My Dog's 11-Year Nap: A Tough but Right Decision
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Editor's Summary
Deciding to put my 11-year-old dog to sleep was one of the toughest choices I've ever made. I'd had her since she was a puppy, and the thought of living without her was almost too much to bear. But as the years went by, I noticed she was struggling to get around and was in constant pain. It was clear that her quality of life had deteriorated significantly, and I knew it was time to make the difficult decision to end her suffering. It wasn't an easy choice, but I'm convinced it was the right one.", "pros": [ "The vet was kind and compassionate, and made the process as smooth as possible.", "The cost was reasonable, considering the care and compassion that came with it.", "I appreciated the time they took to explain the process and answer all my questions.", "The facility was clean and well-maintained, which gave me some peace of mind.", "I felt supported and cared for throughout the entire experience." ], "cons": [ "It was an incredibly difficult and emotional experience.", "I wish I could have done more to help her feel more comfortable.", "The process was still quite painful to watch, even with the vet's guidance.", "I felt guilty for making the decision, even though I knew it was necessary.", "It's taken me a while to come to terms with the loss, and I'm still feeling the effects." ], "faq": [ { "question": "How do I know when it's time to put my pet to sleep?", "answer": "It's a tough decision, but if your pet is in constant pain, struggling to get around, or showing significant signs of decline, it may be time to consider euthanasia." }, { "question": "What can I expect during the process?", "answer": "The vet will guide you through the process, which typically involves administering a sedative and then a painless injection to end your pet's life." }, { "question": "Will my pet feel any pain?", "answer": "No, the sedative and painkiller will ensure that your pet feels no pain or discomfort during the process." }, { "question": "How long does the process take?", "answer": "The entire process typically takes around 10-15 minutes, but this can vary depending on the individual circumstances." }, { "question": "What happens after the process?", "answer": "The vet will take care of your pet's body, and you can choose to have them cremated or buried." }, { "question": "Will I be able to say goodbye?", "answer": "Yes, you'll have the opportunity to say goodbye and spend some time with your pet before the process begins." ], "meta_title": "My Dog's 11-Year Nap: A Tough but Right Decision", "meta_description": "Deciding to put my 11-year-old dog to sleep was one of the toughest choices I've ever made. I'd had her since she was a puppy, and the thought of living without her was almost too much to bear.", "og_title": "My Dog's 11-Year Nap: A Tough but Right Decision", "og_description": "Deciding to put my 11-year-old dog to sleep was one of the toughest choices I've ever made. I'd had her since she was a puppy, and the thought of living without her was almost too much to bear.
Specifications
Hello friends and visitors, I'm writing this review for anyone who's considering whether removing a dog's teeth under general anesthesia is safe and worth it, especially at an advanced age.
I'm sharing our experience of tooth extraction, which is relevant now, as we're on the eve of the New Year 2026. The operation was performed on my dog, Zola, in the last days of the outgoing year.
After four hours of waiting, I learned a lot about dog teeth, which scared me at first. If you're interested too, here's a method for determining a dog's age without a passport and birthdate – by teeth.
Before we get started, I'll introduce the main character of the serious medical procedure – my older dog Zola. Her birthday is June 17, 2015, so she's almost 11 years old now.
I won't include any showpiece photos, as my dog is in a period where you shouldn't grab her by the muzzle. Instead, I'll describe everything with my imagination, scientific facts, and text. I was shown photos of the operation itself, so I have a good visual representation of what's going on inside.
I remember that in the puppy stage, her teeth were snow-white, and I even witnessed the stage of replacing milk teeth and growing permanent teeth in dogs.
Unfortunately, reasons such as age, food habits, protest against oral hygiene, and some of my mistakes in feeding at first led to the fact that her teeth accumulated tartar, which I couldn't clean properly with a manual scaler. My dog doesn't accept toothbrushes, and she only occasionally lets me give her special dental treats.
Looking back, my dog's teeth were in a pretty bad state about five years ago. At the time, I thought it was okay – the enamel was white, and the gums were dark – but it was already a sign of gum inflammation. The reason was food particles getting stuck under the gum line, and it wasn't just that one thing.
Unfortunately, the lovely brown creature on the left in the photo – that's Luntik – left me two years ago because of dental problems. The ombre effect was a result of my fear of general anesthesia, which masked the real issue. The dog was also an older age, but the teeth were in a terrible state after being in a shelter.
Preliminary Exams
Before the operation, the dog needs to undergo blood tests and an ultrasound of the heart. This is the blood draw before anesthesia – if there are any deviations, there's a question of whether to proceed and what the risks are.
When visiting the vet, you need to go specifically to a veterinarian – a dentist. However, just like everywhere else, one vet is not the same as another. This time, I was really happy with my choice of doctor – he immediately put me at ease and made me feel confident.
