Put dog to sleep?

My dog has had diabetes for a few years and has gone blind from it. We
give him insulin shots daily (my wife won't tell me how much it costs!)
He also has terrible skin allergies that cause him to smell
horrendously. I can barely stand to be in the same room with him. The
allergies also cause him to scratch and bite himself constantly, which
aside from being annoying, causes his fur to get wet and smell even
worse. It's embarassing to have company over. He can't hold his bladder
for more than a few hours, which limits the time we can spend away from
home.

We've made countless trips to vets to address his allergy problems, but
medication choices are limited because of his diabetes. My wife bathes
him twice a week with medicated shampoo (per doctor's orders.)

This is how his day goes: Wake up, pee outside, scratch, scratch, chew,
chew, eat dog food, scratch, scratch, poop outside, eat his own poop,
scratch, scratch, chew, chew, stink, stink -- well -you get the idea.

The point is, I want to put him to sleep, but my wife and daughter
think that would be cruel. He's only 10 years old (a small terrier mix)
and doesn't seem to suffer, but he can't do any doggie activities
anymore, and he's costing a lot of money. It would be hard for me to
put him down, but that would be true even if he was truly needing it.

Am I jumping the gun on wanting to put him down???

Have they tried putting the dog on a home made diet to deal with the
allergies. If nothing else works often this is the solution to the whole
problem with allergies and skin problems. Yes it will cost more to home
cook for him but you'll save it in vet bills. And as far as the cost of the
insulin it's not that expensive for all the more your dog takes and your
wife sounds like a jewel for taking care of him.

You can only hope that she cares as much for you if your health should ever
come to that.


wrote in message
oups.com...
My dog has had diabetes for a few years and has gone blind from it. We
give him insulin shots daily (my wife won't tell me how much it costs!)
He also has terrible skin allergies that cause him to smell
horrendously. I can barely stand to be in the same room with him. The
allergies also cause him to scratch and bite himself constantly, which
aside from being annoying, causes his fur to get wet and smell even
worse. It's embarassing to have company over. He can't hold his bladder
for more than a few hours, which limits the time we can spend away from
home.

We've made countless trips to vets to address his allergy problems, but
medication choices are limited because of his diabetes. My wife bathes
him twice a week with medicated shampoo (per doctor's orders.)

This is how his day goes: Wake up, pee outside, scratch, scratch, chew,
chew, eat dog food, scratch, scratch, poop outside, eat his own poop,
scratch, scratch, chew, chew, stink, stink -- well -you get the idea.

The point is, I want to put him to sleep, but my wife and daughter
think that would be cruel. He's only 10 years old (a small terrier mix)
and doesn't seem to suffer, but he can't do any doggie activities
anymore, and he's costing a lot of money. It would be hard for me to
put him down, but that would be true even if he was truly needing it.

Am I jumping the gun on wanting to put him down???

We put our 18 year old sheltie mix down last year when she went blind in
addition to her other problems (arthritis, incontinence, bad hygiene,
constipation, lack of appetite, etc.). It was very difficult for us,
traumatic at the very least. We had tried various medications and
regimens and nothing seemed to work well.

But it was the right time. We were fighting a losing battle and although
she didn't seem to be terribly uncomfortable it wouldn't be long before
she fell on the stairs or developed more painful conditions.

10 years old isn't that young, I think of 12 as a nominal age for
passing of most dogs. You will be doing him a favor of saving him from a
long, uncomfortable decline and a poor quality of life. There are lots
of dogs at rescue organizations that need loving families. Our new girl
is a joy who really appreciates having a home.

I can't express the terrible pain and guilt we felt when we put ours
down but it was the right decision for us. No one can tell you what the
right thing is for you to do, but you should know that euthanasia is a
valid and humane option.

