What should I expect when our family dog is put to sleep?

[Hugeroar]

Tonight my family dog will be put to sleep :( he has been poorly for a while and my parents have made the decision that tonight we will say goodbye as it’s cruel to keep him alive and suffering. I know this is morally the right thing to do, but he has been in our family for 14 years and I’m heartbroken. The vet is going to my parents house at 6pm so I will go round beforehand - my husband can’t come with me as we have two young children.

I’ve never experienced losing a pet before and never seen an animal be put to sleep :( for those that have lost a pet or had a beloved pet put to sleep, what should I expect? I need to be prepared :(

For my cat they
let me cuddle him as long as I wanted then took him away to shave leg and put a small cannula in
brought him back, put him in my lap and asked if I was ready. They gave the drugs and he just… stopped
they talked to me about ashes, paw prints etc

I'm so sorry to hear this, you must be in bits. Losing a family member (as pets are family) is never easy. If you can, please stay with your dog until the end. 💔

I've only experienced cats being put to sleep, so I'm not sure if same happens for a dog, but what normally happens is the vet will give the pet some sort of sedative that makes them sleepy. They put in an IV cannula, usually in the leg, then give them the injection of anaesthesia (it's basically an overdose) which makes them lose consciousness and then stops their heart after a short time, possibly a few seconds to a minute. The pet may involuntarily twitch, make a noise or gasp. I think sometimes they may soiI themselves? Although I've not experienced this when my 3 cats were PTS.
I noticed that my cats eyes became very dilated when she was first sedated. But in general it's a peaceful process and they just stop breathing. Sometimes their eyes don't close though which can be quite upsetting.

Apologies if I've got any of this wrong but I think that's basically what happens.
Your vet can help if you decide that you want to your pet cremated or of course you can bury them yourselves.

I think being at home with family will be the best stressful situation for your dog.

It's an awful thing to go through even if it is for the best in the long run. As most vets say; "Better a day too early than a day too late". X

A good vet should explain everything beforehand. But generally the vet will give the dog a sedative and then when really sleepy will shave a leg and insert a canula. When you are ready they will administer the final drug. Generally this is very calm and the dog will pass very quickly. The vet will then check there is no heartbeat and you can say your final goodbye. Hope this helps

Sorry you’re going through this 🥺
When the vet comes to the house they’ll probably shave a small patch above his paw, that’s where the needle goes.
The vets are respectful, and it’s all very gentle they just drop off to sleep more or less in seconds, then the vet will check there’s no heartbeat.
If you’re having him cremated they’ll probably take him when they leave otherwise they’ll leave him.
It’s really very peaceful, again I’m sorry you’re going through this 🌺

We had our beloved Goldie PTS last year. It was in the garden in the sunshine which made it easier. She was already sleepy so didn't need sedation or a canula. She was given an overdose of anesthetic and her heart stopped very quickly so make sure you are ready. The vets wrapped her in a favourite blanket and took her back to the surgery. From there she was collected by a local pet Cremation service and the ashes were delivered back to the vets with pawprints and locks of fur.

When our dog was put to sleep, emergency vet so no time to prepare, they let us all have a last cuddle by ourselves, I then cuddled him as they injected him and he just slipped way. It was all very sensitively done. We were warned about twitches etc but we didn’t have that with our dog. They clipped some of his fur for us and gave details of crematorium if we wanted. We left him at the vets after our last cuddle. He was collected from to the crematorium and then we collected ashes and paw print a few days later from regular vets, who again were very sensitive.

Be prepared for tears and huge sense of loss. Sitting here crying my eyes out just typing this and we lost our dog 2 years ago.

I am so sorry you are going through this. There is always a pet shaped hole after they have gone 💐

The vets were lovely by the way, I found it difficult to control myself and was weeping and wailing. They were so kind. Our girl was also 14

As PP, its a peaceful thing. I was very upset and afterwards wondered if I should have said my goodbyes before my DH took him to the vet. Although in itself not a stressful procedure, I dwelt on it for a long time. So sorry you are having this experience, its miserable. 💐

I was a bloody mess and seeing my son saying goodbye to his best friend broke me even more. But the vets were lovely and left us to have time before and after to say our goodbyes. Our dog seemed to look younger after he had passed and just looked like he was asleep

As PPs have said, it's very quick and peaceful. I had to put my beautiful English springer to sleep a couple of months ago. They took her through to another room for the cannula, but she didn't seem sleepy or anything when she came back, just her normal self. She had lots of cuddles right before and I gave her some chocolate buttons, she was never allowed real chocolate before since it's bad for dogs, but obviously at that moment there would have been no harm.

We gave the vet the nod, and then she kind of leaned over sideways while we were holding her, like she'd suddenly come over all sleepy. The vet checked and confirmed she'd gone. It was much faster than I was expecting. I did have a bit of a sob afterwards but the vet was so lovely. We got her ashes and pawprints about 10 days later.

Definitely have tissues handy. You will need them.

Yes same as above, we had the vet to our home and we were outside in the garden in the sun.
DP was hand feeding DDog maltesers.
the vet said when I was stroking her to just gently close her eyes which I did.
she didn’t twitch or anything- just asleep.
it was very sad and very peaceful.
we wrapped her in a blanket and put her in the shed!
DP buried her in our garden the next day.

We had pawprints done and some fur cut (after 16 years of vacuuming pounds of it off the floors). I think you can have nose prints done too.

