So our dog Dixie isn't doing so well. She's a rescue we got when she was 8 years old. Rescued her from a puppy mill 3 years ago so she could live out her golden years in a family situation, rather than the cement shed she was raised in to pump out puppies for one womans finacial gain.

There couldn't be a happier dog on earth. She knows what we've done for her and shows it by being the best dog a couple could ask for.

A couple months ago she started panting at night. Then one night, full on weezing. So we took her to the vet and he told us her heart has swelled up to fill the majority of her chest. It's a common thing with her breed. At night, when she lays down, her heart presses against her lungs, making breathing difficult. She was perscribed pills for her heart, but they are just to slow down the swelling.

That was 2 months ago. Last night was a real bad one. The gf and I slept on the floor with her most of the night. She couldn't put her head down as it would stop her breathing, but she was tired and couldn't do anything about it. We said last night that in the morning we'd both call work and take the day off, and take her to the vet "one last time".

Hardest part: the day time is her best time. Wagging her tail and excited to have us both home. So, it's really hard, ya know?

I think I know it's time.... But, there's just this thought in both our heads saying "what if she's not ready yet? Do we end her life or not? What's the right thing to do?". Every night isn't like last night. 5 out of 7 a week are, but there's 2 there where she's fine. Ugh.... So tough.

Anyway, we have a vet appointment for 2:15 today. We'll see what he thinks. I'm off to buy her a chicken breast and a good steak to BBQ for her...

Anyone else ever faced this kind of decision?

PS-

Not yet, and I dread the day somethin' fierce. Sorry man. When this happens to me, I will be gutted.

We did this for our cat twenty years ago....totally sucks, and heartbreaking....but it might be for everyone's best....i wish you guys well!

Sorry to hear about that. Stinks that its such a touch and go situation.

I had a cat that developed a heart problem a few years ago. It was a common problem with his breed (Maine Coon). I had him going to a cardiologist and on heart medication. There's only so much you can do though and pets aren't the best patients that you can reason with why you want them to take medication.

One day, I took him to his cardiologist for what I thought was going to be a routine check up and he had a stroke during the checkup. They resusitated him but he had a second stroke even in an oxygen tent. I left him under observation and gave the ok not to resusitate if he had another. He died later that day. Its a hard decision but you don't want your pet to be in pain and given their relatively short lifespans once they reach their advanced years and develop problems you can't expect them to be able to give them that much more quality time even under the best circumstances. If I could things over again, I would do less not more. He hated going to the vet, he only lived about six months after being diagnosed with the problem and neither of us enjoyed the process of trying to trick him into taking medication several times a day. I almost choked him one time trying to shoot medicine down his throat.

I think you have to rely on the vet's advice and not feel guilty if you don't do more. Take solace in knowing that his quality of life and time on earth were longer and better for the care you gave him. Sorry to hear, barker. It sucks. Its amazing how attached we get to those pets.

Really sorry to hear it, barker. A couple of summers ago my family had to make this decision after our 14 year old cat had been hit by a car. It's a terrible situation to be put it, but hopefully you'll feel okay when you decide what's best for her.

I've had dogs and cats over my lifetime that have been "put to sleep" and it was because their health had deteriorated so badly that seeing them in that condition was just gut-wrenching and their quality of life wasn't worth it. It's a tough decision when the pet looks happy but is suffering. I wish you the best, but I can't provide any advice.

I too have been through it a few times throughout my lifetime, the most recent being for my estranged wife's cat. The cat was clearly suffering, and we finally decided it was time to put him down. It's tough to decide when the right time is, but I agree with Billy, if the vet says the pet is suffering and can't do anything for it, listen to the vet's recommendation, which will likely be to put it down.

Barker, first off, I'm sorry to read this. Second, I have two older dogs, 16 and 14. The 16 year old *maybe* has another year in him (I'm not even convinced it will be that long). A few months ago, he was really sick, and I was seriously thinking about putting him down. But with some perserverence and the right meds, he got back to his normal self. But I know what he looked like when he was feeling his worst. I could tell he wasn't happy. There wasn't a lot of tail-wagging or joie de vivre. These days, he's a little wobbly, but he still likes to prance around in the backyard like a pup. But you know your dog. You can tell when she's uncomfortable. If you think it's time, then it's probably time. More than anything, I'd hate for you to prolong her discomfort and feel terrible about it later.

Again, I'm sorry to hear about this, and I wish you, your gf and Dixie all the best. My thoughts are with you this afternoon.

Yes, but its more than that. Often there is probably something the vet can try that **might** enable Dixie to live a little longer and **could possibly** increase her quality of life. If its a no brainer, no possibility of any extra quality life then its an easy choice. It gets tougher when you have to weigh dollar cost and the animal's continued suffering with some chance that she might get some more time. I would make sure to ask the vet point blank what he or she would if it were his/her pet. I'd also ask what the realistic best case scenario is.

