Euthanizing a dog at home

[Royk]

The sad day has come. I was hoping she'd go naturally, frolicking outside, from the sudden heart failure Dobermans are noted for, but that didn't happen. To make a long story short, she really has no quality of life anymore. Our vet doesn't do at home euthanasia, and we don't know if we can find another vet in our area that does. I've tried finding humane alternatives via Google, but all I keep getting is "What to expect" type stories about when you take your pet to the vet. I don't want her going down scared to death on some stainless steel table at the vet (she's so afraid of the vet, I can't believe she hasn't had a heart attack right there. She shakes like she's having a siezure when we're there. ). I don't want her to have any idea what is going on.



The only home-grown method I've seen mentioned was basically a carbon dioxide tent (an approved veterinary method, but vets don't believe it should be performed by the pet owner ). That seems like the most peaceful way to go. She always sleeps under a blanket anyway; I could put an airtight container over her after she's asleep, she'll use up the oxygen while she sleeps and never know what happened. On the other hand, we'd like to maybe be with her, petting her. We also have a ton of tramadol pain killers prescribed for her. We once gave her one of those at breakfast as usual, and then a "doggie downer" pill (Acepromazine) later to relax her for our 10-12 hour drive to Maine for vacation. She was so out of it I was wondering if she was going to die on the way. She could barely even stand up at poop stops. A bunch of those crushed up in a nice hamburger or other final meal should do it, I would think. Does anyone have any experience with doing this type of thing at home?



Pictures below show her mothering a kitten, being a "lap dog", and standing still for a split second. In two weeks she'll be 12 years old, ancient for a Dobie. She was around for the birth of my son, who subsequently did all the things a toddler does to dogs. She loved every brutal minute of it.

 

[AHarris]

Our sympathies and prayers

My wife and I had a 14 year old miniature Schnauzer we had to put down due to liver failure. We decided to go to the vet and had it done there. We came to the conclusion it would be much easier for Misty that way then with anything we could do at home. Plus, we just didn't have the guts to do it. It was a quick painless shot but was probably one the hardest days of our lives.



She looks like she was a beautiful creature and a faithful companion. My prayers are with you.

 

[Spooled-up]

My thoughts are with you. I have nightmares about this and my dog Diesel. I'd keep looking for a vet somewhere that might be willing to help out.

 

[TRLRTRSH]

Royk, Our thoughts are with you, folks who don't have pets just don't realize how attached we get with our animals.

Our first Rottie was put down at home in his backyard by our Vet. The Vet came to the house as her last appointment for the day. That is the best way really. I'm suprised your Vet will not take the little time required to do that. I will admit I cried like a baby as he went peacefully to sleep in my arms. :{:{



Bill

 

[NPloysa]

My thoughts are with you also. I've had many pets and have a dog now. I hate to think about it and am sorry you have to go through with it.

 

[kenny61]

I'm sorry and I would try every vet in the phonebook. If you were in NY I could point you in the right direction

 

[MFalkinham]

We just lost our 7-year-old Great Dane this summer. She had a massive heart attack while she was laying on the floor. It happened right in front of me, and she didn't suffer except for emitting a sudden yelp and stiffening up. Thankfully our kids weren't home, and my wife helped me bury her in the back yard before they returned. Needless to say burying a 150# dog in a hurry wasn't the way I wanted to do it, but I'm glad I was home when she passed. Otherwise we would have always wondered what happened, and if she suffered much.

Our previous dog we had to put down at the vet after he got very sick. That was worse because we had to make a decision to end it. With our Great Dane the decision was God's, not ours.

Best wishes with your dog's health crisis, Royk. Just don't let her suffer too long waiting for nature to end it or finding another way. Sometimes the vet route is the best way despite how horrible it is at the time. Maybe your vet could prescribe a sedative to help put your dog at ease while you take her there for the last time. She's a beautiful animal, and you have my sympathies.

 

[mberry]

Our family vet while I was growing up was a large animal vet. He took care of our horses, cow(s), dogs, and cats. He took care of all of them at our house except for the puppies. Maybe that is an option for you? Sorry about your friend.

 

[Jengle]

Sorry to hear about your family member. I lost my 13yo Springer to lymphoma. I found a vet that would do it at home, and she went peacefully in my arms, on her favorite spot on the sofa. You should be able to find a vet somewhere that will do a house call. If not, maybe they will do it in the car, at least its not in the cold office. Hardest decision I ever had to make. I know what you're going through. God bless you and your family.

 

[p-Bar]

How about the back seat of your truck and have the vet come out and do it in the parking lot. I feel for you.

 

[Larry Willard]

What a beautiful dog! Reminds me of ours, thought he should be able to sit on your lap, found and adopted the cat we have now in the fence row behind the house. When the time came 13 ago we took ours to the vet, along with his blanket. Ours loved the vet though.

I am sorry to hear you have to put her down.



Larry

 

[ROADWARRIOR]

I had a male dobe I had to put down a few years back. He was my only dog to this point; he was spoiled to say the least. lol When the time came, I called the vet and he came to my house. It was the toughest call I've had to make to date and I felt a terrible sense of grief. My wife wants to get a dog someday, but I'm in no hurry to go through that again.



