Registered: Oct 2007
Location: Medford, WI
Posts: 3312

I took my 7 year old Rottweiler to the vet on Tuesday to get a the lumps on this throat checked out, along witth his yearly shots and goopy eyes checked, and they decided to send in a sample from the lumps because he hasn't been eating or drinking normally and he looks very rough (losing hair and abnormally thin, he has always been thin but he lost 40 lbs in 2 months). They got the results today and he has cancer of the lymph nodes. We had 3 options: chemo, pills to make the pain go away so that he can eat and drink and to put him down. Chemo is extremely expensive and I just don't have that kind of money to put into something that isn't for sure and the pills will only make it so he can eat, not treat the cancer and the vet said it'll only make it so he can live a few weeks to a few months longer cuz the cancer will keep spreading throughout his lymph nodes untill it kills him. We (my family and I) decided to have him put down.

I have never had a dog die when I am able to prepare for it. We are going to burry him.

Anyone have any suggestions on how we can prepare for taking him to the vet? I have been voted to be the one to do it as my parents have to work and don't think they could do it.

Thank you!
Lizz

__________________
Jealousy is the most honest compliment anyone can receive ~ L. Key
He who stirs the pot, deserves to lick the spoon.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Aug 2010
Location: guys mills ,pa
Posts: 2192

oh lizz,
so sorry. you can never prepare for anything that makes your heart ache. you think you can, and you cant.
prayers to you, do what you think is in your best. only you know that one.
kelley

__________________
CH 'pr' branchville mtn banjo man

CAN YOU SPEAK ENGLISH

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Oct 2007
Location: Medford, WI
Posts: 3312

Yeah, I know that I will not be able to emotionally prepare, just lookin for ways to physically prepare for it. He will get papmered this weekend... the worst part is my Ashley female is 2 yrs older but they haven't been seperated for more tha a few days in the last 7 years and she is already starting to go down hill and I'm afraid that she'll be all depressed, yes I think dogs have emotions, just like people.

__________________
Jealousy is the most honest compliment anyone can receive ~ L. Key
He who stirs the pot, deserves to lick the spoon.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Aug 2010
Location: guys mills ,pa
Posts: 2192

they do lizz , they do, have emotions that is. physically, so what. i am worried about you. it sucks to lose a friend.

kelley

__________________
CH 'pr' branchville mtn banjo man

CAN YOU SPEAK ENGLISH

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Dec 2006
Location: Rudolph, Wisconsin
Posts: 185

I'm sorry lizz They best thing ive found is to pay before hand cause my beagle i had since Kindergarden that i put down on my birthday last year i waited in the waiting room for 45 minutes after..

__________________
Lee Hogan 715-213-3732
Hogan's Kennels

Blueticks

NITECH CCH WCH GRFCH GRCH(4)'PR'Hogan's Naughty (SidxWhiskey)
GRFCH WCH CGRCH GRNITECH GRCHHOF'Psyco Blu Spyder HTX(SidxWhiskey)
NITECH GRFCH(3) GRWCH GRCH(3)'PR'Hogan's Willy HTX (LincolnxDiva)
GRNITECH GRFCH(2) GRWCHHOF GRCH(5)'PR'Hogan's Kujo HTX (YodelerxJazz)
FCH WCH CCH GRCH'PR'Hogan's Gemba (YodelerxJazz)
GRWCH GRFCH GRNITECH(3) GRCH'PR'Hogan's Curly HTX(PiazonxHoneyBee)
CCH NITECH GRFCH(3) GRWCH(3) GRCHHOF'PR'Hogan's Trouble (KujoxNaughty)
FCH GRCH'PR'Hogan's Zeus (CashxSophie)
WCH CCH FCH GRCH(2)'PR'Hogan's Sam (WillyxNaughty)
GRFCH GRCH(2)'PR'Hogan's Maize (WillyxNaughty)
CH CCH'PR'Hogan's Sage (WillyxNaughty)

Holstein-

GRFCH(4) GRWCH GRCH(2)'PR'Hogan's Mouse (TjxHolly)
FCH GRWCH GRCH'PR'Hogan's Jt (TjxHolly)

