My 17 year old Min Pin, Kizzy, is starting to show signs that her final days with us are approaching. She is blind and deaf, but has handled this like a trooper. Within the past week, I have noticed that her interest in food is declining, loose tarry stools at times, and loss of overall body mass.

My dilemma is, Kizzy, is traumatized when going to the vet, has always been, and I would like to avoid this situation for her last moments. My vet will come to the house to PTS, but I worry about the other dogs. Do I make them part of it,or remove them?

I usually have the vet come to the house for barn calls, but this will be the first call to have an animal PTS. My youngest Min Pin, Sammi, is so sensitive when the other animals are sick, she is like a nurse maid, and won't leave their side. I am the most concerned about her.

I'm not real great at finding and linking to old threads but there is a thread about this when CJ had the same situation. I am sure someone will be able to link to it for you when they see this.

Sorry to hear, Ellen. I know and love a pair of MinPins, they are really neat dogs.

My guess (pure guess) is that the other dogs might be traumatized if Kizzy is PTS in their presence.

I am very sorry Ellen. I tried to find the post that CJ wrote when she was losing her beloved Edward, but I could not find it.
Here is one that might help:
http://leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/305811/page/0/fpart/1

I think it is an excellent idea to have your vet come to your house as it would be much better for Kizzy.

To the contrary, I believe that letting the other dogs view and sniff the body is helpful to them, and allows them to see and know when that time comes and what has happened.
I don't think it will traumatize them rather allow them to accept what has happened.

Just know that giving Kizzy the comfort and peace to pass on at home will be a very loving thing to do. It is the hardest thing we do as animal owners and lovers, but so very important.
I am sorry you are having to go through this. My heart goes out to you.

Ellen, here is CJ's wonderful thread about her dog Edward...I hope it helps you...
http://leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/263865/page/0/fpart/1

 Quote: Juliana McCabe

I'm not real great at finding and linking to old threads but there is a thread about this when CJ had the same situation. I am sure someone will be able to link to it for you when they see this.

Found it!

http://leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/263758/page/176#Post263758

CJ got alot of really great advice in this thread.

im going to bookmark it from now on.

Thanks so much everyone for your kindness. The link was incredible. I also feel they should at least be able to see the body, so they won't wonder where she went.
We are planning to cremate her. I will be calling my vet to talk about arrangements this week.
I hate making this decision! I cannot believe it has been seventeen years. I can still remember the little 8 week old cutie we brought home. Even though we named her Kizzy, I always called her my little Coo Coo Bird.
I will keep you all updated

Hi Ellen:

My heart goes out to you.

Knowing that my remaining dogs know what happened to their friend and allowing them to take an active role in saying “Good Bye” to one of their most cherished pack members, is a constant source of comfort for me. Comfort in the way that I’ve never had to think about their confusion or make any human attempts at trying to “explain it to them”. They were there and know that their friend had no further life in his body and would no longer be a part of their world.

His absence was felt by all and I can tell the memories are still there. There was a noise his breathing made and every once in a while we hear a dog making this same noise - the boys will all stop and stare, compassionately – ears forward, heads cocking, tails slowly wagging low. They know this sound. It’s a split second, a moment in time that I know their big buddy is being thought of. There are quite a few reminders – he lives in each of us every day and will never be forgotten.

Garrett, my husky, shared almost 9 of his years with him. They were the best of buddies. It was tough on him for the first few months. I thought he was going downhill because of his illness and the medication but I realize now it was a type of depression. He has since rebounded and is back to his normal, mischievous husky self.

I can’t tell you how much preparing for the day does.

What is that morning going to look like, what are you going to spend your final hours doing. Crying can come afterwards but the days’ “celebrations” should be activities she’s comfortable with. Where does she enjoy going, what are you going to feed her.

Know exactly where you’re other dogs are going to be through the process so you can give all your strength, love and attention to your little Coo Coo Bird. Have the payment arranged ahead of time so you’re not having to think about it. Know where you’re going to place her for viewing by the other dogs. Give them as long as they need, it’s not very long. Remove yourself from the situation.

It was an extremely painful, emotional day for my family but it was also one of the most peaceful, serene days I’ve ever experienced. Preparing made it so.

Again, my heart goes out to you. It’s one of the final responsibilities, we as their leaders must do for our best friends. Not an easy obligation, but a gift, I’ve learned, that truly has meaning in the giving.

Ellen,

I'm so very sorry. It is truly the hardest decision I've ever had to make and I've had to do it 4 times in the last 5 years (2 dogs, 2 cats). The comfort I have is knowing I did the best thing for all of them.

After making this decision for my last dog, my springer, Joshie, I questioned myself for days if not weeks. The gentleman who has been my best friend for some 25+ years said to me "I've known you for too long....you would never do anything to hurt Joshie. You made your decision with your heart and it was the right decision. Don't ever question that you did the right thing". Those words have carried me a long way - especially when I have what I call "bad Joshie days" where I still miss him tremendously even though it's been almost 5 years.

Please keep these words with you.....

My heart goes out to you.

Dana

I am so sorry you have to go through this, it kind of hits a nerve with me because on Valentines day will be one year from when my beautiful Koddie was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma of the spleen and I lost him a short six weeks later.

I was so afraid of having to make that decision, even though when I was an ACO I had had to make that decision for severely injured animals, I just wasn't ready to lose my Koddie. I actually had a dream which helped me make the decision. i initially planned to have Koddie laid to rest at home, but unfortunately he took a turn for the worse suddenly and I had him PTS in the back seat of my car, I didn't bring him into the vets office becaue I knew it would stress him out and that ended up being the best decision because I was able to let him go on my terms, with just him and me.
Animals definitely mourn and they definitely know when someone has passed, and with euthanasia they seem to know what is happening, my suggstion would be to keep them away while the vet injects then let them sniff and whatever after. My reasoning for this is that they may associate the vet with the death of their friend and be fearful when visiting the vet. I had a wake for my Koddie after he passed and his friends human and animal came and paid their last respects.It helped me in the mourning process but even still almost a year later I still miss him. for something that comes in such a small package they sure do rip a big hole in your heart.