Saturday 23 June 2012

When Is It Time to Say Goodbye to Your Pet?


As a pet owner I knew the day would come when I would have to choose life or death for my beloved pet. In this case it was my wonderful little dog Coco, who after 14 years began to slip away before my eyes. I would like to start off by saying that Coco was put to sleep only one week ago from the date of this article. She was a wonderful, loving pet, part Chow and part Collie. In her youth she had fluffy cocoa colored long fur, and weighed about 50 pounds. During the past year, all of us began to notice that Coco was becoming a little slower, eating a little less, and having a little more trouble going up and down staircases. We knew she was getting old, but at that time, none of us would dare speak about the fact that the dreaded day was obviously on the horizon. She gave us so many years of unconditional love, and even at the end the most difficult thing my wife and I did was decide when it was time to take her to the vet. You see, for the past month she lost a lot of weight, she was beginning to pant after little exertion. The strangest thing was that she started to follow us around the house more so than she ever did in her life.
She would follow us and then when we sat, or stopped, she would just stare up at us. It was obvious she was trying to tell us something, and I think deep down inside we knew what she was saying. She was the kind of dog that always seem to worry about the family. If there was any strangers or relatives sleeping in the house she would go from bed to bed just to check on us in the middle of the night. As the days went by, she seemed more more anxious, to the extent that her eyes told a story. When you looked down at her, gazing back at you, you could tell she seemed worried, very worried. By this time she was beginning to collapse going up and down stairs, and having trouble getting up from her bed without help. When she was squat to go to the bathroom she would collapse. The last 48 hours of her life was the worst. It started on Saturday morning, and by Sunday afternoon, we knew what she was saying. She was telling us that it was time to go. She no longer ate her food, and needed to be carried wherever she went.
On Sunday night I gave her the prescription for pain the vet gave us when she was first diagnosed with arthritis in the hips. She slept well Sunday night, due to the medication. Monday morning I walked out of my bedroom, and what I saw broke my heart. You see, every morning she would jump up and I would take her out. We did this daily for 14 years, but on this morning, she only had the strength to look up at me seemingly asking for help, as she could not stand on her own. I walked directly to the telephone and called the veterinarian, and set up a time to bring Coco, knowing farewell that one of the worst moments of my life was about to be experienced. If you are not a pet owner, or you never had a pet, you may not understand this, but if you have, I know you can relate to the desperation and heartache of holding your pet in your arms while the vet administers the sedative that will abruptly end your joy of being a pet owner. You mourn your pets loss, and then sadly face the second hardest question. You ask yourself over and over again if you waited too long, or was it too soon. You'll feel a tinge of guilt for the decision you made to put your pet down, even if you know without a shadow of a doubt that your loving pet was beginning to suffer, and that it was in fact the right thing to do, and at the right time.
Before making a decision, and experiencing that dreadful day, I did a lot of research on how to know when the time is right to make the decision to put my pet down. I am writing this article, not just to share my grief, but in hopes that it will help you when your time comes to make this most difficult decision. Pet psychologist actually say, that your pet will tell you when it's time. In fact, it is not strange for a pet to begin to follow family members around the house. They say that is a sign in itself that the pet is worried about leaving the loving family he or she protected all her life. The amazing thing is that pets worry, and if you look close enough you can see the signs, and understand what your pet is saying. It may seem strange, but they will tell you when it's time. Of course, they will be other signs, and if you are truthful with yourself, you will be honest when deciding whether your pets quality of life has reached the point where they will begin to suffer, emotionally, and physically. as a pet owner, the decision to put your pet down is the hardest thing you'll ever do.
I just want you to know that you are not alone in this, and that all pet owners will someday make the same decision. The amazing thing was the difference in her behavior at the veterinarian office. Usually she would fight and pull on the leash trying to get out the door. This time she allowed me to hand her over to the veterinarian who examined her, and prepped her for the shots that would end her life. Instead of fighting, she actually seemed to calm down and relax in a way she never did before. I wrapped my arm around her neck and spoke to her with my mouth near the top of her head, telling her that we would be okay. The amazing thing was that even before the shot was administered, she laid her head on my chest, and I knew she was ready, and in her animal way, was telling me that I made the right decision, and that it was time to say goodbye.
Dr. Philip K Murphy THD,CCCJS, is a nationally certified criminal justice specialist, and special educator. He is the author of "Mad As Hell" by Phil Murphy, which can be found on Amazon.com. Dr. Murphy is known for writing the truth behind the truth and breaking down and looking into what most people take for granted. Dr. Murphy's articles come under the heading of "The Way I See It". they are known to be educational, informative, and revealing. if you would like to learn more visit Dr. Murphy at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dr-Philip-K-Murphy-ThD/253505724668828 him. Amazon.com Kindle authors Dr. Murphy's books for free in the borrowing library or for of minimal download price, under the author's name Phil Murphy. You may also want to stay on top of things by opening your own account with EzineArticles.com

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