Advice on euthanising dog in lockdown

[ItsNotMyName]

We've just found out that our loved lurcher has cancer of the liver and spleen. He's not been quite right, but previous checks didn't pick anything up. Since the new year he's really not been himself - very tired and off his food. Last week he had more blood tests which picked up mild to moderate issues with his liver function, with full diagnosis today.

The most important thing now from our point of view is that he's just not himself and is losing quality of life. He's not showing any indication of pain but he's so tired all the time and for the last few days is refusing most food. We've been able to get little titbits into him but it's not enough and this is a dog who always loved his food and running around like a lunatic.

The vet, who we have seen for years and trust, thinks he has weeks, not months. We've declined any further diagnostic tests and treatments other than some anti-emetic medication. Given that his quality of life is fast evaporating we have made the decision to euthanise. We're thinking this may be tomorrow. The main thing is I want to avoid him experiencing any pain or fear.

Can those who know better please advise the best way to do this in current circumstances? We've never had a pet put to sleep before; our previous dog died very suddenly and unexpectedly, which whilst traumatic was actually a blessing for him.

We know we can't go into the surgery but the vets are willing to be flexible in their approach. They've suggested that he could stay in the boot of the car and they attach a long catheter line so they can do it from a distance and we could be with him. My concern is that he would pick up on our distress and it would panic or upset him. Or would it be kinder for him to go in on his own to the surgery - the thought of him on his own breaks my heart though.

A complicating factor is that he suddenly went blind last year (we don't know if this is somehow related. I guess it doesn't matter any more). He is a very good boy but this does make him more nervous, although the vet reassured me that he was very calm today when he was being examined.

I just don't know what to do. I just want to do the best for him. I can't believe that this has happened. He's only about 8 years old. We had him from about a year - he'd been picked up as a stray. I love him so much. Any advice or experience would be appreciated.

Oh god, how horrible for you. I'm so sorry to hear about your boy.

I think that in your shoes I would do anything that I could to be with my dog when they went and I would opt for the boot option. He'll be somewhere that smells familiar and you'll get to hold him when he goes.

I’m so sorry. Would your vet do a home visit and pts in your back garden (no need to go indoors at all) so you can put his basket out there and sit with him in familiar surroundings? Otherwise, yes I would go for the car boot option (use a waterproof lining as sometimes they lose bladder control).

How awful OP, you have all my love and sympathies, this is a terrible time for both you and precious ddog.

If it were me I would opt to sit with ddog in boot of the car and let vet administer on a long line. Your presence will be such a comfort, it's a horrific time but at least you will be together and he will know you're there.

This is so, so sad. Thinking of you both.

I would go for the option to have it done in the car with you there.
It's a peaceful process and better for the dog that you are there in my opinion.

Am so sorry. Have seen lots of posts on social media supposedly from vets saying that the animals look for their owners if you choose not to be with them at the end and this can be distressing for them.

Having said that I didn't stay with my cat at the end but I'd probably make a different decision now.

Thank you all so much. That's really helpful and I think that's what we'll do. I'm just so worried that if my partner and I are upset we'll upset him. I guess we just need to try and keep it together.

Having looked after humans who were allowed to go on for too long I've always thought that helping them to go is the kindest thing you can do, but I just never expected it to happen so soon.

Can I ask something else. We have two other lurchers and they are all obviously close. Should we let them see and smell him before we take him to the crematorium? Would that help to understand what has happened? Or is that just a myth?

Thank you.

By 'that's what we'll do' I mean in the boot of a car. I have thought about asking them to come to our house to do it in the garden but I don't think they'd consider that at the moment. I will ask them though.

I m so sorry.
Our vets laid our ddog on a blanket on the surgery floor and put in a long line, then I went in and sat on the floor with her and they administered whatever it is from a distance.

I would go for the car option. It's great that your vets are being flexible, lots aren't. Also, not wanting to be patronising, it is heartening to hear someone so focused on doing the right thing by their dog. So many people seem so keen on eeking as many days out of their pet as they can. Sorry you are going through this and I hope it goes as well as it can.

So sorry you are going through this. There are a couple of vets who are specialists in home euthanasia.
Absolutely give your other dogs the opportunity to say goodbye to your dog, it helps them to process what has happened. There is never a dramatic reaction from the other dogs, but at least they will know what has happened.
Choose a private local crematorium, rather than going through your vet. The process will be much more dignified, more than likely cheaper, and you will get your ashes back sooner.

I'm so sorry. We had our beloved Lab put to sleep in the boot of our car. It was honestly as positive experience as it could possibly be. We stayed with her, stroking her head as she slipped away. Although we were both upset, we managed to hold it together enough to not upset her.

It was a much calmer and more peaceful way than another dog we had who was put to sleep in the vets.

Do sorry to hear this, I have a small lurches, he’s the love of my life.
I’d definitely say be with him, the car boot sounds ok, my dog doesn’t really like the car, but I’d say it’s better than the clinical vet environment.
Can they not come to your home? Or garden like someone suggested?
I had to do this with our elderly cat a few years ago, it was at the vets, I stayed with him, it was quick, they left me with him afterward and I had a good cry. I picked his ashes up a week later and berried them in the garden, which was very comforting, he loved the garden.
You are doing the best thing, it will be hard, but going peacefully and not in pain with you by his side is a good thing.

Yes, it’s a good idea to let your other dog see and sniff the body.
He may act a bit strange around it or be completely unbothered, but it’s definitely recommended.

Thank you all. This is so helpful. I just want to do the right thing by him. He's just been the best dog and I can't believe that he is going.

We used a private crematorium for our last dog who were wonderful. We'll use them again.

