How to put dog down

Having to say goodbye is something every dog lover faces eventually. It’s the most difficult part of having a dog. It would be nice if they could be with us for decades, but sadly this is not the case.

In order to make it through the process of having your dog put to sleep, you need to begin preparing ahead of time. Here are the steps in the process.

When You Should Put Your Dog to Sleep

The one question that every pet owner faces after they’ve had to have their dog euthanized is, “Did I do it too early or was I too late?”When your dog’s health is declining, before you make the decision to euthanize, you need to determine your dog’s quality of life using the HHHHHMM Scale. Those letters stand for hurt, hunger, hydration, hygiene, happiness, mobility, and more (good days than bad). Each factor is scored on a scale of 0 to 10. This should be done separately by you and the veterinarian because it can be very easy to rate your pet higher on some points than a medical professional would.

According to some experts, focusing on the good days versus the bad is probably the most objective way a pet owner can make the decision. Make a list of things that your dog enjoys doing, then keep track of how many days they can’t do those things compared to how many days they can.

Although modern veterinary medicine can extend a dog’s life, this isn’t always what’s best for the dog. While she can’t necessarily tell you she’s suffering, she can show you that she isn’t having a good time anymore.

Prepare Yourself

Discuss the decision with your vet to euthanize and be sure to ask any questions you have, even if they seem trivial. Remember, you may have never gone through this before, but your vet has to frequently. It’s part of his or her job. You’ll need to discuss options for palliative care if you want to try to extend your dog’s life, as well as the costs involved. Most vets will be honest and won’t try to sell you on shooting your dog up with painkillers just to give him another month of low-quality life and get more money out of you. No matter how much you love your dog, your choices at this point should reflect what’s best for him, not what you can do to keep him alive for you.

Once you and the vet have agreed that euthanasia is the only right decision, it’s time to plan for the procedure and afterward. If at all possible, have them calculate the costs ahead of time and pay upfront — the staff at the clinic are only human, and they don’t want to hand you a bill right after your dog has been put to sleep any more than you want to deal with paying it.

What to Do With the Dog Remains

This is also the time to decide what should happen to your dog’s remains afterward. The options are mostly the same as with humans — burial or cremation. Organ donation for research or transplantation is also becoming a much more common option, as are less traditional methods.

Once the arrangements have been made, the final decision is the time and location of the procedure. Some people prefer (and many vets will perform) euthanasia at the owner’s home so the dog can be in familiar surroundings. There’s also the question of whether the vet recommends doing the procedure immediately or waiting a few days. If you have the option of waiting, take the opportunity to break out the steak and sweet treats and give your dog a farewell party by letting her do all those things you’ve never let her do before.

Finally, when you do schedule the procedure, ask your vet if you can make it the last appointment of the day — he or she will appreciate the gesture because neither one of you will feel like going back to work afterwards.

The Procedure

A good vet will let you spend as long as you want alone with your dog both before and after the procedure. One big question people have is whether they want to be there during the euthanasia. It isn’t absolutely necessary and a vet will never require it. There are valid arguments for and against being present, although the most commonly reported negative of not being there is a sense of regret for having abandoned the dog in her final moments. Many pet owners wouldn’t even think of not being there, but it really is a matter of personal preference with no right or wrong choice.

There are various steps in the process of euthanasia, although nowadays almost all dogs are euthanized by injection. What’s going on and why could be an entire article on its own. The short version, though, is that it is almost always a very peaceful process. There’s a reason that people use the euphemism “put to sleep” to describe it. Even so, if your vet didn’t make a house call, it’s a good idea to arrange for a friend to drive you and any other family members to and from the clinic.

What to Do After They Are Put to Sleep

The most important thing is to not immediately run out and rescue another dog, especially if you only had one. You won’t be in the right emotional state and will be bringing the dog into a place with weak, negative energy — and which still smells strongly of another dog. Give yourself the time and tools to go through the grieving process.If you don’t have other pets but think that you will adopt again eventually, donate your dog’s bedding, toys, bowls, leash, and so on to a shelter now. These will help with the grieving process by not being constant reminders, as well as allow you to start fresh if and when you adopt another dog. Many people do keep their dog’s collar and tags or a favorite toy, though, and these can be a nice memorial touch if you have your dog cremated and the ashes returned to you.

Everyone deals with grief in different ways, which you should keep in mind especially if there is more than one human in the household. Some people may seem to get over it quickly, while others may become depressed for weeks or months. A person may even feel like they’re long past the grief, and then a sudden reminder triggers the feelings of loss all over again.

The important thing is to not let the feelings of grief turn into anger or resentment toward each other, such as feeling that your partner isn’t sad enough or should have “snapped out of it” by now. If you have children, you’ll also have plenty to deal with in explaining your dog’s death to them.

