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.

My concern is that he would pick up on our distress and it would panic or upset him.

This is why I didn’t go with my dog when she was put to sleep. I was very, very upset and I didn’t want her last memories to be of me crying over her and for her to think there was something to be afraid of or to worry about. I was fortunate that my dad was able to take her though, so she had someone that she knew and trusted with her. If I had been the only option then I would have gone with her as I wouldn’t have wanted her to be on her own (as you don’t with your boy) but I think it was better that she had someone calm with her. You’ve said “we”, if you think that you’ll become very distressed then do you have a partner or adult child who could stay with him?

I’m so sorry for what you’re going through

So sorry you are having to say goodbye. We also rescued a lurched from a stray and in a bad state so I know how precious they are. I don't think people can understand until they have that bond with one it's very special. I think I would ask if they could do a home visit to the garden if not then the car option at least you will be there and he can hear your voice. It really is traumatic I know from having to have our previous dog put to sleep but please just keep thinking you rescued him from a horrible place and showed him love and care for the rest of his life which is an amazing thing to do. I wish there were more people like you that rescue these lovely dogs and give them a chance as there are so many in Kennels and they are such gorgeous dogs x

Thank you all for your responses. I know how painful it must be to share your experiences and I'm very grateful - it is really helpful.

@HalfTermHalfTerm - It's just me and my partner. We're both devastated but I think we'll just need to keep it together (at least enough not to distress him) so that we are with him. To be fair, as Soppyspanieleyes says, he's seen me in tears enough times over the year that it isn't a completely new experience for him.

@FellowFlipFlop Don't worry about mentioning adverse reactions. I'm someone who would rather know all the information - that way if the worst happens I'm prepared for it. Do you know if adverse reactions are common? I think a sedative before would be very helpful and we'll ask for that. He was always a show-off at agility - he would get to the top of the A frame and then stop at the top for everyone to admire him. He knew he was doing something special since going blind and would do the rounds afterwards to collect treats and fuss...!

@ItsNotMyName
I’m so sorry to hear about your beloved boy.
I had to have my mastiff lad pts during the first lockdown, he too was 7/8 and a rescue.
Our vet gave us the last appointment of the day, I popped him in the door of the surgery where he had an injection of sedative, he came back out to car where his bed was with the boot wide open, it was a sunny day and my son and I held him until he fell fully asleep (about 10/15 mins), my son then carried him into the surgery where they took him for the final injection, he was in our arms as he drifted off.
It’s very hard but please be brave and don’t get overly upset until he’s asleep.
I’m crying just typing this as he left such a hole in our lives, our dogs did grieve him so please allow yours to see him one last time.
Love and strength to you and hugs to your boy xxx

Sorry to hear that. We've had many dogs and they were all euthenased when their bodies failed at the end of long lives. It is the last kind, loving thing we can do for them. I've always been there with the dog while it was done and promise you, they are not frightened and suffer no pain. It's a very gentle way to go. Until the most recent, we've always called out the vet to do it at home.
Last time was last April, during lockdown; our elderly dog had bone cancer and because of covid the vet was not doing home visits. We phoned the vet and were asked to bring him to the vet's carpark ; the vet came out to our car and gave us the option; either he would do it there with us , or he could take the dog indoors to do it in his consulting room, but we could not go in with him. We preferred to be with the dog ( lying in his familiar comfy bed in the back of our hatcback, boot open) so we could stroke him and talk to him, so that he'd feel no anxiety or stress. It was just as calm gentle and peaceful for the dog, as the ones who have died at home.

     Don't put it off.   It's very hard,  but for their sake we should  let go  when the time is right for them.

We had to do this recently too. Bloody awful and heartbreaking. They gave him the sedative in the boot (on his bed) and then when he was out the vet took him into the building.
My thoughts are with you. The last evening and morning before are horrible.

