https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 21 Apr 2026 22:14:26 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-put-a-pet-to-sleep#post-96091 Sun, 18 Mar 2012 22:58:38 +0000 BSB 96091@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Aww, sorry to hear about Sparky. I, personally, have never had to put a pet to sleep. My husband had his golden retriever put down. I was very close to my sister's family's yellow lab. He was hit by a car. I was hoping and praying he would get better. I woke up to a phone call from my sister that they had to put Dakota down. He pulled his back and he was in a lot of pain. I was so mad at my sister when I heard they put him down. I thought they did it because it was the easy way out. After I heard about his back, I understood but I really loved that dog. I really wish I would have been able to see him before he was put down. My sister said that Dakota was in so much pain that he wasn't acting like himself. RIP Dakota. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-put-a-pet-to-sleep#post-8728 Thu, 03 Nov 2011 09:45:29 +0000 Liesal 8728@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was so sorry to hear about Sparky. It's so hard losing a pet that you've had for forever. I had to put my kitty down last year. It was so hard losing her because she had been my baby since I was 5 years old. She was 19, and even though I knew for a while that the end was coming soon, it was still really really hard. She had stopped taking care of her grooming for a while, then we really knew it was coming when she started hiding in weird places and just walking around aimlessly. It was the hardest decision that I had to make, but I knew it was the best for her. She was in pain and her body was slowly shutting down and her quality of life was being affected. I still miss her every day and am crying just typing this. I can't imagine what you're going through with all the stresses and hormones in your life right now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-put-a-pet-to-sleep#post-8094 Wed, 02 Nov 2011 10:50:11 +0000 themcmom 8094@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mrs. Bee, I'm so sorry. You made a choice so she wouldn't have to suffer and her actions were telling you it was time. If you've never read it and even if you have, google "Rainbow Bridge." It comforts me when I really miss my animals. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-put-a-pet-to-sleep#post-8090 Wed, 02 Nov 2011 10:47:37 +0000 Mrs. Bee 8090@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we put sparky to sleep this weekend. a vet came to our home and administered a sedative so sparky wouldn't feel a thing. she purred until she fell into a deep sleep and went peacefully. i keep thinking i'm going to see her in her usual hangout spots. it was a tough decision, but i think it was the right one. i'm going to miss her so much. :-( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-put-a-pet-to-sleep#post-8074 Wed, 02 Nov 2011 10:34:32 +0000 Meridian 8074@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Bee, I was so sad to hear about Sparky :(</p> <p>I've never had to... yet. I was never, ever a pet or animal person, until we got adopted a dog 2 yrs ago. She's 7, so I'm terrified of what will happen when she gets old!! I never knew I could love a dog so much... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-put-a-pet-to-sleep#post-8054 Wed, 02 Nov 2011 09:50:12 +0000 themcmom 8054@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm so sorry Mrs. Bee. It's such a hard choice to make, but I've made it three times.</p> <p>The first time, I wasn't even in 6th grade. My Dad came home to pick me up and take me to a friend's house. When he arrived at the house, he told me that Tipsy was at the vet because he'd been hit by a car. As he took me to the vets, he tried to prepare me for seeing Tipsy. He told me that whatever we did would be my choice.</p> <p>Once we arrived, the vet took us into a room, showed me Tipsy's x-ray, and told me how Tipsy would never be able to walk and, if I took Tipsy home, I would have to do everything for him. Obviously, kid me wanted my cat to live.</p> <p>She went back to bring Tipsy to me; she held him in her arms as I cried and then she offered to let me hold him. I sat waiting to hold my Tipsy Cat. He screamed as she put him in my arms. It was then I knew that Tipsy needed to be put to sleep.</p> <p>Some people may think it was a poor decision on my Dad's part to let me decide, but I truly believe that it's my Dad's best parenting moment.</p> <p>Since Tipsy, I also put down my Bugsy Cat and Duchess Dog. And this may sound a little weird, but if a snow storm hadn't happened, I would've put down PJ Mouse too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-put-a-pet-to-sleep#post-8052 Wed, 02 Nov 2011 09:44:16 +0000 rawrasaur 8052@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm sorry about Sparky. :-(</p> <p>My dog is only 2 1/2 years old and the idea of one day having to put her down makes me so sad. She is a mess but I can't imagine not having her. I dread a day where we have to make that decision. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-put-a-pet-to-sleep#post-8049 Wed, 02 Nov 2011 09:43:07 +0000 tequiero21 8049@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>sorry about sparky. she was definitely in good hands. she wouldn't have had the quality of life she did with anyone else!</p> <p>when i was about 12 or so, we had to put down our dog. but my parents didn't tell me she was taking her so i never got a chance to say goodbye. i cried so much and every now and then, when i still think about her, i tear up a bit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-put-a-pet-to-sleep#post-8048 Wed, 02 Nov 2011 09:42:00 +0000 Adira 8048@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Bee - so sorry to hear about Sparky!</p> <p>I've never personally put down a pet, but my parents have put down two cats now. Both had feline leukemia, and really weren't that old, so it was really sad. Both stopped eating and just slept all day long in a corner somewhere. They even stopped putting in the energy to go to the liter box to do their business. I think after a week of this kind of behavior, we knew it was time to put them out of their misery. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-put-a-pet-to-sleep#post-8042 Wed, 02 Nov 2011 09:36:07 +0000 Dash 8042@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bee-I'm so sorry about Sparky.<br /> We had a cat that one day just acted as if she had no energy. We knew something was wrong and took her to the vet. The vet said, "she's just really old". She was adopted from a shelter so we weren't really sure of her age, but DH had for 12 years. Vet estimated her age as 18+... We ended up just taking her home and watching her carefully. She was alright for about a week.