Good luck.

wrote:
My dog has had diabetes for a few years and has gone blind from it. We
give him insulin shots daily (my wife won't tell me how much it costs!)
He also has terrible skin allergies that cause him to smell
horrendously. I can barely stand to be in the same room with him. The
allergies also cause him to scratch and bite himself constantly, which
aside from being annoying, causes his fur to get wet and smell even
worse. It's embarassing to have company over. He can't hold his bladder
for more than a few hours, which limits the time we can spend away from
home.

We've made countless trips to vets to address his allergy problems, but
medication choices are limited because of his diabetes. My wife bathes
him twice a week with medicated shampoo (per doctor's orders.)

This is how his day goes: Wake up, pee outside, scratch, scratch, chew,
chew, eat dog food, scratch, scratch, poop outside, eat his own poop,
scratch, scratch, chew, chew, stink, stink -- well -you get the idea.

The point is, I want to put him to sleep, but my wife and daughter
think that would be cruel. He's only 10 years old (a small terrier mix)
and doesn't seem to suffer, but he can't do any doggie activities
anymore, and he's costing a lot of money. It would be hard for me to
put him down, but that would be true even if he was truly needing it.

Am I jumping the gun on wanting to put him down???

I haven't heard of a home made diet for dogs -- I'll have to take a
look at that. Thanks

My wife already spoils me beyond imagination!!! I'm thinking about
increasing her life insurance because I would have to hire 3 people to
do all the things she does for me! :-P


Spot wrote:
Have they tried putting the dog on a home made diet to deal with the
allergies. If nothing else works often this is the solution to the
whole
problem with allergies and skin problems. Yes it will cost more to
home
cook for him but you'll save it in vet bills. And as far as the cost
of the
insulin it's not that expensive for all the more your dog takes and
your
wife sounds like a jewel for taking care of him.

You can only hope that she cares as much for you if your health
should ever
come to that.


wrote in message
oups.com...
My dog has had diabetes for a few years and has gone blind from it.
We
give him insulin shots daily (my wife won't tell me how much it
costs!)
He also has terrible skin allergies that cause him to smell
horrendously. I can barely stand to be in the same room with him.
The
allergies also cause him to scratch and bite himself constantly,
which
aside from being annoying, causes his fur to get wet and smell even
worse. It's embarassing to have company over. He can't hold his
bladder
for more than a few hours, which limits the time we can spend away
from
home.

We've made countless trips to vets to address his allergy problems,
but
medication choices are limited because of his diabetes. My wife
bathes
him twice a week with medicated shampoo (per doctor's orders.)

This is how his day goes: Wake up, pee outside, scratch, scratch,
chew,
chew, eat dog food, scratch, scratch, poop outside, eat his own
poop,
scratch, scratch, chew, chew, stink, stink -- well -you get the
idea.

The point is, I want to put him to sleep, but my wife and daughter
think that would be cruel. He's only 10 years old (a small terrier
mix)
and doesn't seem to suffer, but he can't do any doggie activities
anymore, and he's costing a lot of money. It would be hard for me
to
put him down, but that would be true even if he was truly needing
it.

Am I jumping the gun on wanting to put him down???

Thanks, Wolf. I appreciate the reassurance that I'm not just being
cruel....

"Spot" wrote in message
news:a2D3e.2109$7b.324@trndny01...
Have they tried putting the dog on a home made diet to deal with the
allergies. If nothing else works often this is the solution to the whole
problem with allergies and skin problems. Yes it will cost more to home
cook for him but you'll save it in vet bills. And as far as the cost of
the
insulin it's not that expensive for all the more your dog takes and your
wife sounds like a jewel for taking care of him.



We hope to get a dog one of these days and I am interested in the home made
diet. We adopted a dog who had severe skin problems. He lost all his hair
and scratched a lot. I would bathe him with special soaps and he got shots
every 2 or 3 weeks. When he was about 13 we finally had him put to sleep.
The vet had been urging us to do this for a year or so. It is so hard to
give up like that. Anyway when we do get a dog I think I will cook for him,
so do you have website that can tell me what to cook?