14 years ago, after our first miscarriage, my wife and I got a
rottweiler pup. She was our baby, until 2 years later, when her
kidneys effectively shut down (Vet said she was poisoned, probably
anti-freeze. If I ever find out who did it, I will be serving
jail/prison time). We tried to nurse her along for a time, but there
was no way we could afford doggy dialysis. Finally, on thanksgiving
evening of all days, after seeing how much pain she was in, we called
the vet, and took Loki over to him. He lived on the outskirts of
town. while I was making arrangements, Loki discovereed a couple deer
on the edge of the property, and promptly took off after them. I
hadn't seen her move like that for months. Of course, she didn't
catch either of them ;-). We watched her have a final romp, and then
called her over. As was mentioned by another, I held her while the
Vet injected her foreleg, and she promptly slumped over, and very
peacefully died. (I can barely see for tears, even after all this
time).
Whatever your decision, you have my greatest empathy.
Ray
-----Original Message-----
From: Robert Walton <waltonrp AT gmail.com>
To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
Sent: Fri, 8 Aug 2008 12:28 pm
Subject: [Homestead] Putting Down a Dog
I had to put down my Dalmatian last year. He was suffering and I
decided it was time. Took him to the vet. I'd never done this before.
The vet gave him an injection of something that made him really out of
it and then came in with the injection that killed him. It was
something that needed to be done, but I sure did not think that the
last few minutes of his life went without stress.
I've got another dog whose time is near. She's deaf and close to
blind. She's got a skin ailment that can't be controlled and she
scratches herself raw from it. Now, she's started to drink large
amounts of water and is not able to keep on weight, even though she
eats like a horse. Worst part of her being deaf and blind is that she
gets lost outside real easy, not really lost, just she can't see for
more than a few feet and she'll walk around tryign to find the door or
people or whatever.
Now... I'm thinking that a walk to the woods with my .22 rifle might
be a lot more respectful way to go than to take her to the vet. A
quick point blank shot from the rifle to the head ought to put her
down fast. Does to goat's I slaughter and little chance to miss at
such close range.