Gone but not forgotten.
CGRCH GRWCH(4) GRNITECH(3) GRFCHHOF GRCHHOF'PR'Hogan's Ruby HTX4(HankxJazz)
1st Ever GRFCHHOF!
2020 Autumn Oaks National Grandnite Champion Bluetick, Grand 16 Finalist and BBOA & BBCHA High scoring bluetick female.
High scoring bluetick 2020 NRCA Days
GRWCH GRNITECH GRCH'PR'Hogans Jazz HTX2 (MosexGrace)
GRNITECH GRFCH GRCH GRWCH'PR'Hogans Jimbo (HankxJazz)- Youngest Quad of any breed
FCH GRWCH GRCH'PR'Hogan's Sadie(HankxJazz)
GRFCH GRCH GRWCH'PR'Hogan's Bo (HankxJazz)
WCH GRCH'PR'Hogan's Patches HTX (YodelerxJazz)
GRFCH(4)GRWCH(4)GRCH(4)'PR'Hogan's TJ
NITECH GRFCH GRWCH GRCH'PR' Hogan's Ticket HTX
GRFCH GRWCH GRCH'PR'Hogans Timber (LincolnxDiva)
'PR'Hogans Dixie
GRCH 'PR' Hogans Boomer (WallyxWeaver)
CH'PR'Hogans Dot(LeadxSister)
WCH GRNITECH GRCH 'PR' KG Acres BIG Wally(TimberxSugar)

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Apr 2005
Location: Greenwood WI
Posts: 62

Sorry to hear this Lizz. I had to do the same thing about 9 years ago. My dalmation Coach had cancer as well. My mom was with the day we got the news she looked at my and told me it had to be my decision. It was the toughest thing I have had to do. Knowing you are going to be losing your best friend is hard. Again sorry for your loss.

__________________
REDWING KENNELS
Home of:


Sadly Missed:
GRCH 'PR' RENEGADE'S REDWING JOY
'PR' REDWING'S PUT UM UP JOY JOY
CH 'PR' REDWING'S FROZEN ICICLE
CH PR REDWING'S HOLY TERROR AT NIGHT
GRCH PR TREE RIZIN RAZORS RENAGADE (has 2 2nd, a 3rd and a 10th place win in the 10th place was at the 2008 National Redbone days on Friday night)
PR REDWING'S HARDTIME HENRY

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Oct 2006
Location: Rock Springs Wisconsin
Posts: 821

Not to be a jerk but if you love the dog alot you will do the right thing. Get a big box of kleenex and take the dog to the vet and have it put down after a bit it will get easier to deal with cause you know he is not suffering anymore. Sorry to hear it.

__________________
Half owner Nt.Ch. Ch. Repeat's little Pinkslip
ch. pr smoker's wood hippie
Pr nocturnal Kryptonite
Proud member of PKC
Jason Denzer

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Lumpkin, Ga
Posts: 8757

Sorry to hear this. I have been through it several times. It never gets easier, but you find some comfort in knowing you have done the right thing. At least I did. As far as the other dogs fretting over the loss, I have never seen it happen. A person would think so but no, mine didnt.

__________________
Johnny Williams

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jun 2003
Location: waldo wi
Posts: 3221

ha d a couple over the years, for various reasons, kept them around for awhile when i knew it was soon to be the end... kept them until i knew they were starting to suffer then helped them along, kept them for my sake until then ! but whenit was time i didnt hesitate to do the right thing, sounds like yours is ready ! good luck , everything will be fine!

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Not Yet
Location:
Posts: N/A

Bless your heart! There is no prep for this...Just remeber he has had the best life that you could have given him... and he will love you for doing the right thing. Love your heart, may you find strength thru Jesus, and remeber you are never alone... He will be there with his arms around you helping you thru this difficult time. Thought and prayers...

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Aug 2009
Location: Hoyt Kansas
Posts: 426

Had the kids cat hurt himself pretty bad.We had him put to sleep.It was very humane The way they put tehm to sleep now days is painless as far as i could see about it.At least he wont suffer.Thats waht we humans have to contend with when we get sick and die. Your doing him a great favor

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jun 2003
Location: North GA
Posts: 14395

I've never really had but one live long enough to have to get put down. It was like your talking about. We had one last weekend with her. It was ruff. She was 15 yrs old. I ain't skeered to tell ya. I cried like a baby. They ain't all just dogs. This was a family member.

__________________
Michael Ghorley

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Oct 2007
Location: Medford, WI
Posts: 3312

Thanks for all the help guys, this is Donkey (yes that is his name) and I about 2 years ago or so... he was standing on the same thing I was sitting on... I'm about 5'5, not real tall but I'm not short either, and he comes up to my hip lol

He was always a very happy dog! I taught him how to "shake" so that I could wipe his paws when he came in the house... every time you'd tell him to sit, the turd would sit and then WHAM, huge bear-like paw would hit you, and he liked to think he was a freakin lap dog... by the way, it is NOT FUN trying to get up with a dog laying on top of you that weighs more than you do, then he tries lickin u in the face and ya just couldn't help but love the dog, no matter when people say about Rotts... mine was awesome

__________________
Jealousy is the most honest compliment anyone can receive ~ L. Key
He who stirs the pot, deserves to lick the spoon.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Lumpkin, Ga
Posts: 8757

That is a priceless photo!

