Advice from pet owners....serious question here

[Mosbonian]

Would love some input from parent on here who have Special Needs children/adults who have pets......we have a male Shitzu-Pekingnese mix that has been a dear member of the family for about 18 years now....we got him when he was just 8 weeks old and he has been the constant companion to my kids when they were young and more of a comfort animal to my Adult Special Needs son over the past 6 or 7 years.

My son and this dog have this bond....the dog has always sensed when my son was having a troubling moment and would sit near him or on his lap. But the last couple of years have been a bit of a struggle......especially this last year. Pepper, his name, is much more feeble, has trouble seeing well, has what one vet called "Doggie Alzheimers" and struggles with incontinence.

Most of the time now he stays outside on the back porch or in the gazebo. My son struggles with seeing him this way and at times refuses to even go outside to see him for fear of what he might find. On the flip side, any discussion we have about "doing the right thing by him" ends up with my son getting upset.

My wife and I struggle with what is the right thing to do.....continue to let a dearly loved member of the family still struggle out of comfort for my son, or end the pain for someone who has brought a great deal of joy to us for the past 18 years. I told myself that i would never let an animal get to this point, but I also know how this would deeply affect my son.

Anyone else ever have to deal with something like this? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[Dartgod]

Any chance you could get a new pup BEFORE you make the difficult decision to have him put down? Giving your son a chance to bond with the new dog might make it easier for him to cope.

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by Dartgod

Any chance you could get a new pup BEFORE you make the difficult decision to have him put down? Giving your son a chance to bond with the new dog might make it easier for him to cope.

We talked about that...my son is adamant that he doesn't want another dog after Pepper passes. He and the dog have a sense of loyalty like I have never seen....

He might change his tune after Pepper passes...but right now he wants nothing to do with another dog.

[Nirvana58]

Originally Posted by Mosbonian

Would love some input from parent on here who have Special Needs children/adults who have pets......we have a male Shitzu-Pekingnese mix that has been a dear member of the family for about 18 years now....we got him when he was just 8 weeks old and he has been the constant companion to my kids when they were young and more of a comfort animal to my Adult Special Needs son over the past 6 or 7 years.

My son and this dog have this bond....the dog has always sensed when my son was having a troubling moment and would sit near him or on his lap. But the last couple of years have been a bit of a struggle......especially this last year. Pepper, his name, is much more feeble, has trouble seeing well, has what one vet called "Doggie Alzheimers" and struggles with incontinence.

Most of the time now he stays outside on the back porch or in the gazebo. My son struggles with seeing him this way and at times refuses to even go outside to see him for fear of what he might find. On the flip side, any discussion we have about "doing the right thing by him" ends up with my son getting upset.

My wife and I struggle with what is the right thing to do.....continue to let a dearly loved member of the family still struggle out of comfort for my son, or end the pain for someone who has brought a great deal of joy to us for the past 18 years. I told myself that i would never let an animal get to this point, but I also know how this would deeply affect my son.

Anyone else ever have to deal with something like this? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

I had to put down one of my dogs last year. She had a bone tumor on her back leg. The vet recommended I put her down immediately but I waited for the right time. It was one of the hardest decisions I have had to make.

I do recommend paying for a home vet to come to your house and put the animal down at home. They are much more calm and at least they go where they are comfortable. That is probably the best advice I can give.

Now on when to do it. That is completely up to you. I thought I had waited to long and should of done it sooner. Until the day I was suppose put her down she fought it the whole time. One of the worst and sickest feelings I have ever witnessed. She knew what was up and even though she could barely walk and had never ran from me she took off out the door and tried to sprint as far as she could. Made it down the block and I had to carry her back. She even tried to bite the vet as they tried to give her a sedative before the final shot.

I guess if I could do it again I wouldn't listen to anybody on when is the right time. The dog will let you know when they are ready to pass. If you are questioning it then it probably isn't the time.

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by Dartgod

Any chance you could get a new pup BEFORE you make the difficult decision to have him put down? Giving your son a chance to bond with the new dog might make it easier for him to cope.

And pardon me for not saying this earlier....thanks for your input.

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by Nirvana58

I had to put down one of my dogs last year. She had a bone tumor on her back leg. The vet recommended I put her down immediately but I waited for the right time. It was one of the hardest decisions I have had to make.

I do recommend paying for a home vet to come to your house and put the animal down at home. They are much more calm and at least they go where they are comfortable. That is probably the best advice I can give.

Now on when to do it. That is completely up to you. I thought I had waited to long and should of done it sooner. Until the day I was suppose put her down she fought it the whole time. One of the worst and sickest feelings I have ever witnessed. She knew what was up and even though she could barely walk and had never ran from me she took off out the door and tried to sprint as far as she could. Made it down the block and I had to carry her back. She even tried to bite the vet as they tried to give her a sedative before the final shot.

I guess if I could do it again I wouldn't listen to anybody on when is the right time. The dog will let you know when they are ready to pass. If you are questioning it then it probably isn't the time.

Thanks for your input on this......I hear what you are saying and thanks for sharing.

There are days i look at him and I think i see him telling me it's time. And then other days he has a little more energy and I think he is trying to show he is better.

This period of time is why I told my wife I didn't want to get close to an animal....but i wouldn't trade the 18 years of joy he has brought my family for anything.

[FlaChief58]

Does your son understand that everything dies? If so, explain to him that your pup is very old,in pain and that it's not fair to him to let him suffer. I recently had to put down my boxer. The night before, I had a sending off for him. I fixed him a nice meal and the Mrs and I spent the evening loving him. Maybe you can do something similar to help ease the pain.

Good luck to you and yours in this difficult time

[SAUTO]

Man this is a very tough situation. Our dogs can tell if something is wrong with our special needs daughter also and it's crazy.

I have no idea what I would do in your situation. Prayers your way.

[SAUTO]

Maybe get YOU a new pup not him. See how it goes from there.

[Shogun]

Its tough, but the dog is clearly not in the best shape. My personal opinion is to put him down. I also like the idea of you getting your son a new PET. Maybe it doesn't need to be a dog for him anymore. Maybe branch out, may be different for him, but it could be a good thing.

[Kman34]

I have found that my loved dogs I have put down hung on past the time I should have let them go...I feel they were hanging around just for our family....Made me feel selfish for waiting...The only advice I have is try not to wait too long and prolong your son's and your dogs suffering...So sorry for what you are going though...

[Abba-Dabba]

Why does the dog like to stay outside the the majority of the time?

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by RubberSponge

Why does the dog like to stay outside the the majority of the time?

Not sure the dog likes it, it says it struggles with incontinence...

[Rasputin]

If a pup is too soon maybe get a hamster or something small that he can watch and still pet. I'm not a cat person but maybe a cat?

Prayer sent for you to make the right decision for your family and pet.

[Abba-Dabba]

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

Not sure the dog likes it, it says it struggles with incontinence...

Ah, I see.

Put the dog down before the son finds him dead in the summer heat would be my choice. Don't make the son suffer through a grieving process any more than necessary. Extending the dogs life at this point is extending the son's grieving. Death is inevitable and sometimes it isn't fair. But in this case that shitzu had a hell of a run. 18yrs for a dog is one hellava stab at life. Sounds to me like the dog was a champ at life.