(she was slow moving, but still eating/drinking/getting around the house) She didn't seem to be in pain. Then she stopped eating and drinking and we thought it was time to put her down. The next morning we said we would wait until DH came home from work....So when he got home that evening he picked her up to pet her and she looked at him, purred a little and then gasped and took her final breath....it was like she waited for him to come home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-put-a-pet-to-sleep#post-7995 Wed, 02 Nov 2011 08:41:30 +0000 LazyLightning 7995@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So sorry to hear about Sparky. :(<br /> When I was 18 I went with my dad to put our childhood dog to sleep--she was 13 years old. We knew it was time when--like Sparky--she stopped moving very much. She couldn't easily stand up anymore and would often lose control of her bladder if she tried to stand up. She had trouble eating too... We had been treating her with medicine for her issues for a while, but when she seemed 'unhappy'--not really responding to us, wagging her tail, etc--we knew it was time to let her go. It was so sad, but it was the right choice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-put-a-pet-to-sleep#post-6996 Fri, 28 Oct 2011 12:11:53 +0000 Jenna 6996@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm so sorry that Sparky has taken a turn for the worst. I haven't had to put my own pet to sleep yet, but we have two dogs and a cat and I know the day will come way too soon. Pets become such a part of your family! Our puppies are seriously like our kids. I just pray that it will be quite a few years from now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-put-a-pet-to-sleep#post-6983 Fri, 28 Oct 2011 12:05:48 +0000 sandsandmore 6983@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We put down our 14 year old dog in February. He had surgery 2 years ago to have a liver tumor removed, but since then he always had a skin infection causing him to shed scaly skin everywhere. Over his last 6 months or so he started losing control and would poop in the house everyday. He could make it out in time to pee, but not poop. We knew we'd be bringing home preemies so we just couldn't bring them home to that environment. The dog seemed to know it was time, but he fought it right at the end. It was hard. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-put-a-pet-to-sleep#post-6936 Fri, 28 Oct 2011 10:26:38 +0000 littleveesmommy 6936@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Last year we had to put down our little 4 yr old cat Nimmie. We had adopted her from an animal shelter when she was 6 months old and she was malnourished, plus we think she was abused because she was extremely skiddish. She warmed up to us after a few months and was the most unconditionally loving cat - all she wanted was snuggles and answered if you called her name! She was always a runt - weighing a max 5 lbs - but the vet always said she is just a small bugger. </p> <p>Last year, we started to see her health decline. She wasn't eating as much and was having accidents - but the vet couldn't find anything wrong. After the tornado last August in NYC, we had to spend the night at my parents since we couldn't get home. When we got home, I couldn't find her anywhere! Finally, I heard a faint cry and she was lodged between furniture and had no energy to move. We took her in and it turns out she was born with a kidney disease (which no one ever tested for since it was so obscure), which started getting progressively worse as she aged. The vet said it reached a really bad point and we could do aggressive treatment, but it probably would not work. I cried for a long time at the vets office, but we finally decided to let her go peacefully. When I said goodbye, her eyes were all glossy and I knew it was time to let her go. </p> <p>I will never forget her sweet loving cuddles. She always did this thing when she was really happy, she cuddles with her tongue sticking out. I miss her so much and wished she would have stayed with us longer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-put-a-pet-to-sleep#post-6920 Fri, 28 Oct 2011 09:30:09 +0000 mrsjyw 6920@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A couple of Halloweens ago (to the day), I went with Hubby to put down his dog from childhood, Pepper, down. </p> <p>ILs had for several years fed her hamburgers for dinner and Pepper (a chocolate lab mix) ended up gradually gaining weight to over 100 pounds. She was not in the best shape when I met her in 2007, but she was still active and had a quality of life. However, in the years following, she was lethargic, her back legs gave out, she had huge fist size cysts growing over her belly, and irregular bowel movements daily.</p> <p>After talking it over with hubby, I made an appointment at my friend's clinic. FIL was so distraught that he couldn't even make it to the clinic. (In actuality, he pretended like he was angry having to clean up after Pepper and taking care of her; acting like he was ready to put her down - but, he was sad more than anything deep down inside). The entire process was emotionally draining. I have never seen hubby cry this way and I couldn't help but bawl over the few memories I'd created with Pepper as well.</p> <p>Pepper lived a long life, 17 years! but near the end, it was better to put her down, than to see her struggling to live her life and having no quality of life. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-put-a-pet-to-sleep#post-6913 Fri, 28 Oct 2011 09:17:51 +0000 Mrs. Bee 6913@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My cat Sparky was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer 3 1/2 years ago. She went through surgery, radiation and chemo, and the cancer went into remission for over three years. The past three years have been the happiest years of her life. </p> <p>A couple of months ago, the cancer came back and it was so aggressive I could literally see it grow every day. I devoted hours each day to her care, cleaning her tumor (it's on her face), taking her to the vet, trying to get her to eat, administering medicine, and just hanging out with her. Since Olive was born, I don't have nearly as much time for her, but she was still pretty happy. </p> <p>The past two days Sparky has been sitting in her litterbox and hasn't come out. This is a decision I've wrestled with for some time, but I think it may finally be time to put her to sleep. I don't want to wait for her to slowly deteriorate or be in significant pain. We have a vet that will come to our house to put her to sleep, but thinking about the finality of it all is making me so sad. Is this the right time? I've asked myself this question almost daily the past couple of months. She has been unbelievably happy through all this, eating well, playing well, despite having an ulcerated, open tumor on her face.</p> <p>Sparky is 10 1/2 and has had a great life. I just wish she had a little more time, but I feel so lucky for the extra years we've had together after her initial grim diagnosis 3 1/2 year ago. She really is the best, sweetest cat ever.</p> <p>Have you ever put a pet to sleep? How did you know it was time? </p>