But all very peaceful. The two I've had PTS were ready and it was very quick.

And put a wad of kitchen paper towel under the urethra as the bladder relaxes and urine leaks out.

I think DDog knew as for the first time in days he wanted to go in the car . He had a little walk before we went in and I almost waivered but it was time as he had a huge tumour and was painfully thin. It was all very calm and DDog went very quickly. I was most upset seeing my adult son sobbing for the first time since he was a child . We arranged for a cremation and got the ashes and nose and paw prints about 10 days later. Thinking of you as it’s very difficult x

Same as other posters above. My 16 yr old jack Russell was quietly snoring after the sedative. She went almost immediately after the second injection. It was her time.
Sorry you're having to do this but it's a last kindness. X

I am sobbing reading this - our girls is only 10 and full of beans, yet I know that day will come and am dreading it. She is terrified of the Vets so will definitely have them come to our home. Lots of love and strength to you.

So sorry you are going through this.
Our vet was very kind but I wasn't prepared for how fast the little guy went. We were cuddling him and feeding him chocolate cake and then when we said we were ready, the vet did the injection - sedative then the one to stop his little heart.
It literally took seconds and he was gone. I thought he would drift off to sleep gradually but it was all very fast. So that's what I wish I'd been prepared for x

Thinking of you and your beloved dog and your family

I had about 4 hours to prepare mentally. Well, it was either that day or the Friday which was 3 days away. I desperately wanted more time with him, but he was really ill and it wouldn't have been fair.
Dh came home from work. We took him outside - I ended up carrying him as his legs were weak. We sat under a tree. Some neighbours even came out. It was lovely really.
The vet gave him an injection to sedate him. Then the injection to stop his heart. I'd always loved putting my hand on his beating heart, and for him to feel my hand til his last moment was special.
Vet was brilliant.
💔

For Neela it was very peaceful, and as said above, very quick. I almost didn't have time to say one last goodbye to her. The vet who did the procedure didn't rush anything, and we had a good 20 minutes with her. I'm glad we were able to do it at home as the vets was her most hated place to go. After she had gone we had to carry her in her bed and out her in the vets car. We had an individual cremation so we got her ashes back. She is now scattered in our local park and we say hello to her every time we walk our puppy there.

Hers was done differently than mentioned and after reading about it I hope it was peaceful for her, but if we have to do it again I would have someone who did the cannula etc.

@Hugeroar I'm in tears reading these as our ageing Labrador is showing her age quite suddenly, and I know we shall only have a few more months at most. That I have done this twice already is no help or consolation. I wish you and your family well in your sadness.

I had my dog put down during the height of covid, and the vets were so kind to me. I was on my own as well and cried a lot during the whole thing.
They gave him a sedative and then brought him out to me lying in his bed. I cuddled and kissed him while she gave him the injection. She said they can lose control of their bladder/bowels but it didnt happen to him. When she gave him the injection he had a muscle spasm (i was warned about) but it just made him look like he was having a little stretch. It was all very peaceful and gentle and the vet talked me through everything and let me know what to expect. They don't rush anything and make sure you are ready before they do anything.
I had him put down for behavioural reasons and I was terrified the vets would be judgmental to me, but they weren't. I can't thank them enough really. The vet i saw was so understanding and really helped me through it all. A few days later they sent me a handwritten sympathy card. And when I collected his ashes they gave me some forget me not seeds which I scattered in my garden and they come up twice a year, every year.
I am crying thinking about it and it was 6 years ago this month.
The grief never goes away and I dream about him a lot. It doesn't get any easier but you do get better at coping with it as time passes. It took me a few years to be able to talk about him without crying.
I am so sorry for your loss. A dog is a family member and it's normal to grieve.
You will be ok though. You'll remember him with love and the thought of him will make you smile. He will feel you around him and be comforted by it I'm sure.

This brought tears to me having lost ours in April. As others have said, we knew it was time but then he rallied a bit and didn't want the cannula put in. I found it very hard to be with him and couldn't actually watch when they injected him. It was extremely quick when they did it and he just looked so peaceful as if he was just asleep. The vet and nurse were very kind, obviously used to it but not an easy job for them when everyone is obviously so upset. The nurse actually got up and drew our curtains in respect. It is the worst time but we know it is best when they are obviously suffering and particularly when they have reached a good age too.

Tears in my eyes reading this, our cat (19) was terribly poorly and had to be PTS. The vets were incredibly compassionate. He had a patch on his foreleg shaved and was given an injection and, like it says on the tin, he went to sleep on my lap.
My heart goes out to you tonight, I hope you get through it all OK
sending love

We had our beloved boxer put to sleep a month ago. Heartbreaking but it was time. We had her put to sleep in the vet’s garden which is opposite our house. The staff all knew her well and couldn’t have been more caring.
They sedated her first and put in a cannula ready to administer the final drugs. We were given as much time as we wanted to be with her before they administered the dose. She went so peacefully and we stayed and stroked her for a while.
My thoughts are with you. It is hard but we consoled ourselves with the fact she had a wonderful life and was loved beyond measure as I am sure is the case with yours.

I’m having my beautiful girl PTS tomorrow, OP, and am crying as I type this. I’m guessing the vet is there now as you said 6pm and it’s just gone ten past. It’s a horrible decision to make but your lovely boy will be at home, surrounded by his people, and he will know he’s loved. Sending much love to you all. Xx