I'm not cheap or lazy in my care. I've had to feed a sick kitten by hand that hated me and hissed at me every chance he got and I had reconstructive surgery on another cat's broken leg and gave that cat physical therapy for 3 months post surgery. It was a young cat though. If the pet is old and it has serious health problems, the best case scenario probably isn't that great. Unlike Dixie, my cat was showing no symptoms when it was diagnosed with a heart problem. It was only discovered through routine tests performed at its annual checkup and it still only lived another 6 months with medicine and care from a cardiologist. My vet at one point had suggested an expensive battery of tests related to how much the 0heart disease had progressed. When I asked what they would do differently based on the outcome of the test, they said probably nothing. Some pet "owners" want to do everything possible less because its right for the pet and more because it assuages their own possible later guilt that there might be something that they could have done.

I'd suggest making it very clear that you just want what's best for Dixie and if its putting her to sleep you are ok with that but that you really need the vet's help in knowing what is the right thing to do. Don't let them leave you with a bunch of choices that all seem bad.

So Dixie is at home with us tonight. For at least a few more nights. The vet made it clear that we aren't at the point yet where we need to put her to sleep. He gave us a medication to try for 3 days. If it works, she could live for a while more, free of any suffering. If it doesn't work, putting her to sleep will be the next step. I'm hopeful, but realistic. It's 10:00pm now and so far so good. Fingers crossed.

Before we went to the vet, we had talked about putting her down and were as mentally ready as we could be. I don't think I've cried that much in my adult life. I went to the store to buy her a big steak and some chicken breast and almost broke down waiting in line, thinking about what was about to happen within the next hour. I made it out of there composed, but lost it in the car. Such a terrible feeling. Then finding out from the vet "it's not time"... bittersweet.

Thank you fellow obners for all your kind words.

Here's hoping for many more Dixie filled days to come

Great news, barker. I'm glad your vet could be honest with you, and instill some hope and faith in Dixie's recovery. One of the things I think is most telling about our dogs is when there's that glint, that sparkle in their eyes. That's the only thing that made me think twice about my Bean boy, because when they do get to a place where they feel better, they have that look that says, "I ain't ready to go out yet... I've still got PLAY in me!" I hope Dixie feels better in the coming days.

My dog is 10 and healthy as can be, but who knows what will happen a few years down the road. This is something that I dread.

Glad to hear the good news barker. Dixie make it through the night better?

I haven't been in your situation, Barker, but your description is absolutely heartbreaking. I'm glad you have such an awesome dog, and I'm glad your dog has owners who love her so much.

ugh, this sounds very much like my situation 2 years ago. seamus was diagnosed with lymphoma in may and it took us 3 months to finally decide it was "time". he would never, ever let you know that anything was wrong, always wagging his tail, etc. he went through periods were he even seemed to be getting better, but when it got to the point that he turned down a mcdonald's cheeseburger, we knew -- that dog wouldn't turn down lettuce. needless to say, we spoiled the shit out of him that summer...bought a baby pool for the backyard just for him, and just enjoyed our last days with him as much as we could.

our vet was terrific through it all. of course we could've gone ahead with chemo or other treatments, but she let us know that might give us another 6 months. maybe a year. and for what kind of quality of life?

sorry you have to go through this barker. there hasn't been a day that's gone by that we don't think about/talk about seamus. our son who was only 1 1/2 when we put him down still asks every now and then "when is seamus coming back?" talk about hearbreaking. i know you already know this, but just make the rest of Dixie's time as comfortable as possible for her.

Ditto on the thumbs ups

had to put the wife's cat down about a year and a half ago. It was her rescue cat before I knew here, but I grew to love the cat..Even if she peed on a bunch of our stuff. She got bad pretty quick and the morning I found her laying in her pee soaked bed, was a pretty good indication that it was time..Took the afternoon off and went with the wife to the vet. I cried like a little baby over that cat..I felt so bad, but know it was the right thing to do..She was only suffering.

We also have a Beagle rescue that is not "like" my child, but is my kid..When the day comes for her, I will be a total mess..God I dread that day..Anyway, Barker it's not always easy, but like others have said, listen to the vet and trust their professional opinion. Do what you can to make them happy the last few days if it is their time..I hope the meds work for your pup and you get a few more years together. Good luck

I feel for you, man. That situation is one of the things I dread most and sometimes when I think about it, it almost seems like it's not worth it to have pets.

Sounds like you gave the dog a much improved daily life over the last several years and he's lucky to have a compassionate owner. Also sounds like you have a pretty good vet who is doing his best to get you some extra time.

Not much comfort I am sure, but hang in there. And keep those steaks coming.