Hard times ahead...

[bean1031]

We took our maltese into the vet a few years back, and she was diagnosed with 3 different heart conditions, a ruptured valve, and fluid in her lungs. The vet gave her less than a year. Two years later she is still chuggen along. Lately she has stoped eating and everything she eats she throws up. She has no control over her waste excretion processes. So we took her to the vet and he told us its time for the... well you know...

My question is what can I do to make this better on the family and what should I give her for her very last meal?

[Ruffshooter]

Sorry, for what is a head.

As far as food, what ever she likes, maybe an icecream. Just a little of either or both, it is really about making you feel you are doing something for her and she will understand.

As far as the family. That is pretty personal, you know your family best. I stayed with Dexter dog when I had to put him down, my wife was with me. She came from work up while Dexter was on the table. When he saw her his tail wagged away. I wanted to get him out on one final hunt but he went down hill so fast never had a chance. Glad Janet was with us.

Sorry for you impending loss.

Rick

[birddog1968]

I would explain to them about how it would be wrong (so to speak) to keep her around any longer for your own reasons.....

That the best thing to do is let her rest.

Being there when she is put down , I believe, is a good thing.....the animal will be comforted and it really lets you/family
see the right thing was done. I just put one down little over a year ago and sitting with her thru all of it was comforting
to me. May sound strange but it was. I also believe the dog understood and was at peace with it.

Not letting them suffer is the best we can do for them in the end.


Good luck to you all.

[ACooper]

I put one down new years eve last year, never loved a dog so much. I have no doubt he would have stayed with me until the end... I did the same for him.

How old are the kids? May or may not be a good idea for them to be there.

[birddog1968]

May or may not be a good idea for them to be there.

That is true didn't think about very young ones, sorry.

[kumate]

I had to put down my 10 yr old gsp a few months back he was 10 and had lymphoma. I was a mess, where i live i had the vet come to my house it was only 35.00 more and money well spent, me and my wife was there with him on his blanket. It was a tuff decision for me but in the end i didnt want him to suffer. I fed him anything he wanted.

Sorry for heartache
Jerry