Grim weekend - had to put our old Dobermann down

[spudboy]

Bit of a harrowing weekend :(

Our old girl could no longer walk properly, just staggering around in an undignified fashion, so we had to make to sad decision to put her down. She was pretty old, and had cancer so not at all unexpected, but the trip to the vet and then coming home with her to bury her was hard going.

My missus looks like a red-eyed panda (her description of herself!) from all the crying.

Wouldn't like to be a vet and having to do that as part of daily work. That'd have to be the worst part of the job.

Last picture below, taken just before we took her down to the vet :( We're going to miss her.

Cheers
David

[d@rk51d3]

Sorry to hear of your loss, mate.

That's going to be a hard space to fill again.:(

[crl]

I'm sorry for your loss. Must have been a hell of a desicion to make.

crl

[Slunnie]

David, she looked like a beautiful dog. I'm sincerely so sad to hear that her day had come, but you'll always remember the good times with her.

[DiscoStew]

My condolences

[abaddonxi]

Sorry to hear.

Are her nails really painted pink in the pic?

[spudboy]

Yes - long standing tradition for her. She always had painted nails, even though she was a farm dog :)

[Bush65]

Sorry for your loss. I would hate to loose my mate!

[bblaze]

Tough call to make, when is the right time. We have a King Charles Caverlier cross that is now 19 years old
She has a heart murmer
A rattle in her lungs
Deaf as a post
Cant see much at all.
Her sense of smell is still kean, does a lap of the yard when I let her out in the morning and sleeps alot
Dont know but her time is close, hoping she just fades away in her sleep.
Sad time
Cheers
blaze

[RichardK]

That's a tough thing to do however it is also the most humane thing to do.

The loss is still deep, but for us all life will cease at some point, so we must remember the good times and think of the things that have been passed on to us and will be a part of our life.

A dog becomes so much a part of our family, my sympathies for you.

[dullbird]

:BigCry:

[stevo68]

Sorry to hear mate...had to go through that with our 3 yr old Shepherd.....was devastating at the time. Took the kids down (3 and 2) to say goodbye....we told them she was going to live on a farm. Still miss ol Elsa,

Regards

Stevo

[dullbird]

Sorry to hear mate...had to go through that with
our 3 yr old Shepherd.....was devastating at the time. Took the kids down (3 and 2) to say goodbye....we told them she was going to live on a farm. Still miss ol Elsa,

Regards

Stevo

Why so young? hips?

[incisor]

comisserations...

have the feeling i will be doing the same with my old mate in the next few weeks, if not days.

definetly not looking forward to it in any way shape or form...

[stevo68]

Why so young? hips? Damn dog...getting me choked up again thinking about it. No not hips.....in laymans terms ( the only way I could understand) is that a grass seed got into her system and took out her hind legs. Came home one day to see this proud shepherd bitch dragging herself along the ground. She went to be examined by top vets at UQ ( Uni of QLD) to see what could be done and the prognosis wasn't good. They could operate and it could kill her....or if she came out of it.....would have been in pain for the rest of her life and no guarantee's that it wouldnt relapse. Basically what she got was exceptionally rare.

We asked the vets what we should do as to be honest we couldn't make the call. They said best thing was to have her put down.....was the most humane thing to do for her. So we went down to the vets and I still remember almost having to be dragged away as I wouldn't let go of her. I had waited all through my latter years and into adult hood to have a shepherd again....plus she had grown up with my own children....still have pics of my daughter crawling through Elsa's dog hair on the ground :). Then as said before...took kids in...they were crying cause their pup was going to "the farm". Years later when they were older....they asked to go and see Elsa and we had to tell them the truth. Was the last time we could use "the farm" excuse again. Even though I have lost 2 more shepherds since Elsa...one to a car accident....good ol 8 yr old Benzy and my 9mth old shepherd last Xmas to tick and a snake bite......gut wrenching and sad.....but having to put down a loved one is the freakin hardest,

REgards

Stevo

[dullbird]

we had the same thing happen to a very well loved dog at the shelter......

was as healthy as the next dog when he went in for desexing and came around from the anaesthetic not being able to use his back legs they gave him a 50/50 chance and said that if he is going to improve he will in the next 3 days.......he never improved.

everyone at work was so hurt that he had to go as he was a special dog to us all even though we didn't own him....we all put in for his private cremation he has his only little plant and stone in the kennels now so he doesn't get forgotten :(

They too said the condition he had contracted was very rare I think its something like 1/300,000 so I know your pain steve....

as I do yours spudboy :( you have however done the right thing no matter how much you ask your self could we have done anything!!

[spudboy]

Thanks for all the kind words/thoughts.

Am feeling sorry for the puppy today! He is going around the farm looking for his old "Auntie", hoping that she is just around the corner somewhere.

It'd be a lot easier if they lived longer than just 10-15 years....

[dullbird]

Thanks for all the kind words/thoughts.

Am feeling sorry for the puppy today! He is going around the farm looking for his old "Auntie", hoping that she is just around the corner somewhere.


It'd be a lot easier if they lived longer than just 10-15 years....

mate it wouldn't matter if they lived until they were 40 they are a member of the family and its never easy losing a member regardless of age

[MacMan]

David,

My father and I have not seen eye to eye on many things over the years and he's not normally sensitive to the feelings of others. But every so often he emerges with a piece of insight so profound it floors me. His brother had a Rottie who was the biggest, softest sook you'll ever meet. Circumstances with the dog were very similar to yours. My uncle was inconsolable. My father's comment?

Dogs come into our lives and never stay long enough. All we can do is accept them into the family and give them the best life we can.

I can tell you did that. It's cold comfort, but in time you'll find resolution in that thought.