Keep in mind also that the attitudes of people outside your pack about losing a pet are different and many of them, especially those without pets, don’t realize that the experience can be just as traumatic as losing a parent or child. If a friend or acquaintance doesn’t seem overly moved, don’t take it personally.

And remember that there are many pet loss support helplines available to call.

Although saying good-bye is the hardest part of our relationships with our dogs, we can console ourselves by remembering that by rescuing that dog we gave it a chance at a happy life in the first place — and left us with many pleasant memories. Once you’re done with the grieving and back in a positive place, the best tribute you can pay to a dog that’s passed is to give another dog a second chance.

Have you experienced having to euthanize a pet? What helped you to cope with the process? Let us know in the comments.

It can be hard to know when the time is right to humanely end your dog's pain and suffering and choose to put them down. The euthanasia of a beloved pet is a difficult and solemn time for everyone involved. However, it may be less of a strain if you have prepared in advance for the euthanasia process and you know what to expect.

Euthanasia is defined as the act of humanely ending the life of a living being in order to end extreme suffering (often as the result of a serious and irreversible medical condition). In animals, euthanasia is often called "putting to sleep" or "putting down."

Euthanasia in animals is intended to end life when a pet is suffering and there is little or no hope of recovery from illness or injury. As a pet owner, the decision of whether or not to euthanize can be a very difficult one to make. Your veterinarian will help guide you and your family through the decision-making process and help you keep the best interest of your pet in mind. Ultimately, the choice is yours. Your decision is the right one if it was made with your pet's best interest in mind.

Once you have made the difficult choice of euthanasia for your dog, it is important that you know what to expect before, during, and after your dog is put down.

First, decide if you would like to be present during the procedure. As hard as it may be to watch your pet pass away, remember that your presence will be a comfort in your pet's final moments. Also, decide if you would like any family members or friends to be present.

Talk to your veterinarian about your decision, and ask any questions that come to mind. If you want the euthanasia to take place at home, find out if that is an option. Your vet might be able to recommend a mobile vet if they don't do house calls.

Ask about the vet's process during the euthanasia. Be aware that there will likely be a consent form for you to sign before your vet can proceed.

Next, make a decision about aftercare and notify your vet. Many veterinary hospitals work with companies that can arrange for individual cremation (and, in some cases, burial). Some owners will opt for communal cremation (sometimes called group or mass cremation). In most cases, the cremation/burial company can pick up your dog's remains directly from the hospital.

Alternatively, you may wish to bring your dog's remains home so you can handle aftercare on your own.

Try to settle up the bill in advance. The last thing you will want is a tearful wait in the lobby to pay your bill after your pet is gone.

Most importantly, take the time to say goodbye. Talk to your dog, touch your pet, and express your love however you can. You and your dog will find comfort in this.

In dogs and cats, euthanasia usually involves the intravenous injection of pharmaceutical agents that will quickly stop the heart. In most cases, this solution is predominantly made up of pentobarbital, though some euthanasia solutions also contain phenytoin. The most effective way to administer the solution is through a vein. Injection into a body cavity will often work, but not as quickly.

Your vet may prefer to have an intravenous catheter placed in your dog. This will allow easier access to the vein and make the injection process quick and painless for your dog. It may also help to decrease the chance of complications.

Your vet might administer a sedative to your dog prior to administering the actual euthanasia solution. This will allow your pet to be extremely relaxed and sleepy before the next step.

Finally, the euthanasia solution is injected into your pet's vein, where it rapidly travels throughout the body. Within seconds, your dog will become unconscious, experiencing no pain or suffering. Breathing will slow down and then stop over the next several seconds. Cardiac arrest will soon follow, resulting in death. Typically, a peaceful death occurs within 30 seconds of intravenous administration.

Once the solution has been administered, your vet will listen to your dog's heart to confirm the death. Your vet will let you know that your dog has passed on. At this time, your vet will probably step out of the room to give you a few moments alone with your dog.

This is an emotional time, and the veterinary staff will provide plenty of tissues and privacy. You are in a safe environment where everyone understands what you are going through. Stay as short or as long as you are comfortable. If you have already made aftercare and payment arrangements, you can simply slip out when you are ready.

Be aware that your dog's body may release urine, feces, and possibly other bodily fluids upon death. This occurs due to the relaxation of all muscles. Know that your dog's eyes will remain open. Sometimes, there are muscle spasms or sounds as the air and energy leave your dog's body. This does not mean your dog is still alive; it is simply part of the process that occurs after death.

Now the process of grieving will begin. Grief is different for everyone, and there is no right or wrong way to do it. Remember the good times you had with your dog, and know that your pet would thank you for relieving its suffering.

Consider doing something special to memorialize your unique and much-loved companion. One idea is to make a clay or ink paw print and frame it next to a photo of your dog. You may wish to plant a tree or other plant in memory of your dog. Another therapeutic exercise during grief is to write about it. A poem, story, or written tribute can help you say goodbye to your beloved dog in words.

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