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(((Wounded)))

Hugs and strength as well to you and your kitty.

I'm so sorry about Charlotte. I think you will know when it is time for her to go. You will feel it in your soul and know that it is the humane thing to do. I had a rescue Pointer who had heart worms. (Curses on people who don't give dogs heartworm meds.) I spent all the time and money to have her treated but she simply couldn't recover. Her breathing was laboured and she was so miserable that I agreed for the vet to put her down. I held her as she eased out of her life of pain. As strange as it sounds it was a spiritual moment to watch her beautiful soul move on to the Rainbow Bridge.

I also put down my sweet mare when she was 35 years old. I held her head and she nuzzled and made the beautiful soothing sounds that she always made when we would hug. I saw in her beautiful eyes that she knew how I loved her and that she was sorry to leave me. I had raised her from a foal and loved her beyond reason.

My thoughts for you and Charlotte as you take the next steps of your life together. I wish you peace in your decision.

Thank you everybody. I will keep you informed. Today I'll go out and buy a dog house...the nicest one I can find.

She has given us such love and joy. Never bitten a soul...except for our ankles when she was a teething puppy, and a few chair legs. Never growled in anger. Never ever showed anything but love.

A few month's back, when her hind legs were in pain in the middle of the night, I brought down my pillow and lay right with her, eyeball to eyeball. Took her to the vet the next day...started laser treatment, significant improvement day one, and over the course of 7 treatments (over a few weeks) she was back to normal almost. And she started running again (for treats). I used to make her sit to get her treat. I stopped that when I realized it was hurting her to do so. She has a lot of latitude now.

I hope she likes her dog house. I'll bring her in at night. If it's hot before I open the pool I'll bring her in too. And I'll shave her (we do this most summers because it's so darned hot).

(((Janet)))

You do what you need to do but with the cousin ... why does she need to know what happened? Dogs die ... can't you just tell her Charlotte passed away. At her age, it's belivable. It's not really your cousins business how Charlotte goes, you know?

Do your plan for now but when you know, you'll know ...

((( Janet )))

I have had 2 goldens, and they are the sweetest dogs in the world. The first one we had to put down at 13 d/t bone cancer.

My second one just passed away this winter. He had K-9 lupus, and had a multitude of health issues. He got to where he couldnt get around. We had made a decision to take him the next day to do the deed, and alas he passed in his sleep that night.

It is painful when a family member passes. They give us such joy when they are here. I will be thinking and praying you have peace and comfort to ease this process.

((((Janet))))

..(((((Janet)))))

3 cats here....and i will fall hard when they leave us..

..at my age, i could easily go before them!!

..our pets are pure joy and so easy to love., and hard to give up

smy

[This message edited by somanyyears at 3:56 PM, April 24th (Wednesday)]

(((Janet)))

Be careful about the pool. When they get old (and confused) she may think she's going for a drink and fall into the pool.

I too have had to go through this. It's never easy.

My thoughts are with you and your beloved Charlotte.

Putting your pet down is humane. It's giving them a quality of life instead of making their suffering linger longer.

It is naturally ingrained in our pets (animals in general) to not show pain or weakness. By the time they show symptoms the pain is pretty bad.

I had to make the same decision about an elderly dog I had. 16 years, accidents in the house were increasing and we just didn't have the $$ to put into treatment when the inevitable was coming.

At 12.5 your pooch has lived a long, wonderful life. Putting her down would be the right thing to do. Dogs are generally clean by nature. For her to defecate and urinate inside, she knows is wrong. And the fact she is in that kind of pain doesn't help.

((hugs))

Janet,

I had to make the decision to put down our golden, She was 17yo. She was deaf, going blind and was suffering from dementia. It was a tough decision to make. But once it was made, the way the vet and his staff handled our family was wonderful.

I looked into her eyes before we took her in for a quality of life check up. and it was as if she gave me permission to sign the papers. Before we went to the vet.. she got her perfect day... everything she ever loved we did.

We visited her favorite lake, she got to eat her favorite cookies - chocolate chip, she got to eat a brownie with chocolate frosting. Ice cream .. Everything she loved and the foods that were not good for her ... she enjoyed. By the time we got to the vet she was full, happy and tired. She was given a shot and she went to sleep looking at me.. almost thanking me for her wonderful day. It was peaceful and beautiful just like my lovely Murphy.

Hugs, You will know when it's time.. Charlotte will tell you.

I didn't get to the vet today (waiting on my brother from out of town who arrived very late). Charlotte had an okay day. No more accidents inside. I got the stool sample. I tried catching the urine with a margarine container. She wasn't interested in that....she waited till I stopped hanging around with a container under her butt, then she went pee. Silly girl.

I think I'm getting myself emotionally ready...and prepping those who love Charlotte as well.

Thanks for all the words of support. Each and every post meant a lot to me.

Sad too, thanks for mentioning the pool issue (which probably won't open for at least another 6 weeks). My vet did mention that the females are more prone to urinary tract infections because they scooch down to the ground and pick up germs...so yes, a pool might not be the best for her. I'll check with the vet.

Mousse242...your dog lived for 16 years...that's amazing. You must have taken very good care of your puppy.

Kajem...a golden lived to 17 years...that's way past average. That's amazing. They really do become a huge part of our lives.

Tushnurse...two goldens. You were doubly blessed. I love these dogs. I love most dogs, but always loved goldens. Did not have a pet as a child (lived in apts....I did have a budgie if that counts LOL).

Charlotte just walked up the stairs in the dark and pawed my door to be let in. That's a good sign.

I'll watch her carefully and listen to my gut (which I might add is a good barometer of things in my life). If the accidents ease up, and she still walks the stairs, and still eats her food like there is no tomorrow (and checks on the counter in case I left something too close to the edge) then, for that day, it'll be a good day.

Charlotte is a sweetie pie.

[This message edited by JanetS at 11:26 PM, April 24th (Wednesday)]

Janet the last few months my Harry was around was a constant questioning of myself should I take him today? He would have days where he couldn't walk hardly at all, and then he would rally and have a good week, If it had been my decision alone I would have taken him sooner. I know he must have been in pain for the last bit.

I got our first Golden for my H when we were still in college. He lived long enough to see the arrival of both kids. He was the best dog ever. The second one was a sweetie, but not very smart by Golden standards.

I have always had big dogs, and usually a couple at a time. We are currently down to one lab, and I plan on keeping it that way, as the kids are getting older, and will be off to college sooner than I realize. I want to be able to pick up and go without the hassle of finding someone to care for the herd. LOL But I digress.

((((Charlotte)))) Sweet old gal.

((JanetS))

Just praying for you daily. The struggle of making a decision like this is so hard on the body and soul. It's been almost 3 years since I had to put my Woody down and I still have "Woody" moments, but one thing that helped (and it took me awhile) was adopting another dog. He makes the hurt not so bad.

Janet, you have a PM. (((Janet)))

I've been offline for a few days.

Charlotte has had a few good days. No accidents. A little stiff on the hind end. No whimpering. And, the coupe de gras (spelling?) I caught her with her front paws on the counter to see if we had left any food there by accident (we know better than that)...but she doesn't give up. That's a good thing.

(((JanetS)))

Never an easy decision. You will know when the time is right. I'm glad Charlotte has had a good few days.

Sending good thoughts.

((( Janet )))

I did want to say that for all of my dogs, when I knew their time was limited they pretty much got whatever they wanted, and like Kajem, we gave them a perfect day when it was time. It makes it a little easier to let go, when you know thye have a tummy full of cheesburgers.

I put Charlotte down last week, will be picking up her ashes later today.

She had diareah for about a month, losing weight. Vet told me that diareah hurts her just like it hurts us...cramps. And she was losing it inside the house all the time. I had to throw out a bunch of rugs.

And her hind quarters were getting very weak. Charlotte likes to follow me around, including up/down the stairs. But she kept splaying when she couldn't lift her hind up. One time it happened 3x just coming up. I had to lift her, which also is not safe for me. And I really feared that she would go falling down the stairs and break a bone. I did not want her to have the pain of the diareah that wouldn't go away, and I did not want to have her risk the pain of a broken bone.

It was very peaceful. Vet gave her a shot to tranquilize her (she never seems to have any problems with her shots, so no biggie there). She wandered around for about 15 mins. then sat down, then went to sleep (tranquilized sleep). Then she got the shot in the leg, and she was passed almost immediately. One loud breath and she was at peace.

I miss her. My son was angry, till he saw how heartbroken I was and he gave me a lovely long hug.

I know I did the right thing for Charlotte.

[This message edited by JanetS at 11:11 AM, July 17th (Wednesday)]

(((((Janet)))) I know it's a very personal and difficult decision. I'm so sorry for your loss, but I'm certain you did the right thing when you knew it was time.

(((Janet)))

I'm so sorry for your loss.