Need Help with Euthanasia Timing

[Jaybay]

Well, Chica isn't making this decision easy for us.  She's been in severe renal failure since late October, and going down fast.  We are at the point that she's barely eating, still drinking, but even with reglan injections for the past 8 days, she's vomiting, or just dry heaving.  We are fully prepared for losing her, and it will be a blessing for all of us when the time comes.  And there's the rub: the timing.  

This dog has given 100% to everything she's accomplished in her nearly 14 years.  Dying is no exception.  She just isn't ready to give it up in spite of losing 20 of her usual 60 pounds.  The starvation issue really caught me unprepared.  I thought she would be long gone before it became an issue, but no.

Chica still has brief periods daily of trying to play with our other dog, still enjoys heading out to get the mail, and a few other things that define her life.  I just don't see how she can go on much longer eating only a few bites of beef or turkey a day.

Chica is now traumatized when we take her to the vet - one too many needle sticks I suppose.  Because her mind is still fully intact, we continue to wait and see every day.  We don't want her last outing to be traumatic.  I've got a call in to our vet to see if we can administer some kind of tranquilizer before bringing her in for the last time, but haven't heard back from him yet.  Is that a reasonable request?  How long can dogs at this stage of renal failure go on, and does their mentation eventually get less as the end nears?  I'm just trying to make a mental list of what to look for so I'll have a better idea of timing.  I want to do the right thing for her, but I don't have enough information to know exactly what that is.  She's breaking my heart with every passing day and every lost pound, but she's not ready to pack it in yet.

[ireneo]

Euthanasia is a difficult decision sometimes. Most of the time when I have to do it, it's a clear case of severe trauma with no chance of recovery. Then it's a release. For you it's a balance between her quality of life and you being ready to let her go. I understand your concern about her last moments being stressful since she's tired of going to the vet. My parents did get a tranq from their vet to administer at home to ease the transition. Also, instead of taking their dog into the clinic, the vet came out to the car. That helped some too. Whatever your decision on timing I hope it goes smoothly for all of you.

[ireneo]

I think it's fine that you waited for your husband to be with you and with Chica. I'm glad you'll tranquilize her before she goes in. Today's going to be a rough one for you. A rotten way to die? I don't know - she's going to be snuggled in the arms of the people that love her. Not everyone or everything gets that comfort. Many hugs to you and to Chica.

[peekawho]

Many vets WILL come to your house for this one, very special visit.  No harm in asking.  Or pleading.

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

Euthanasia is the part of veterinary medicine that I find to be the saddest part of practice. I am the kind of vet who will try everything first, and I mean everything!  Dogs don't follow the book when it comes to disease.  With kidney disease, when the kidneys stop filtering,  the non-filtered products continue circulating in the blood as toxins and are supposed to cross the blood brain barrier and cause loss of mentation, and even seizure activity.  This is obviously not the case with Chica.  If you are not ready to put her to sleep than there is another anti-emetic you can try.  It is called Cerenia, and is quite effective for nausea and vomiting.  However,  if that also doesn't work than it may be time.  Ireneo had a good suggestion about having it done in the car, especially if your vet does not make house calls.  I am sure though, that your vet will give you a tranquilizer to give the Chica for a final trip to the vet's office.  

I don't know if I helped you.  This is just such a difficult  and very personal time in all animal lover's lives.  We all go through it, because unfortunately pets just don't live long enough.  Please remember that what ever your decision, it is the right one, because you did everything you could for Chica, and gave her a wonderful life as a member of your family.

[kyes]

it sounds like all of you have given each other a lot of joy and beauty through the years.  so good that all of you could be together at the end.  so sorry for your loss.

[suzi-q]

My thoughts and prayers are with you also.  May God grant you peace and Godspeed to Chica.

[peekawho]

My prayers and thoughts are with you today.  I'm so sorry.

[Jaybay]

Thanks for going through this mess me.  :-)  I believe today is the end of the line for Chica.  She's had no urine output in 24 hours, and stopped drinking yesterday.  Sadly, she still has periods of lucidity, so we'll have to tranquilize her before taking her in.  I would have done this at the end of the day yesterday, but my husband was out of town until late in the evening, and he needed to be able to see for himself how badly she was doing and get his own mind wrapped around it.  What a rotten way to die.  :-(

[kyes]

Following your story with Chica is so moving and sorrowing and inspiring, and oddly joyful too--what a great pooch!  What awesome people you seem to be!  The outlines of your experience as you have written in have moved me to prayer for you all and brought me closer to a place of readiness for my own elderly dog's eventual passing...so far she's "just" quirky, not failing, but she's 14 and time is one thing we don't have in abundance.  I find the way you are making the most of each moment with your wonderful Chica so beautiful.  Your family and your brave, cheerful dog will be much in my thoughts and prayers in the coming days.  

[peekawho]

I hope everythings ok.  You are in my prayers.

[Fourpaws]

I am soo sorry your not getting your clear answer through all of this. I just want to give you praise for doing all that your doing for your dog. I think she will "tell" you when she is ready, if that means giving you the same message everyday. It sounds like she is still going strong right now, just having her bad days. Your doing the right thing, taking it day by day. Good luck to you, your a very strong dog mommy! and I know she appreciates you so much!

[Jaybay]

Thanks Dr. Cheng.  Yes, you did help!  I really specifically needed to know the dog's reactions to the toxins, and that information really helps my decision-making process.  Like I said before, the starvation issue is what is really kicking me in the teeth.  Chica can have anything at all she wants at this point - which isn't much.  Yesterday was awful, and today she's all perked up again.  What a roller coaster.

Just as an FYI, I started using Cran Assure for Chica about a week or so ago because she was constantly licking herself.  I figured it couldn't hurt, and it actually has helped.  The licking stopped within hours of the first pill.  No doubt her entire urinary tract is in revolt with the renal failure.  At least I could do some little thing to keep her comfortable in that respect.  I've also found that adding Tums made a big difference - understanding that calcium is a phosphorus binder.  I know her calcium is high anyway, but darned if you do - darned if you don't.  

I'm reconciled to losing Chica.  It's her dying process that's getting to me because it is so dreadfully unclear.  One day we're convinced it's Time, the next... it's not.  In the meantime, she gets thinner and weaker with every passing day.  At least I know she's a comfortable as I can possibly make her.  Today she actually wanted to go for a ride in the truck and had a great time barking at all the other dogs on the street.  Of course, she was completely knocked out when she got home, but she sure had a good ride.

We looked into Cerenia, but my vet doesn't even stock it because it's so prohibitively expensive.  I hate to admit it, but money is a big issue with me being disabled.  After discovering Chica's reglan toxicity issues with the oral meds, I've kept that dosage to a minimum.  We began injections a while back, and for whatever reason, she doesn't have the severe reaction to the sub-q reglan over the oral meds.  I can't understand why, since it's all metabolized in the kidneys, but can't argue with the good results.  My husband used to have to give himself allergy shots, so he's the shot administrator - and a fine job he does of it as well.  :-)