If you're lucky enough to be one of those that has a beloved pet that lives out it's life to the fullest, you'll have experienced a multitude of emotions. One of my dogs, Maci - an English Springer Spaniel is 16 years old. I've had her since the year I became engaged to my husband. My previous dog at the time - Jodie (a blonde English Cocker Spaniel) became violently ill and within 36 hours was dead. My husband surprised me upon my return from a business trip at the airport with a 6 week old Maci. This is WAY before overbreeding, over population in shelters, animal rescue etc. became knowledgeable - she was my last "purchased" animal.
The last year has really shown the effects of aging...she can't see or hear as well, she's lost most of her muscle and is bony on her back, stiff when she walks and seems to have a little bit of dementia. With that said, she still trots down the stairs, eats twice a day and has no problem with performing duties outside. I have taken her to our vet to ensure that she is not suffering or sick. Heck, she actually had surgery last November to remove a non-cancerous tumor on her leg and that was the first time she'd been "under" since she was 6 months old! Blood test came back that her kidneys and other organs are functioning great so when people (particularly those that don't own any pets) make the comment of "why don't you just put her down?" I usually come back with "so you're saying that because your grandmother may or may not wear depends, hearing aid and glasses, that because she's old, you should put her down?"
That always produces a pause...yes Maci is old, smelly even, and a little irritating at times because I forget how old she is and that she's not capable of doing things like she has in the past.
More accidents to clean up, more helping her get up the stairs, longer time taken to eat, more bathes but this is what I signed up for - with ALL of my animals. Once they are yours and you've made the decision that they ARE yours, you stick it out through good times and bad, they'd do it for us.....without a thought.
I've had to put two dogs down - within 45 days of each other. One had cancer and was unresponsive to treatment, the other had congenital heart failure and had so much fluid in his body that it caused his heart to push up against his throat making it difficult to breathe. It was awful, sad, emotional but it was the right thing to do for them and I know they were grateful to be out of their misery.
Pets are a lifetime - theirs - not a convenience that conforms to what OUR schedule dictates. Love them while you have them with all that you can and pray they go silently, easily in their sleep. If they don't and you know it's time - do the right thing and not for the self-serving act because you don't want to loose them.
The last year has really shown the effects of aging...she can't see or hear as well, she's lost most of her muscle and is bony on her back, stiff when she walks and seems to have a little bit of dementia. With that said, she still trots down the stairs, eats twice a day and has no problem with performing duties outside. I have taken her to our vet to ensure that she is not suffering or sick. Heck, she actually had surgery last November to remove a non-cancerous tumor on her leg and that was the first time she'd been "under" since she was 6 months old! Blood test came back that her kidneys and other organs are functioning great so when people (particularly those that don't own any pets) make the comment of "why don't you just put her down?" I usually come back with "so you're saying that because your grandmother may or may not wear depends, hearing aid and glasses, that because she's old, you should put her down?"
That always produces a pause...yes Maci is old, smelly even, and a little irritating at times because I forget how old she is and that she's not capable of doing things like she has in the past.
More accidents to clean up, more helping her get up the stairs, longer time taken to eat, more bathes but this is what I signed up for - with ALL of my animals. Once they are yours and you've made the decision that they ARE yours, you stick it out through good times and bad, they'd do it for us.....without a thought.
I've had to put two dogs down - within 45 days of each other. One had cancer and was unresponsive to treatment, the other had congenital heart failure and had so much fluid in his body that it caused his heart to push up against his throat making it difficult to breathe. It was awful, sad, emotional but it was the right thing to do for them and I know they were grateful to be out of their misery.
Pets are a lifetime - theirs - not a convenience that conforms to what OUR schedule dictates. Love them while you have them with all that you can and pray they go silently, easily in their sleep. If they don't and you know it's time - do the right thing and not for the self-serving act because you don't want to loose them.
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