So sorry to hear that Julien...

The vet is the best option. 

Doing it yourself, with a beloved pet, will be very hard to do.  For goodness sakes don't use 12ga buckshot or a .40....that's something you would not want to see or remember.  A .22 short or LR is more than sufficient and was the way it was done in the old days.  

 It is good to consider the local animal laws as well. You could end up in more trouble than it's worth in some jurisdictions for discharging a firearm and animal cruelty.... believe it or not.... for putting your dog out of it's pain with a gun. 

Many times a dog which would be terrified of the vet, will not be so frightened when it is distracted by the pain it is suffering. 


Always a hard decision to make. So far, all of my family pets have died peacefully in their sleep. 

Truly sorry to hear you are losing a true friend.  Try and get a vet to call round it will be easier on your friend, you and your family.

Thinking of you and lending you some strength Julian.

Your vet will gladly provide you with some tranquilizers beforehand.  So sorry, ol pal.

Thank you everyone for the kind and understanding words.

Actually, my wife decided it for me, she told me this morning that I was not to do it myself but to take her (the dog) to the vet because she didn't want to think about it, it troubled her.

BUT....

This morning, she got out of the doghouse, walked around, laid in the sun a bit, got back in the house, then a couple of hours ago I saw her get back out and go find some shade to lay in. I took her a little bowl of dry cat food. She likes it because it is small. So... I guess she is better. I don't know why she couldn't get up yesterday, perhaps she was sliding in the cedar shavings, she had a bare spot where she had been laying and I've had a 100w bulb in a clip on spot in the house because of the cold. She had been struggling to get up right under the light and I think she got overheated and it sapped all her strength yesterday. I turned the light off because it has been warmer and like I said, she seems better... now if I can get her to eat again.
I've been feeding her cheddar cheese chunks, cut up smoked sausage, and pepperoni for the last few months. She wont eat much else except pizza or fried chicken, she wont even eat steak... very picky.
I still think the end is near and I am not going to prolong it like I did with Brownie, her pup who died last year. I kept him going longer than I should have but she still has her sense, to find the sun, shade, eat what she likes, and I don't hear her whining except yesterday.

I am going to go ahead and get a hole dug and line it and the backfill dirt with a sheet of plastic, then when the time comes, I'll be ready and take her to the vet or arrange for one to come here.

I know, you are right about people getting upset about a gunshot or about me taking responsibility. I don't like it much. I shoot my .22 here sometimes if the squirrel population gets too high, but since we got this Manx cat.. that does not seem to be a problem. Heck, 20 years ago we lived a couple of miles from here in a country subdivision, one road, our house at the end... woods beyond it and a pasture behind the house. I regularly shot dove in the evening when they would fly over the house going into the woods to roost. They were yummy! I'd shoot and eat squirrel but my wife isn't interested.

I swear, I have a hard time with society these days.

Shoot... I didn't mean to say so much.

Thanks again. I will let you know what happens. I was really surprised that she recovered her ability to get up... but I am glad I have a little more time.

Julien

I'm glad you were given some extra time.  You have my sincere and heartfelt condolences.  It is very hard to say goodbye like that.  You obviously do want to minimize her suffering. 

I agree with the others here who recommended using the vet to ease her passing.  I have had to put down pets before and it is a sad, sad thing.  I have also made the decision to end the suffering sooner rather than later if the end was immanent and inevitable.  I hope you find some peace here.

well Julien, perhaps she ingested something bad around there, not poison, but something that got her sick. I had some scares with my dog(the one in my avatar), found her lethargic in the yard and rushed her to the vet, he couldnt find anything wrong with her but gave her meds and a checkup.

Since you were going to the vet, have you considered bringing her for a diagnosis? 

Many times a dog which would be terrified of the vet, will not be so frightened when it is distracted by the pain it is suffering.

 


That's what I found with Ralf (still my avatar after all these years.) I don't know that he was in pain so much as he was weak, but either way he didn't seem anxious or frightened, and usually he trembled whenever he went to the vet.


There's no way around it; it's a horrible thing to have to do. You can only trust that you're doing the best thing for your beloved pet, but I know that doesn't really make it any easier.


Julien, I'm glad to hear you and your dog have some extra time together. I agree with the others who've said it's best to leave it to the vet where there's a controlled environment and outcome when the time does come. I know both times I've had to put my dogs down I had to ask "Is it over?" since it happened so quickly. Any good vet knows how hard it is on the family, too, and tries to make the experience as non-traumatic as possible for the pet and their humans alike.


It's a hard thing to go through, that's for sure.


-Susan

For what it's worth, I've found several vets in my area that are willing to make house calls for this purpose, even though our regular vet will not.  If it were up to me (and not my wife) I would make one of these vets the regular vet.  The fact that they are willing to do this is a tribute to their thoughtfulness.
 
You might want to check around a bit.  The extra money it would cost isn't all that much and would things easier for both you and your pet.  Good luck.  This is never easy.

Since you were going to the vet, have you considered bringing her for a diagnosis?

 
No.
 
She is old. She has not eaten much in a while, in fact she wont eat at all unless she really likes the food. Her nose has been dry for a month or so, her breath is really foul, she has the hip problem that dogs get where she ends up in an odd squatting position if she stands in place for a minute or two. She is just OLD and her time is near. I know it wont be long but I'll give her until I feel she is in pain or really not motivated to live anymore.
I've lost a lot of pets over the years, this wont be the worst by any means. We gave her a good home and she had a good life but really she has never been an endearing dog. She has always been standoffish but I never had to worry about anyone (or their cat) coming into the backyard uninvited, lol. I am tired of being a dog chef though, every day having to try to fix something she will eat... gets old. She got leftover pepperoni pizza today, that is one of the few things she will usually eat.
 
Thanks for the idea though!
 
 
@ Susan... thanks!
 
@dmbaer We found one here and I may do that. Thanks.
 
Julien