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Dog Owner's Manual › Chapter 7: Dog Growth & Development › A Dog's Final Days ›A Dog's Final Days
When compared to other consumer items, the service lifetime of a dog is quite impressive. Larger models can function for a decade, while compact units may approach twice that. But even though your dog will almost certainly outlast your car, television, and computer, its time with you may still seem startlingly, even heartbreakingly, brief. This is because while many people profess to "love" their car, television, or computer, with dogs they truly mean it. While canines can be programmed to do many useful things, their most important application is as a companion and friend. When the time approaches to part with that friend, owners may feel great trepidation. Yet this is also the time when they can render their greatest service to a loyal canine companion. No two situations are alike, but in most cases an elderly dog should be maintained for as long as it remains in relatively good health and free of severe, chronic pain. Though the animal may be a shadow of its former self, rest assured that this is more troubling to its human companions than to the animal. Nothing in the dog’s vast programming base corresponds to the human emotions of regret and painful nostalgia. In other words, an elderly dog does not fret over days gone by and days to come. It lives solely for the here and now. That fact is very important when considering how to handle a canine’s final days. In some cases an elderly dog will choose a time and place. But in situations where declining health incapacitates the dog or causes it to suffer, the owner must act on its behalf. When the pain and disability in a dog’s life seems to outweigh the pleasure, and when there is no reasonable hope of recovery, euthanasia should be considered. This procedure is painless and can be performed at the veterinarian’s office. At the appropriate time the dog receives an overdose of anesthetic that causes almost immediate unconsciousness, followed rapidly by death. Coping can be difficult. In some cases, the mourning period may be as long as that for the loss of a human. There is nothing unnatural about such feelings. National and local grief counseling groups are available to help bereaved dog owners through this period. Rest assured that, given enough time, the pain of loss will pass. It will be replaced by many happy memories, the warranty for which can never expire. Other Resources on This Topic
Get Well Soon Forum « Common Problems in Senior Dogs | Table of Contents | Intro: Selecting a Veterinarian for Your Dog » Chapter 7: Dog Growth & Development
Comments for This Page (4) | Post a Comment...This is pretty sick IMO...trying to keep the "humor" theme of this book in a section for the final days of a dog is tasteless. There should be a warning at the top of this page for those of use who see our dogs as something worth more than an appliance. The book wasn't authored by Dogster. The beautiful thing about words is what people choose to read as important to them and only take what they want out of it. I don't think the author believes animals are like cars otherwise their would be no value at all in what they have written. This is what I chose to take from the paragraph everyone is offended by: "When the time approaches to part with that friend, owners may feel great trepidation. Yet this is also the time when they can render their greatest service to a loyal canine companion." Doesn't seem to lack compassion. The book is written from a technical perspective. And yes there are people that compare animals to property which makes this paragraph ironic. Post a Comment for This Page
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The Dog Owner's Manual is a basic guide to dog care.
DO NOT COMPARE A DOG TO A CAR!!!! I absolutely abhor how this article compares a dog (a living, loving creature) to a car (an exhaust blowing, dust gathering inanimate object)! I am disgusted by this article. "Coping with the deactivation of a canine companion can be difficult." DEACTIVATION!!! You would think you were talking about a cell phone... not a dog! This article is incredibally insensitive... and incredibly offensive!!! How could Dogster place an article like this on it page? A dog does not simply "deactivate". The loss of a dog (or any pet for that manner) is incredibly difficult... and I for one do not appreciate the author of this article comparing my loss to the break down of a car!!! Please fellow Dogsters... post here and maybe they will take this horrible article down!!!