Dogs are extraordinary companions who know how to fill a person's life with joy and happiness. It can therefore be very difficult to deal with the death of your dog, whether it is natural causes or euthanasia. Knowing how to determine if your dog has ceased to live can help you process his death. Once you are satisfied that the dog is dead, learn how to cope with the loss and remember the good times you spent with your beloved life partner.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Recognizing the Signs that the Dog is Dead
Step 1. Check if his heart is still beating
At the time of death, the heart will stop beating. To check the heartbeat, place two fingers on the dog's chest, at heart level (near the elbow); or in the inner thigh, at the top, where a main artery passes.
- If there is no heartbeat, the dog is dead;
- If the dog has been euthanized, the vet will check the pulse after giving a massive dose of a drug that gradually slows the heartbeat until it stops altogether.
Step 2. Check for breathing
The dog may continue to breathe even after his heart has stopped. To check if he is breathing, place a small mirror near the dog's nostrils; if you breathe again, you will see a small halo of condensation form on the mirror. You can also put a handkerchief in front of your nose or mouth and see if it moves.
- If after several seconds you do not see any condensation on the mirror or you do not see the handkerchief move, it means that you are no longer breathing. Furthermore, if you know that the heart has stopped beating, it is certain that at this point the dog has stopped living.
- When he takes his last breath, he may pull his head back and straighten his legs.
Step 3. Look at his eyes
If he is dead, they will be open and will have a blank stare, as if he were looking into the void; the pupils will be dilated (large and black) and the dog will not blink if you touch the corner of the eye.
Step 4. Check for muscle contractions
The dog's body is crossed by an electrical activity that helps coordinate muscle movements. Even after the breathing and heartbeat have stopped, the leg muscles may contract for a while. It does not mean that it is still alive, but that there is still electrical activity in the muscles.
Eventually the electrical activity will also wear out and the dog's muscles will stop
Part 2 of 2: Coping with Your Dog's Death
Step 1. Contact your vet
If the dog has died in the house, call your vet to find out how to move. You will likely be very upset after realizing that your dog is dead and it will be difficult for you to think straight. Your vet can help you put your thoughts and emotions in order, so you can decide what to do next.
If your dog has been euthanized, you can talk to the vet in his office about how to dispose of the body
Step 2. Decide what to do with the body
Whether the dog died in the house or was euthanized by the vet, you can decide to bury him or have him cremated. There are professional services for both options. If you want, you can ask your vet for advice on such services.
- Be aware that burying an animal in private land may not be legal in your city due to public health concerns. Check the guidelines on this before doing so. If you can't bury the dog at home, you can do it in an animal cemetery.
- Cremation is a good way to store your dog's remains without putting public health at risk.
- If you don't want to cremate or bury it, you can entrust the body to professionals who deal with the removal of animal corpses.
Step 3. Find ways to remember your dog
It's perfectly normal to feel grief over the loss of a pet, but you can always try to think of your dog in a way that makes you smile and feel better. You can keep the memory alive in several ways:
- Remember the good times you spent together: games, walks, moments of tranquility;
- Create a commemorative item. For example, you can make a scrapbook or plant a tree or some flowers;
- Make a donation in memory of your dog. Ask your vet where you can make a donation or find out on the websites of the organizations that make a donation.
Step 4. Look for a support group
If you can't cope with the pain on your own, contact a support group for people who have lost pets. Several professional organizations sponsor support groups to help pet owners cope with their deaths. Your vet can help you find one.
