Husband wants me to euthanize our dog?

[sierramv]

I have a 12-13 year old Lab mix, she is one of three dogs and I got her because I used to work at a vet and she had come in pretty banged up from a previous owner. She needed to have one of her legs amputated and a broken jaw repaired, etc.

Anyway she recovered fine and has been a pretty happy girl for the past 10 years that I have had her. I have since gotten married and have three children 7,3,8 months and she has REALLY turned into a handful. In the past three years she has been in two nasty dog fights that required her to be operated on totalling over $1,000 she has bit the propane guy which could have been very bad, except my insurance covered it. She is incontinent and has been medicine for a while but it is no longer working, so she pees all over the house (to no fault of her own). Whenever there is a thunder storm she has a complete panic attack and keeps the entire house up all night, doggie valium doesn't work, neither does putting her in a kennel because she whines and will injure herself trying to get out. My husand is ready to kill her. And I am exhausted.

I feel horrible because she had such a terrible start in life, but I have found myself resenting her because of all the trouble she has caused. She is insanely jealous of the other dogs getting attention and it makes it very difficult. Am I being incredibly selfish?

[Momily]

How do you ensure the safety of your young kids with a dog who has bit an adult who was presumably minding his own business?

[Sailor]

Why did your dog bite the propane guy? That's a red flag, IMO. Unless these were extenuating circumstances where the dog was in pain due to health issues or was disoriented or other similar scenario ... biting an adult like that is scary.

It sounds like your dog has multiple health problems/issues.

In my family, we used to euthanize when the quality of life of the dog had deteriorated. When the dog could no longer enjoy normal activities and/or was in pain.

Only you can decide when that moment is reached for your dog. What kind of quality of life does the dog have now? That's the question you need to ask yourself.

However, if your dog is becoming aggressive towards humans or is becoming a danger to your family - it's time to euthanize.

[BoringTales]

I'd say its time. The dog doesn't sound happy, you don't sound happy, and it isn't fair to put your family through that either. Unless you could find someone to rehome her to with full disclosure, I'd personally seriously consider euth'ing.

[mamallama]

It sounds like you might also think it's time.

Dogs don't fear euthanasia. I've made the decision to euthanize three dogs--two who were elderly and suffering, and a biter we ultimately couldn't help. With your experience working at a clinic, I'm sure you have a handle on the dogs' perspective. For them, it's not such a bad thing.

For us, it's loaded with our own issues.

It sounds like your old girl has had a good 10 years with you--and that's a lot.

Fighting in her golden years, freaking out during storms, biting the propane man--it makes me wonder if she has some failing of her mental faculties. Having lived with two very elderly dogs (large breeds, into their mid-teens,) I can say with confidence that dogs experience age related dementia/anxiety/mental changes much like humans.

I know it's hard to think about, but from her perspective, it sounds like it really might be time.

s

[Gray's Mommy]

My biggest concern is that the dog bit another person. Something isn't right with your baby. You may want to talk to the vet about it and then sit down and discuss the options you have available to you.

[gumby74]

I also think you should sit down with your vet for a good long talk about the situation. Please don't beat yourself up about it as much as you can. You did something wonderful by taking her in to begin with and it's obvious by everything that you have done thus far that she knows you cared about her and have given her a better quality of life than she would have had otherwise. I have two cats that are elderly and now are at the stage of their life where they are having more and more issues. They were my first kids and have been through so much with me, but there are days when I hope I wake up to find that they have passed on their own. I feel horrible saying it, but it's hard to emotionally, physically and financially to keep on the road that only appears to be going downwards. My point is that I think it is completely normal to have the feelings you and your husband are having and if you decide that euthanization is the best option for quality of life as well, you shouldn't beat yourself up.

[milagras]

I have no advice to offer, but I couldn't pass by your thread without looking. We have such a huge responsibility as caregivers, deciding life or death. Your post brings tears to my eyes. I'm sorry you are at this point. Trust your instincts.

I wish peace for you and your family.

[Nicole915]

I'm so sorry you're in this situation, it sounds truly heartbreaking. I suspect you know most of this as you worked in the field for a while, but just in case...

The big issue is why did she bite the propane guy? Did she perceive a threat to you or your children? The interdog aggression is the easiest to manage, by just removing any situation where she might contact another dog.

Just a few more things... if she was on PPA/Proin for her urinary incotinence, she may need a dose adjustment. There are lots of ways to *try* to manage the storm anxiety (spearmint oil, different meds, thunderstorm music cd's that you play in the house and slowly increase volume). It sounds like a good long conversation with your vet in in order, and maybe a referal to the local humane society behavior person.