I have no great advice, just wanted to let you know I’m thinking about you and your little dog.
I am so sorry that you are going through this. I had to put my beloved bulldog down last July. He had an inoperable tumor on his paw. He also had congestive heart failure and arthritis. As a result, he would sleep most of the time. He would wake up, eat, do his business and go back to sleep. The paw became very painful for him to deal with. He hobbled terribly and I could tell he was uncomfortable. It took few months of wondering what to do and a few crying jags to finally make the decision to put him down.
I realized that he was so faithful, so loyal, that he would never let go of me. So I had to ask myself some difficult questions: What kind of quality of life did he have now? How far had it declined from the healthy dog that we used to play and interact with? Was each day a little bit worse than the day before? How long was I going to ask him to suffer because I was too much of a coward to make the decision to end his pain? Would it be better to give him the gift of an easy death with me being by his side to hold him and comfort him than to have him die of a heart attack when I could not be there for him?
After 3 agonizing mos, I made the call. I took him to the vet, they give him the shot. He started to feel woozy, he looked back to where I was sitting behind him in the floor and he put his head in my hands like a pillow...and he died in my arms. It was very gentle, very peaceful.
I can’t tell you whether it’s time for your dog. I hope some insight into my struggles helps you make the best decision for your pet, and let’s you know...even when it is the right time, it’s still hard to make that call. Good luck to you and your beloved pet.
If the care and love you give her is any indication, you’ll know when it’s time. I hope she passes peacefully, to spare you the pain of making the decision. If not, she knows you’ll do whats necessary to prevent her suffering.
Prayers for you and your pup.
A brain tumor is a death diagnosis..Watch carefully for any change in behavior...Much depends on where the tumor is located...the dog can go aggressive and its not the dogs fault. Its hard to let go, when I had my last dog put down with cancer and spontaneous leg fracture it was on the floor of the vets with her head in my lap...cried like a baby as we all do..
The dog I had to have put down 10 years ago, I had the vet come out to the car and do it...with me in the back seat petting her.....Most vets will come out to the car. They will also stay with you until your ready to drive. Its the hardest thing to do. But you do what is best for the dog and not what is best for us...
Good luck and sympathy for which ever road you take...The one put down in the back seat of the car had been in and out of renal failure for a couple of years and I had to cook her food, no dog food....The vet had given me a special receipe for dogs with renal problems....
Putting a dog to sleep only takes about 3 seconds. I kept asking the vet, are you sure she's gone...I already had a grave dug in the back yard for her..(my son's dug it as I knew she didn't have much time left)
I now have 2 graves side by side in the back. If possible bury your baby in your yard, make sure the grave is at least 3 feet deep, more if the dog is big. Just so some critter won't dig it up...
My heart goes out to you Judith....you will do what is best and never second guess your choice...what ever it is..