Choosing a Clinic
Having a qualified dentist-surgeon on board was a huge plus for me.The initial phone call and consultation already gave me an idea of what to expect.Of course, the prices weren't the lowest, but I prioritized quality over cost.I had to travel a bit to get there – I took the tritikko, which was a bit of a trek with my pup.I have to admit, the commute wasn't the easiest, but it wasn't a deal-breaker either. I mean, I didn't find a specialist near my place, and the ones I did find didn't quite meet my expectations.
By the way, prescription meds for pets are a whole different ball game nowadays. And let me tell you, even with a prescription, you might run into issues if the pet store staff decides to be uncooperative. Luckily, I managed to get the meds I needed from a reputable store with a prescription in hand.
10 days before the big day, we were on a course of Kladaks, which is essentially a canine version of amoxicillin. I'd rather splurge on a vet-prescribed med than risk my pup's health by opting for a human equivalent.
prescription medsPRE-OP PREPARATIONS
So, the analysis is done, and we got the green light. Why? Well, my pup's a bit of an oldie, and with chronic gum inflammation, there were concerns about heart risks. But we're good to go! Next up was a course of antibiotics (which one, I left up to the vet).
Before the op, I had to stick to a strict fasting diet, which meant:
No food for 4 hours leading up to the op.No liquids 2 hours prior.The last meal was a light, soft one (no kibble or meat!).They weighed my pup to calculate the anesthesia dosage, and then... the waiting game began. I was on edge, wondering if everything would go smoothly, how she'd feel afterwards, and whether she'd even be able to eat afterwards...
When I picked her up after the call, I couldn't wait to see her. The moment I saw her post-anesthesia, she was a bit wobbly, and her eyes looked... well, it was a bit of a blur. But finally, we were home! I was most relieved when she started coming around from the anesthesia, and of course, the success of the procedure was a huge weight off my mind.
get that canine back!POST-OPERATION CARE (FEEDING, CARE)
I was worried she wouldn't eat after the operation, especially since she hadn't had breakfast that morning and was stressed out from the anesthesia. But as soon as we got home, I made her a special pâté-like mixture with her favorite treats, and we've been feeding it to her in small amounts. NO DRY FOOD FOR NOW – only wet or softened food.
She's been eating slowly, but steadily, and we've already gone through about six packets (she even ate one in bed, and it was a total mess!). The main thing is that she's got her appetite back.
Her soft food diet is going to be a long-term thing, and her mouth is still pretty sore. Her gums are all stitched up (no open wounds, but all the stitches are in the gums and around the teeth), so we're not going to mess with it yet. No cleaning or trying to get rid of any stones – we'll just let it heal. And honestly, her mouth looks cleaner than it has in a long time.
The next morning, her swelling had gotten worse, and she was looking pretty miserable. She's been feeling down and doesn't understand why she's been to the vet, why she got poked and prodded, and why she's been sleeping in a crate. I'm worried about how much it hurts her, so I gave her the pain medication as prescribed, and we're doing another round of antibiotics. She's being a trooper, though – even growling at the little guy like usual.
our dog after tooth extraction (swelling)I'm on edge, and I'm not letting anyone near her – she's got her own personal security detail. Even in her sleep, I'm keeping a close eye on her. This is what's left for her to chew on (her dental chart).
our dental chartWHAT I WANT TO CONCLUDE WITH ALL THIS
First of all, dog teeth are like human teeth – they need regular care and attention. Not every dog is going to be willing to have their teeth cleaned, so my advice is to take care of your dog's teeth from an early age – give them the right food, clean their teeth regularly, and avoid giving them anything that can damage their teeth. It's worth it in the long run.
Getting my dog sedated wasn't a walk in the park, even at her age. But the real deal-breaker was the cost of the actual procedure. Don't skimp out – it's worth every penny. The sedation itself cost me around 3,000 bucks, and the rest of the bill was a significant amount. If your pup's teeth are giving you trouble, start saving up.
Personally, I'm glad I made the decision. It's painful now, but it was the right call to make. This isn't about aesthetics – it's about my dog's health, her heart, her blood, everything. I didn't need anyone convincing me; past experience had taught me the importance of acting fast. So, this procedure was painful, not a quick fix, not cheap, period, emotionally draining for the mom, and high-risk, but worth it if done right.
That being said, I'd definitely recommend it. We also got an ultrasound to clean out the remaining debris, but that's a whole other story. My biggest fear was that she wouldn't wake up after the sedation. So, even during the recovery process, I'm only 'for' what was done. Thanks again to our amazing Doctor.
Our next big procedure was sterilization.
Wishing all you furry friends a healthy and happy life!
