Dogs

[Angi]

My husband just yelled for me from the back yard a little freaked out because he thought our big old Lab was dead. He wasn't. He looks dead all the time. He sleeps heavy and he is deaf so it is hard to wake him. Anyway I do have a question, Coal is old and I do expect him to die soon. My mom keeps telling me I need to have him put down, but my husband has a hard time with that. Now for the question~ What do you do with a huge dog when it dies? The ground here is very hard this time of year so digging a hole would be difficult because he is so big and we have lots of coyotes. Do you take them somewhere or rent a tracktor and bury them????????

 

[jaizei]

I grew up in the sticks, we buried everything no matter the size. The ground was rocky so it was hard all the time and we just used a pick.

 

[Yvonne G]

I've had to bury some pretty big animals, and I just soak the area with a sprinkler for a couple days, then dig the hole.

Usually, for a small fee, the vet can keep the body and dispose of it for you.

 

[Melly-n-shorty]

Most vets will cremate them for you and put the ashes in a nice urn. they have some that look like photo frames.

http://www.perfectmemorials.com/versa-large-plaque-cremation-urn-black-finish-p-8630.html

 

[Angi]

Thanks Melissa. I don't think I want to keep his ashes. How deep would a hole need to be to keep the coyotes away?

 

[Melly-n-shorty]

Coyotes are burrowing animals so i would imagine pretty deep or maybe place some rocks or cement paving stones over.

 

[Angi]

Good idea. Maybe I should start digging after the next rain.

 

[Laura]

if you put Lyme over the body when its buried it will break down sooner.. I really dont think coyotes would dig him up.. but??

AS for when its time... if he cant get up and isnt eating its time.. Let him go with some dignity and respect if you can.. if he doesnt go peacefully at home.. take him to teh Vet, stay with him to say goodbye and send him on his way. It will be one of the hardest things youve ever done, but it can be a very nice sending off as well.. it really is a personal decision...
you can still take him home from the vet, or leave him there.. most vets work with cremation companys.. some render, some do not.
I do the cremation thing and will someday set them all free.. probably with me!

 

[Angi]

Yes if he were not getting up or eating it would be an easy choice to put him down. He moves slow and he can't hear, I am not sure if he can see very well and he just sleeps all day. I know he is in some pain when he moves, but he doesn't moan. This is why I am not sure it is time to put him down. He doesn't seem happy but he doesn't seem miserable either. The crazy thing is my sister pampers her dogs and they alway have problems and die young and rack up huge doctor bills. The vet won't see my Rat Terrier so when he is sick or acts wiered I give him chinesse herbs and he always gets better. I treat my dogs like dogs/ friends and they live forever. It is sad to see my old hiking buddy unable to go for a walk He was a great hiking partner.

 

[APBT_Fanatic]

I am very sorry to hear about your old guy!

When it comes to larger dogs, we have them cremated at the vet and their ashes returned. My 70 pound Pittie/Shep mix passed away in our home a few years ago, and we took his body to the vet for cremation.

In regards to "when is the right time?", it's always a very hard decision, and though it never gets easier, over the years I have learned more and more on how to recognize when it their right time to go, and to not be selfish as to keep them alive longer than they should be kept alive, just because of personal emotions, or not wanting to have to make a decision to end their life.

We had a 16 yr old Aussie Shepherd that was loosing her hearing, but still had okay eyesight, though she was loosing weight. She still got around pretty well, but she did have arthritis in her hind legs. She was able to pass on her own in our home, and lived a happy life up until her passing.

I recently had to make the horrible decision to put our 11 year old Pittie girl to sleep, but knew it was the right time (as much as it completely broke my heart and killed me inside). About a month prior to that, she had a few episodes of seizures. She was admitted to the ER that day, went through tests, stabilized after a few days, and sent home on meds. She did not improve, so they switched her medications; however, she continued getting worse, and the second medication did not help either. The vet pretty much ruled out most other things, and said it was very possible she had a brain tumor.

In my senior Pittie's case, I had her put down when she got to the point where she could no longer stand/walk on her own, and to the point that although she was still alive, she was just "not there" like she usually was. She would lie down and sleep all day, and I could tell that due to her seizures, but despite her medication, she was suffering and there was nothing else that could be done (medically) for her; she was not going to get better, and her quality of life was very low. She still tried to eat when I put the bowl to her mouth and syringe fed her, but she would not consume much and she was starting to loose weight.

I had a dog in the rescue (12 yr old Chi) that had a very severe heart condition. The shelter never detected it (nor did they detect her severe pneumonia), but she lived about 5 happy months of the rest of her life in our home. Her heart continued to enlarge and her lungs were slowly filling up with fluid (this was all AFTER she got over the pneumonia). She saw the Cardio specialist, was put on medications (heart meds, and Lasix for the fluid in her lungs, etc.), but neither the Cardio specialist or our regular vet had any further recommendations for her. Although her heart condition was getting worse, up until the day she past away she was a happy little girl, active, and still willing to fight for her life. That afternoon she sat with the rest of the dogs for treats, went outside to sun bathe, etc. When she passed away, it was just minutes after we got home that evening, as if she was waiting for somebody to be with her when she died. She passed away very quickly surrounded with those who loved her.

