Greeblie points to an article, When Should You Put Your Dog Down. It is an excellent read, but it boils down to only the pet owner can make that decision. I have been asked for advise, but have always told the questioner that only s/he could decide.
We don't have a problem spending money on our animals, as long as they aren't suffering. Toes have been amputated and a spleen removed, among other things. For me, the animal usually tells me when it is time - as the author noted, the light seems to go out of their eyes and they no longer enjoy even being with their family.
The only time that I may not have made the decision soon enough is when Sampson died. When I took him to the emergency room for bloat, and they told me that his intestines had twisted, maybe I should have had him put down then. Instead, I put him through an unsuccessfull surgery.
To be fair to myself, he had made it through several times that the vets said were chancey (the spleen was no picnic!). Sampson was still full of life, so I wanted to give him a chance. In retrospect, that may have been a mistake. If I had put him down without an attempt at surgery, I probably would have forever questioned my decision, so it is hard to say to say that I had definitely made a mistake. But, at least I know he didn't suffer as he was still heavily medicated when he died.
As much as I miss Sampson, as well as other pets we have had, I can't imagine not getting another pet to avoid the pain of putting it down though!
yeah, not getting another pet is like cutting off your nose to spite your face...
Posted by: Greeblie | October 29, 2003 at 12:17 PM
Exactly!
Posted by: bogie | October 29, 2003 at 10:40 PM
I'm trying to steel myself for this. Defer made it through two strokes early this year, and is still with us, but we know his hearing is almost gone, and his eyesight is going. Still...he jauntily bounds out the door to go for a quickie. He'll leave a huge hole in our hearts when he is gone, but the plan is to let him set his own pace, and choose his own time. I pray his passing is painless.
Posted by: Buffy | October 31, 2003 at 11:18 AM
Sounds like Defer is still enjoying life, and hopefully will enjoy if for a long time to come.
Posted by: Bogie | October 31, 2003 at 09:32 PM