It’s Time: Making the Tough Decision to Let Your Dog Go

One of the most difficult things you will ever face in life is How and When to Deal With the Euthanasia of Your Dog. Keeping things in perspective is important to your own peace of mind, because you have to decide if euthanasia is now what is best for your sick, injured, old or dying dog.

Facing this decision simply means that you have tried everything possible in your efforts to make your dog feel better and be cured of his or her diseases, but nothing worked. And because of this, you want to end his pain and suffering by “putting him to sleep”. It is a one-shot activity and will not put your dog in pain; in fact, it will end all of his pain. But still the decision is never easy for any dog owner, and some would never want to do such a thing to their dog. However, there comes a time for owners to decide whether to have their pet euthanized as a selfless act of kindness to the dog, to set him free from the depths of suffering. In this article, we will help you make a decision whether you should have your dog euthanized or not.

How and When to Deal With the Euthanasia of Your Dog

First of all, you have to check your dog’s health status. Does your dog suffer from more problems than he can take? Does he have a condition in which after the treatment, your dog may only have a short time to live, survive or be healthy? Also, think about how much you have tried. Have you already tried many things for your dog and still no treatment worked for him? Lastly, check how your dog feels. In spite of it all, is he still suffering? Do you think your dog can still bear the suffering? Will you let him live while suffering, or will you just put him to sleep and end it?

Be sure to consult with your veterinarian when you make your decision. Is there ANY chance of the dog getting better, or are you just fighting a hopeless battle? Make your decision based on what is best for the dog. If you do decide on euthanasia, this is roughly what will take place at the vet’s:

• Though it may be really sad and hard for you to take the pain, rest assured that the vet knows and understands your pain of losing a dog.
• First, your dog is taken by the vet to an exclusive room for euthanasia. Owners may hold memorial services there by lighting up candles or some other ceremony.
• The vet tells you to choose a blanket to wrap around your dog for burial and/or cremation process afterwards, unless you are taking the dog back home with you.
• After this, the vet will inject a tranquilizer on your dog. This will calm his senses and make him drowsy.
• An overdose of anesthetic is injected last by your vet. This is where your dog is put to sleep slowly, but without pain or fear. Your dog dies after short time.

During the euthanasia, there may be some effects on your dog, but these do not make your dog feel pain or distress. Such effects could include blood dripping from the nose or mouth, extreme exhalation of the air that is left in the lungs, rolled back eyes, abdominal gurgling, and many others.

After your dog’s death, it’s okay to grieve for them. As a matter of fact, it is recommended. Reflect on the good and joyful times with your best friend. You may want to seek the comfort of your vet, dog owner friends and neighbors, or any person who can understand your situation.

If you are facing the decision of How and When to Deal With the Euthanasia of Your Dog, for the first time, it will be very difficult. Hopefully your dog will simply live a long, healthy life, and pass away peacefully in his sleep.