Sorry to get kind of off-track, but I hope some of my examples help. It is a matter of personal opinion for the most part, in the few main things that decipher in one's decision. It is basically the owner's decision as to if the dog's quality of life is still there or not.

You knew him best prior to his decline in health, so you will know best as to if it is his time. If he is still eating and drinking on his own, getting around and bothering to get up, and seeming to still be willing to live, maybe it is not his time yet. If he is like my Pittie girl and not getting up, not walking on her own, not eating or drinking without alot of assistance, etc., then his quality of life is probably no longer there, and maybe it is his time to go.

I am not trying to persuade you one way or another, as I have not met your dog, so know nothing about his condition, etc., but am hoping this info gives you a little more info as to making your decision for your dog, and not for yourself (not saying you would, just stating in general). Whether you keep him alive a little longer, or put him to sleep tomorrow, just make sure to base your decision on your dog's point of view... evaluate his daily routine and determine if he is suffering or not; basically put yourself in his shoes.-- I know it sounds weird, but it helps.

It is so easy to know a pet is going downhill, consider the option of putting him/her down, then continue on with your day, and forget (purposely or not) that your dog is living in that particular condition 24/7, not only when you are thinking about it.-- This info isn't meant to sound rude, but more so as some good advice that I have found helpful to remind myself of when dealing with a situation like this.

 

[Angi]

Thank you Fanatic. You have some great pionts and very good advice. He does still move around the yard and eats and drinks without help. So I don't think he has given up. It is hard to see him not doing the things he loved to do, but this has helpped me to decide not to put him down right now. I have been really torn about this for months, but for now I think I will give him a little more time.

 

[ChiKat]

If he is still eating, can move around (albeit a little slowly) and he doesn't seem to be in pain, I wouldn't put the old guy to sleep just yet!
I think you will know when it's time.

The vet won't see my Rat Terrier so when he is sick or acts wiered I give him chinesse herbs and he always gets better.

Why won't the vet see your Rat Terrier?!

 

[Angi]

My Rat Terrier has social issues. He does not like vets. He is okay with the moble vet that comes here to vaccinate him. After I got him I found out he came from a very bad breeder. He is great with our family, but it takes him a while to warm up to strangers. I took him to obidience class when he was a pup so he is very good about listening to me. He is very smart, but I was told the breeder did not take good care of her pups and she lied to me and the other person who had bought from her about how often she was breeding. It is a long story. I think she lied about their age on the papers too.

Yes I am going to hold off on putting Coal to sleep, but continue watching him and making sure he is not in any pain. I was giving him baby asprin every day, but ran out. I should probably start giving it to him again. He actually seems to be moving a little better now that the weather is warm. He just sleeps really heavy and isn't his happy self. Won't even chase a rabbit.

 

[Laura]

you can get meds for him to make him more comfortable with his arthritis.. No need for him to in pain. baby aspirin is ok to give, but id check with your vet first.
When my old dog lost her hearing, we used the porch light at night to call her in. We would turn it off and on and she would come in to bed. hard to do duringthe day tho!

 

[Len B]

Angi, I know what you are going through . I have lost two older dogs recently one 20 and the other 15 years old.The 20 year old Katie died here at the house and Ranger the 15 year old we had to put down, he lost the use of his back legs almost over night.Katie lost bladder control about a year before her death so we had mops and towels everywhere in the house to clean up after her, we have no carpet in the house. she never lost control of her bowels. and never showed any signs of pain. I did start digging the grave long before she died because of the hard soil here,(seashells,rocks and clay)and I knew she would be leaving soon.Ranger surprised me on how quick he went down, hoped he would hold on a little longer, but wasn't meant to be.we are now down to 5 dogs and the oldest is 8 hopefully no hole digging for a long time. I believe you will know what to do, and when to do it. Len

 

[Angi]

@ Laura the vet had told me to give him baby asprin. I just ran out and he had quit moaning so I forgot to get more. I think he feels better when it is warm out, but I should get him back on the baby asprin incase he has pain and I would think it would be good for his heart too. He doesn't seem to enjoy much but he does still like food and treats. His favorite is left over smothies that the kids don't finnish.

@ Len Sorry to hear about you dogs. I think I will start digging the grave, but he just might last a while longer. I think I will know when it is time after hearing so much input from people that have been there. He eats well an doesn't move much, but he looks like he has lost some wieght. He is an English Lab and was about 120 pounds when he was healthy and could get about 130 if I wasn't careful. Now I would guess 100 pounds but that is just a guess.