I'd try to find another vet.



With sympathy,

Dan

 

[Alphacowboy]

You will probably have to call a large animal vet, as they do house calls. Man, there is a Ad that I hear all the time on the radio here for a company that this is all they do, and I cant for the life of me remember the name. If I remember it, I will post up thier info for ya. They are here in Minnesota, but I bet they could get you in touch with someone locally for ya.



I remember the day my dad had to put down two of our dogs. An old lab and springer, had he went the way of using a fire arm... My dad figured it would be easy enough, being a hunter and all, but my dad was not right for weeks. He said he would NEVER do that again, well at least with a dog. :-laf He has shot a few barn cats, but they are not close like the house animals.



God bless, and be with you in your time of need.

 

[MN Cummins Lvr]

My thoughts are with you. She is a gorgeous dog. Please keep us posted. Take care.



Paul

 

[Royk]

The day before yesterday, my wife and I exhausted the phone book. Nobody would come. There was a glimmer of hope when one of them said they "usually" don't. Then the receptionist had the gall to ask if we were regular customers there, otherwise they wouldn't do it. I guess the almighty buck rules over compassion at that vet. I was at work and I finally told my wife to go find our neighbor who boards horses and ask him who his vet is, and maybe he did small animals too. We lucked out that he would do it and was going to be over in the next valley the next day (yesterday). He said he'd be over sometime mid morning. I went home that day and pulled the mower of my tractor and put on the front loader and backhoe. Then I dug the most carefully dug hole ever. I jumped into the hole when I was done and picked out the big stones and laid a bed of nice soft grass hay in the bottom. That's when I lost it.



I left work at 9am yesterday and went home to find my wife laying on the living room floor with my dog Nikki, sniffling and petting the dog. She got up and I took her place. She had given the dog a tranquilizer that we used in the past for long trips (ever hear of a dog that hated riding in the car?). She was very mellow, but was aware of everything. She would lift her head to give me occasional kisses.



The vet called to say he was on his way and ask for directions. It was a beautiful, sunny day so we moved Nikki out into the front lawn where she used to roll around in better times. We waited for the vet with her head in my lap as both of us were petting her. The vet arrived about 15 minutes later and you know the rest.



Once we were able to talk, my wife and I agreed this was the best way for her to go and I'll never bring another pet to the office if I can get it done at home.



Then it was time to bury her (with her "indestructible" Kong ball and her blanket), and that was the hardest part.



Man that was hard to write. Thanks to all for your sympathy.





Roy

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Wow. Sir I commend your steadfast direction of a compassionate decision. You see I can never get another dog. When I think back as a child I was *Protected* from the harsh realities of life by my parents. I have had German Shepards, Huskies and of course Labs. When one was "Missing" I was told things like they had moved to dog town to be with their parents kinda thing.



As I got older my last "Pal" which was my Husky was put down due to accelerated artritic spinal displaysia and that planted a seed in the back of my head that from that moment on I could not loose anothe buddy like that. Recently I really entertained the thought of getting a dog again. . . . I just cannot do it as I am just way too easily attached to just about everything. I truly am sorry for your loss.

 

[TRLRTRSH]

Roy, God bless both you and your wife for being wonderful "owners". Our current Rottie just turned 10 years old. He's an old man for Rotties and I'm not looking forward for what you and your wife just went throught.

On the good side you can always look back and see all the good times you had with your "four pawed friend"



Bill

 

[DEickhoff]

Royk--I am so sorry for your loss. I know exactly what you are going through. I too made that painful decision last October with my lab. My heart goes out to you and my prayers are with you and your family. She will be waiting for you at the Rainbow bridge.

 

[crobertson1]

I'm so sorry. We too, have recently gone through this with two dogs who were part of our family for a long time. Our Shi-Tzu was about 16 and our black lab was about 15. Our sons knew them all their lives. It's hard to explain how important and loved they are to those who don't have them.

 

[Motorhead]

You and your wife are people with true compassion for your dog. We have owned 3 Dobies and all of them were characters. My wifes dobie, Cori, was a real "squirell" in the car. You darn near had to literally knock her out to take her on a trip.
ALL were hard to put down!
Here is a short story about my dobie, BUD.
I rescued him from the county animal shelter. He was a very handsome older black and tan male. He had the long cut on his ears and wore them proud. This dog absolutly LOVED small kids! I NEVER worried about him. He was Godzilla at the front door but as soon as you opened the dooor and greeted the person, He was a perfect pain in the but to leave the person alone.
As I said, He was about 5-6 years old when I got him. We had him for 4 short years and I had to put him down. I had him creamated and scattered his ashes in my wifes rose garden where he would lay and break off her roses!

About 6 monthe after we had put him down, I had this VIVID dream just before I woke up for the day. I saw BUD and talked to him, scratched his shinny black coat and said to him, "Your dead now boy, It's time to go".
I then woke up and told my wife about my dream. She started to cry. I asked her "What's wrong?" She said "I had the same dream".

Neither of us had talked about him for weeks before we both had the dream.

This happened about 27 years ago..... I still choke up about that dream.

Dobies are great dogs. My sympathies to you both. Chris