Euthanizing a dog is never an easy decision. If your pet is suffering from a painful and incurable disease, has suffered severe sudden injuries or has an illness due to old age, you may want to consider this option to stop it from suffering. A professional vet can help you make the right decision for your ailing friend, and if you come to the conclusion that euthanasia is a must, you can make the transition easier and relatively painless for your dog.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Make a Hard Decision
Step 1. Assess whether euthanasia is needed
In addition to the fact that the dog is probably suffering from an incurable or inoperable disease, you must also take into account the quality of his life. Talk to your vet about any concerns about his living conditions; in particular, you can evaluate the following factors:
- Complete loss of appetite, lack of desire or inability to eat
- Difficulty standing or walking: falls when trying to stand up or walk
- Difficulty in breathing, each breath is very heavy;
- Urinary or fecal incontinence;
- Chronic pain or inability to feel comfortable
- Chronic vomiting or diarrhea which can leave the animal dangerously dehydrated.
Step 2. Prepare to say goodbye
Before making your appointment for the procedure, you need to prepare yourself and your family to live without the presence of your beloved dog. Make sure you have photos of the animal, spend time with it stroking it, comforting it and offering it special treats.
Make sure that the children who have cared for the animal and who have loved it also join the process. You don't have to lie to them that the dog went to another house or ran away; instead explain the reason that led you to make that decision and describe the concept of death in a manner appropriate for their age. A perfect book for children is "When an Animal Dies" by Fred Rogers
Step 3. Decide how you want the procedure to happen
You need to decide if you want to stay with the dog until the end of his days. Only you can decide if you want to be present at euthanasia; some people want to do it, some people don't, it all depends on what's right for you and the pet.
- Most veterinarians and clinic staff agree that you are present and can explain how the procedure takes place; if you don't want to attend, he will understand your decision.
- When you call the clinic to make an appointment, you can ask the vet if he is available for a home procedure; alternatively, you may prefer to have everything happen at the clinic itself, to avoid having an unpleasant memory at home. In both cases, the process is similar.
Step 4. Determine how to take care of the body
You have to think about what to do once euthanasia is over; basically, you have to choose whether you want to have him cremated or not. You can also decide whether to take the ashes home or the body for a burial.
- Do you have a specific box or blanket to wrap your dog in? Alternatively, you can arrange for cremation with your vet, which comes at a higher cost.
- Do you have space in the garden in which to bury the animal? If it's winter, are you able to dig into the earth? Is the place you have chosen for his "grave" safe? You must contact the companies that manage household utilities to make sure there are no pipes or ducts in the land you own, so as not to risk damaging them with excavation.
Part 2 of 2: Proceed with Euthanasia
Step 1. Take your dog to the vet's office or set up a space at home if you decide that the procedure takes place at home
Pay all related costs upfront, as you won't want to handle financial affairs once your faithful friend has passed away. Try to stay calm for the love of the dog; he does not have to understand what is happening, so that he does not get scared in these last moments.
Step 2. Learn how euthanasia occurs
In most cases, a sedative is given intramuscularly, so that the animal can relax, as the lethal drug must be given into a vein, usually in a foreleg. Once it enters the vein, it slowly reaches the heart and stops its activity; it is usually a very quick procedure.
- Many vets apply a small catheter into the vein, while others use a simple needle or syringe filled with the drug for euthanasia.
- Typically, the vet will need an assistant to thong the dog and grab the paws firmly, but you can still stay close to your friend to pet and talk to him if you wish.
- Sometimes, when you have heart or circulatory problems, the mixture may take longer to take effect; the dog may take a deep breath or two.
- At this point, the doctor checks with the stethoscope and makes sure that the heart has stopped, before confirming the death of the animal, after which he can help you prepare the body for respectful disposal.
Step 3. Allow yourself to go through the stages of mourning
It is perfectly normal to grieve and grieve over the loss of your beloved playmate; it has given you companionship, fidelity and unconditional love that you have now painfully lost. Each person experiences suffering in a different way: some cry, others get angry, still others feel sad. Here are some tips for trying to overcome the loss:
- Organize a memorial space. It can be an area of the shelf to put a framed photo of the dog on, a special photo album, or you can plant a tree or bush in the garden in memory of him.
- Write your feelings in a journal.
- Ask a humanitarian organization or veterinarian if they know of a support group in the area made up of people who, like you, have lost their pet.
- Contact a friendly phone to speak to a consultant.
- But most of all, think about the happy moments you spent with your dog and enjoy these good memories.
