Not to be insensative but, 'round these parts we take the ailing pet, a shovel, an axe and a rifle and we go for a hike.
The last dog that croaked on me was a beautiful 18 month old shepard. I took her to get her fixed and after the surgery they couldn't stop the internal bleeding - after going in 3 times. Some mumbo-jumbo about genetic defects. I still wonder.
Anyway, I was not a happy camper and was ready to tear the vet a new one but then I saw her crying over the body of my pet. Crying women get me every time.