Our vet gave our old dog a sedative so we could sit with her while she went to sleep then we moved away for final part

I'm so sorry op. You're doing the right thing by your beloved dog but it's still so shit. Ask the vet to give your dog a sedative first - it will make sure it's all as peaceful as possible for your darling boy

Can I ask, is the sedative in case he has a reaction to the drugs that they use for euthanasia? Or just to keep him calm? He is a very calm good boy, particularly if we are there. Would it be via injection? He won't swallow a tablet now.

Do you know how long it takes for the euthanasia drugs to work? We had a chicken PTS years ago and they seemed to take a very long time to act. I'm worried about it being a distressing experience for him. I guess I'm just trying to exert some control over something I have no control of.

It is all so shit. He had a really rough start in life - we don't know exactly what happened as he was found as a stray, but his extreme dog reactivity and fear gave us a good clue.

He worked really hard with us to overcome that, and he did brilliantly. Then he went blind virtually overnight last year, and he still kept going. He's kept doing agility, jumping when we tell him to and loving the extra attention he got. He was even running fast - not as fast as he used to before he went blind - but still really fast, when it was safe to do so. He was fearless.

He's come through all of that and now this. It is so shit and unfair.

I am so, so sorry.

We lost our Lurcher last June. Our vets refused to be flexible and told us we couldn’t be with him at the end. He was a very highly strung rescue, with separation anxiety and there was no way we could have left him with strangers, so we had no choice but to opt for palliative care at home. He passed in my arms and the end was very sudden and not painful or distressing for him, but given the choice we would have let him go a few weeks earlier and I still struggle with my memories of it.

I would absolutely have chosen to have him in the boot of our car with the long catheter line if we had been given the option.

We still have our other Lurcher and as we were at home, he was able to see his body after he’d gone. He handled this loss much, much better than when we had our last girl pts at the vets and he didn’t get to say goodbye. He didn’t want to approach him closely, but he clearly understood. He was very sad for a while, but we were able to support him with lots of love, extra walks and cuddles. The previous time he grieved very deeply and developed separation anxiety, even if left for a few minutes, so I do believe seeing the body helped him to understand and process what had happened.

I'm so sorry you've got this decision to make OP. I lost my bestest boy, Morse the big hairy Lurcher, about 18 months ago.

Different times of course, because we were able to be with him in the vet's, but I was crying constantly while sitting on the floor with Morse's head resting on my lap. I was stroking him and telling him he was very loved, and the best boy in the world. The last thing he did was he raised his head and very gently licked a tear from my face and then just settled down again and fell asleep for ever. He wasn't in any way distressed and it was so peaceful.

Interesting what others say about letting your other dogs see him afterwards. I've never done that (I currently have a "mutley crew" of 6 dogs) and it amazed me how quickly their little pack healed up. I can only think of one instance where one of them looked over their shoulder for him, but apart from that they just seemed to accept it.

As I always say on these threads "Grief is the price we pay for love" and it's so true. Best wishes to you and your family, from me and mine xx

Its always by injection and will be very quick. The sedative first means they are pretty much out of it by the time they give them the euthanasia, but someone who works as a vet will explain it better.
The vet probably wasn't experienced with poultry - many aren't.

We had to do this last week. I am sorry you are having to do it too. He has clearly had a great life with you and I'm sure knows he is loved.

The vet was able to bring us directly in to a side room (they have an unusual layout) and they administered the drugs into a cannula he already had in his leg. It was incredibly peaceful, and we sat with him till we felt able to leave him.

If we couldn't have gone in, I'd have been happy to do it in the boot of the car so long as I could have sat with him.

Thinking of you.

@Marcipex

I m so sorry. Our vets laid our ddog on a blanket on the surgery floor and put in a long line, then I went in and sat on the floor with her and they administered whatever it is from a distance.

We lost our beloved girl just over a week ago and this is what our vet did too. They took her in by herself to put a catheter in and then brought her through where I could be with her. We had her in her bed so she was cosy and comfy and I cuddled her and told her how much I loved her.(I was also a weepy mess but I like to think having been a strong shoulder for me for many a year she would forgive me that).It was honestly so quick and peaceful and the veterinary staff were amazing. Afterwards we could carry her out still in her bed and take her home with us. She looked so peaceful and it gave everyone the chance to say a final goodbye. My hearts breaks for you OP, it is heartbreaking but you know when the time is right and I am glad I was brave enough to make the right decision for her no matter how much I didn't want to.

@ItsNotMyName

Can I ask, is the sedative in case he has a reaction to the drugs that they use for euthanasia? Or just to keep him calm? He is a very calm good boy, particularly if we are there. Would it be via injection? He won't swallow a tablet now.

Do you know how long it takes for the euthanasia drugs to work? We had a chicken PTS years ago and they seemed to take a very long time to act. I'm worried about it being a distressing experience for him. I guess I'm just trying to exert some control over something I have no control of.

I didn't want to say it to give you something else to think about but yes it's in case he has a reaction to the euthanasia drug.

He sounds like an incredibly special boy, I love watching lurchers run, to watch a blind one doing agility I'm not surprised he got all the attention! He has had the most incredible life with you by the sounds of it, you couldn't have done any more to turn it around for him. What a lucky boy to have had so much love!

I'm so sorry. I was preparing myself for my dog being PTS and the vets explained that they would do it at the back door of the surgery as there was more privacy and I could hold him. I didn't like the idea of the car as we would be in full view of others coming to the surgery door/walking past.

As it was he died in my arms on the way to the surgery so I just passed him over to the nurse in a blanket.

I would ask for as much privacy as possible if you can. Our vet has always been very sensitive to the dogs and the people involved. Hope yours makes it as easy as she can for you.