__________________
Johnny Williams

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Not Yet
Location:
Posts: N/A

How do you prepare?

This is a very good question and let me say I am very sorry to hear about the condition of your dog.

Everyone of us should live our life everyday in preparation of the loss of a loved one. Could be Family member or pet. Part of living is leaving this earth. We wake up each day thinking we will be around forever. We think our family will be around for every. We think our pets will be around forever. We think the material things we have gathered will be around forever. I am here to tell you that tomorrow is not promised for any of us or anything we love or have.

You prepare by following the Lord and reading the Word of the Lord.
Your still very sad when it happens but the Lord has promised to comfort you all the days of your life!! Just look to him for comfort.

I had this very same thing happed to a hound I dearly loved. On top of being loved by me he had earned a good name for himself in the competition circle and had several dates lined up to see if his offspring could be as good. Unfortunally the C word changed everything.
I had the same choices your facing. After discussion with my vet my choice was to go ahead and allow the dog to leave this world that day. Not to go through any pain, not to allow his body to turn into nothing. Not to see the look in his eye as he grew weaker. Not to see the toll the medication I was giving him, trying to keep him alive for ME, was taking.
Its a tuff decision and my Prayers are with you!!

Last edited by on 08-14-2011 at 07:24 PM

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Oct 2007
Location: Medford, WI
Posts: 3312

Thanks everyone. I posted that picture this morning and it finally hit me... I'm losing my baby.
I founf out on Fri about the cancer and I didn't hesitate one moment when discussing it with my family that putting him down was the best thing for him, and in my heart I still know that it is, but I always have been almost to tough and strong willed for my own good (or so my mom tells me lol) and today I cried for the first time in a few years. Donkey and I layed in bed all day because I couldn't stand to get out of bed because it reminded me of when he was a puppy and he would lick my face when he had to go potty. We layed there for hours, me just talkin to him (kinda babbling about nothing, and yes I talk to my dogs) I was telling him how Lucky (a friend's walker) and I totally whooped some butt last night at the hunt and then I started thinking about how when Donkey was younger he used to come to the woods with me and my hounds and once again it hit me... I'm losing my baby, then he looked at me while I was cryin and tellin him I was sorry and that I loved him, and he was looking at me and he licked my face. It wasn't his normal happy go lucky Donkey face lick, this was something that almost seemed more of a "I understand, and I forgive you" face lick.
That had to be the hardest part of it all, he seems to know it's coming and he seems to know that it's best for him... why do dogs always seem to be so dang smart?

__________________
Jealousy is the most honest compliment anyone can receive ~ L. Key
He who stirs the pot, deserves to lick the spoon.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Lumpkin, Ga
Posts: 8757

That's true..they do seem to know.

__________________
Johnny Williams

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Mar 2006
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 19374

... How do you prepare? SIGH... done it way too often here. We have had so many horses, cats and dogs go... The hardest was probably our last loss.
Last July my Bluedawg Wyatt(IRREPLACEABLE...) got very sick. We did all we could(too much) to try to keep him alive after he landed in intensive care. In the long run we learned he had a cancer that dogs survive a good time...but he hadn't "told us" he had it till it was too late. We spent a bit too much on his care at the hosp... but at that point we had to try... Then he was able to come home for a wonderful week or so... he was on his chemo and doing well...but had to successfully have the blood transfusions he received work. After the time was up for the blood to work... he began to ooze blood out of his incision(bad sign). As soon as I saw that, BEFORE any discomfort, we packed him up in the truck for the VERY LONG.... trip to the hospital(actually close but an eternity...) We got to the hospital, were met by the head vet with tears... took him into his room, wagging his tail at his hospital buddies and Bob, the vet and I sat on the floor holding our dear friend as he left us... He gazed into the vets eyes with a trust and Thankfullness that really made us feel confident. It is hard to describe.
We have had foster dawgs with terminal illness, old dawgs, old cats, terminally ill horses etc... We have felt life literally LEAVE those beloved creatures and pass on to some place else... We have shared those final moments and I guess all we can say is... SURE they know! Don't try to hide your sadness BUT... be sure to give them CONFIDENCE that everything will be ok.... they will feel absolute love as they go... and you may or may not cry. I am usually a blithering idiot... but when Wyatt died I was cried out... It wasn't till I wrote a letter of thanks to his vet a while later that I LOST it... It is OK however you deal with it.
All that babble said... Honey, we will be with you in thoughts and prayer! We have enjoyed sharing Donkey with you on here! He is indeed a Special Rottie!
Take care, and know he loves you and knows You Love Him!
Heather and Bob

__________________
Home of the BIGCASTLEDAWGS
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i71/BIGCASTLEDAWGS/Websters%20First%20coon/IMG_0045.jpg

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged