would any of you be able to make the choice of putting your pet to sleep?

This is a very hard decision! I have had pets all my life, mostly dogs, and I have two dogs now. I don't really consider 8 to be old. Most of my dogs have lived to be literally 17-18 years old or so, give or take a year or two.
If my dog was in pain and there was no solution, I do think I'd have to put it down. I think making them suffer IS cruel and unfair, and while it would be so very hard, one of the hardest things ever, I'd rather do it and be sad for awhile than to see my pet suffer. I am even crying right now thinking about it, and I'm so sorry you're in this situation, but you have to think about what is best for the pet. Best wishes to you and sorry again.

You find yourseld in a situation that none of us as pet owners like to face. We all think of out pets as our family, and for some of us, our only family. When faced with this situation I asked myself, Is my pet enjoying life?, Will this situation have any positive outcome for her?, in otherwords will she ever get better enough to play and be happy? I had to answer these questions with a "no". I also asked myself if I would like to live this way. My pet looked to me for care and comfort. I could no longer offer comfort, like you, only through pain pills. I felt that it was my responsibility to make my dog comfortable. I miss my Pepper still yet, and it has been many years. I cried for weeks,(and I was in my 30's) and it is ok to miss and morn your pet because they are your companion. I look back on it and know that she is playing with butterflies, chasing balls and doing it pain free, and I look forward to the day when I see her again because I know she'll be waiting for me when I get there.

It is not an easy decision for your vet either to recommend the proceedure to you. If you question your vets recommendation go somewhere else for a second opinion. I am lucky because I live in upstate NY near the Cornell University. I have always taken pets there for a second opinion when I needed to make a decision such as yours. Doctors exposed to different things sometimes see things other vets miss....just like people doctors.

I can tell you that my vet let me hold my Pepper while he gave her a shot, and she just went to sleep as if she were laying on my couch. It was peaceful, and I felt better that a stranger was not the last memory she had. My heart goes out to you, And I know your anguish. Trust your self and your instinct as to what to do.

First off I would like to say I'm sorry to hear about your friend not being well at all unfortunately the decision is yours and yours alone; no one can tell you what to do.

I've had to have some pets put down in the past due to illness and it is never an easy thing to do but at times it is the kindest, gentlest thing we can do especially if they are ill or their quality of life suffers.

If your dog is suffering very much and his pain is noticeable and gets worse then I would say you have to think of him. I understand completely about not wanting to make or taking time to make the decision believe me but I've learned in the past that keeping a furry friend alive when they are so ill is selfish on our part.

6 years ago I had a cat Smokey who was 8 years old. She ended up having a skull tumor. She was fine but then slowly went downhill. I spoon fed her everyday. I would wash her face because she could not. The tumor had eaten away at part of her skull down to the middle of her jaw. i had no choice and called the vet to set the appointment. On that Saturday morning I sat with Smokey for awhile before it was time. I was not going to be present; felt like it was too much for me to handle and couldn't go through with being in the room with her but in the end for everything she gave me and my life I decided that this was the final thing I could do for her; to be in the room at that precise moment.

Believe me when I say it was the hardest decision in my life I ever had to make and being in the room at that moment is something I can't describe; it was too much but I had to be there.

Listen to your heart and your mind. You will know when the time is right even if you think it's not and if his quality of life is not there anymore and he is tired everything will be said in his eyes. He will let you know. Look in his eyes.

Again I am very sorry that you have such a difficult journey ahead of you but also please remember your furry friend and if he is in too much pain.

Oh.. I'm sorry, this is so, so, sad. I had to make the same decision with my cat some years back. She had kidney failure and was soooo sick, she couldn't move, or eat or even drink from a dropper. It was like the day before my daughters 10th bday party and she really wanted Tramp to be there for it. It got so bad I had to heartbreakingly explain to her how much pain she was in and we really had to put her to sleep, but I told her if she really, really wanted her at her party we'd wait. She made the right decision to put her to sleep that day, and boy how we all cried. To this day I cry when I think of it,or see her picture. After we left the vet, we went to a shelter and adopted 2 black kittens who were brother and sister-they usually have a 24 hr waiting period to take the animals, but given our sad situation, they let us take them that day. It helped us all deal with Tramp being gone, and my daughter had 2 kittens to show her friends at her bday party instead of a dying cat. It sounds like you know in your heart that you need to put your dear doggy to sleep. Its without a doubt one of the toughest things you'll ever have to do, but it must be so hard seeing him suffer. hugs

I had to make that decision once. I had a beautiful, sweet, loving Siamese cat who was only 2 and a half years old when suddenly her kidneys failed. She was in pain and sick and the vet told me that I had to say good-bye to her. He gave her some intravieneous fluids that helped her for less than a week so that the hubby and I could say good-bye to her. But, the hubby thought that there had to be something we could do for her. When I asked my vet, not only did he tell me that there was nothing he could do for her but, he actually threatened me. He told me that, while he was ok with me taking her home so we could say good-bye to her for a few days, he would stop being our vet if we didn't bring her back to have him put her to sleep because we would only be prolonging her misery and that, in his book, was animal abuse. He told me he would remove us as his patients and, he would make sure no one else treated our pets either.

I cried...and it still makes me very sad thinking about her even now. But, I knew that we had to have her put to sleep and take the pain away from her. She looked so sad and looked at me in a way of asking me to help her stop hurting. So, I did the only think I knew would make that happen for her and, if there is a Heaven, I know she will be there waiting for me when it is my time. I miss her terribly. This response have been fraught with emotion. I feel for you and the decision you must make. I am so sorry but, your dog needs your help to take the pain away. I think you know what you need to do. It will make you feel better knowing you made the right choice and that choice will not be easy but, for your beloved dog, it is the only choice you can make.

I am deeply sorry.

My heart breaks for you.:( That's an impossible decision for anyone but you to make, and I know how very, very hard it is to even consider it. You boy will love you, regardless, and I think he'll understand it if you need to take time to make the decision.

I've had to make the choice a handful of times, and it's never easy. Listen to what your heart and your buddy are telling you. Whatever you decide, I hope you find peace with it.

I'll be thinking of you and your friend.

I think allowing to let your dog go, rather than stay with you and suffer, is the most loving thing a pet lover can do.

Read your Post over again slowly! You say you love ur pet, and you say he's suffering terribly. Think about this. Would a person who truly loved a pet be this selfish? Put yourself in your pets place. The only humane thing to do is Stop thinking about yourself and think about your suffering dog! Put him out of his misery for God's Sake!

I've had to put a pet to sleep, so I know how you feel. I know you love your pet but If your pet is in that much pain you need to let it go. As much as you love your pet you are not dong it justice by letting it suffer in pain. Would you like to suffer in pain your last days? Your pet has feelings and you should not make it suffer.

I am sorry, this is a very sad situation you are in. I had to make that decision, not once but twice when my two pomeranians became old and sick. I'd had the one for 14 years and the other for 15 years. It was horrible and I waited too long to have them put to sleep because I couldn't let go of them. It was selfish of me not to end their suffering sooner but I just loved them so much. It's been two years and I still miss them, sometimes quite desperately. I cry a little as I sit here writing this but if your dog is in pain, you have to be the responsible one and make the decision that is right for your dog. If that means putting him to sleep.... It is a very difficult decision, I do know. Now, I feel so much guilt for holding on to my dogs and not having them put to sleep sooner. It got so bad that my one dog was having horrible seizures all night. The other dog's body functions shut down on her. It was terrible and the most merciful loving thing I did was to have them put to sleep. I still hate it but I had to do it. I think I'm rambling now so I will stop writing. But my heart goes out to you and I hope that you will be strong and make the best decision that you can.