Replies on Playing Fast and Loose with Euthanasia

I agree ...I am very troubled by the fact that so many dogs getting cancer. I saw that hemangiosarcoma can be caused by arsenic and I wonder if there is arsenic in the food we are feeding our beloved pets. I have read where arsenic is in rice and pet food products very often contain rice. My dog, Abby, got colitis in March 2014, prior to his decline and finally his cancer diagnosis in late August. He had been treated with antibiotics for the colitis and in retrospect I now believe those antibiotics may have spurred the growth of what may have been a slow growing cancer as I have read that hemangiosarcoma can remain relatively dormant and then start a rapid growth. Let me also add that I take euthanasia very seriously - several times the topic came up during the 4 months leading to that fateful decision on Dec. 25th. I would never euthanize unless I felt it was absolutely necessary for my dog...I am truly going through a grieving process as I look back and wish that I had cared for my dog differently in a way that would have prevented this outcome. My dog was showing signs of stress in his last few years...I think it was the cumulative outcome of conventional pet care - not enough exercise - a less than optimal diet.

Hello Elle!
Just my thoughts on amputation of Bella's leg. She was extremely healthy and so very active. Leaving that leg on her would have created her to become unhealthy and with no activity. Remember it is quality of life for them. Why leave her miserable with a painful cancer growth in her joint when removing it took away the pain, the gimp, the swollen balloon that developed and then allowed her to be with us another year and a half. Yes, I too thought it was barbaric, but what alternative did I have. What I felt was more barbaric was letting that cancer fester within that joint and then watching her eat at her leg as I found her doing to her remaining leg that developed cancer, on the day I had to decide it was "time". She received no chemo with the removal of the first leg and she continued on with all her supplements, however we added bosweilla to her regimen that she was never on. Painkillers were never needed until it moved into her remaining leg. Yes, she received them for the first week after surgery, but that was it. You would have never known she was on three legs. Most times, animals are stronger than humans as I watched in both my loved ones that have passed on. I suppose we are all different in what each of us can handle. We all have different opinions on how matters should be handled and until faced with each of our circumstances you mustn't judge the decisions others still have to make and have made. Bella had a great life after that leg was removed. I hope anyone reading this understands, if faced with a bone cancer issue, that if the loved one is of good health, they can adapt and move on with life without that limb. God Bless! RJ