an eye out for the things you guys mentioned.

Thank you again everyone!
 
1 He eats, drinks, goes to you, until then it's fine.
2 If he already lying down and can't get up, doesn't want to drink, then you needs to be fed and watered him.
3 When this condition can no longer be maintained, the pain, vomit, partial loss of consciousness comes. That's pretty much the end. It depends on how quickly he condition deteriorates.
 
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