Did we do the right thing for our suffering dog?

Q AS advised by my vet, I recently made the decision to have my dog put to sleep. At 10 years old he was suffering from heart failure and had not responded to treatment. Did I do the right thing? A MAKING the decision to put a dog to sleep is very difficult. Leave it too long and you feel guilty or, as in your case, wondering whether you did the right thing too soon.

I can assure you that it was the right thing to do.

Your vet, having tried to treat the heart failure and not succeeded, would not have advised putting the dog to sleep otherwise.

I have come across this dilemma many times during my career and several times with my own pets.

It is perfectly natural to feel very sad but, as I have always said to owners in this situation, you should not feel guilty.

Preventing suffering at the end of a pet’s life is a vital part of responsible care.

Animal welfare would greatly benefit if every pet owner were as responsible as you. You also ask in your letter if I would advise you getting a rescue dog. I think in due course you could consider it. But make sure that you take enough time to fully consider your circumstances. Would you be able to exercise a young dog? Can you rely on family to help? If not, an older rescue dog might be more suitable. David Grant MBE was a vet at the RSPCA Harmsworth Hospital for Animals. Write to him at Express Yourself, 10 Lower Thames St, London EC3R 6EN. He is unable to enter into individual correspondence.