I’m so sorry that your dog has to go , but yes do choose the boot of your car if they are not willing to come to your garden . Hold him & tell him how much you love him as he drifts away . It doesn’t take long at all , then you can weep & start to grieve for him , Be brave x

I don't know how common adverse reactions are, but it happened to one of our family dogs (I wasn't there) and since then my mum always asks for the dog to be sedated first and says she always will. I did some googling and apparently a lot of vets will offer sedation for that reason but if they don't then it's worth asking

I just want to reiterate what a peaceful and calm experience it is. It’s really not at all what I feared as whilst it’s always very upsetting I’ve always found a definite comfort in knowing it’s the right thing to do and the kindest.

Even if you are upset, it’s better for your pet for you to be there with them. It’s the ultimate act of love for them.

I'm a vet nurse and can confirm that euthanasia is very quick, painless and peaceful. It's basically an overdose of an anaesthetic, so they really do just go to sleep and not wake up.
It's given by injection directly into the vein. With chickens, it's often hard to inject into the vein, so that's why it's a slower process.
It's definitely the best thing if you can stay with your pet during the procedure, even though it's heart breaking. They'll want your face to be the last thing they see and your familiar smell and touch.
I'm so sorry that you're losing your family member. Sending love and hugs.

Sorry about your lovely dog.

I have been there a few times when our family dogs (from childhood) have been put to sleep and it was a calm and dignified process. On each occasion I believe the dog was slightly sedated before being put to sleep and we were able to stroke and speak to them. The vet was lovely and it felt special and not a run of the mill procedure if that does not sound to strange.

I had this dilemma with my deliciously naughty black cat.
I thought about having a vet come to our house but took her in to the vets in the end.
Cats are notoriously hard to read regarding their sickness because they hide it so well.
I packed her in her plastic carrier with my well worn, unwashed pyjamas which smelled of me and a hot water bottle with a cover on. Maybe you can do similar even if you can't put her in a container.
The vets were very good to us and allowed both my dad and I in and plenty of time before the injection and plenty of time after for me to look at her and process it (very important to me, others might just want to leave). The lovely vet said he'd look after her after we had gone after I struggled to leave her (taking her back was not for us).
I hope they are compassionate and pick up on your worry at this sad time.
The vet said my cat was very calm and even had cuddles from her before she was brought into the room when I asked if she needed any medication to be calm.
🔴Maybe you can ask for some kind of relaxant if he is stressed but definitely communicate how you feel to them so they can accommodate.
I loved my cat SO much and I hope the dear animal knew it 😿
I hope it goes peacefully for you

As someone who is carrying out euthanasia in the boot of the car what works best is putting the back seat down ( make the space as big as possible), make it as cosy as possible your dog's bed, their teddies and any blankets they like. Reverse the car into a corner so that it gives you privacy, I get our clients to reverse down the side of our building into our staff parking area.
Let the vet connect the line and step away and then climb right in there cuddle up with your precious boy.

Hello there,

I wanted to come back to this thread to provide an update in the hope that it helps someone else. We took our dog to the vet on Tuesday and he was put to sleep.

We did speak to the vet about coming to the house, and he was willing to do this, but it would have taken just a bit more time to organise and we didn’t really want to wait. Also, we’d always made sure that the car was a safe, happy space for the dogs and he was always very relaxed in the car (for him it is basically a giant bed on wheels), so it just didn’t feel like it mattered in the end.

We followed all of the advice on this thread, and made the boot of the car super cosy, and as per Lonecat’s suggestion, put the back seat down. We had a very private spot in the car park. The vet attached the line and then he stepped away so that my partner and I could be right up with DDog. When he put the medication in DDog just moved his head into a more comfortable position, did a deep breath out and then that was it.

We brought him home so that the other two dogs could see him. It was very upsetting moving him from the car to the house, but I’m so glad that we did it. The other two absolutely knew what had happened – very different reactions, but so clear and they’ve not looked for him since. We then took him to the crematorium and they were lovely too.

We’re still so sad but it is such a comfort knowing that we did everything we could for him. There are still doubts – should we have done it sooner, should we have left it a bit longer – but it is done. Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences and advice. Something that I personally really struggle with in scenarios like this is the unknown aspects of them, and this thread really helped me manage that. Thank you.

so sorry OP.

Bless you OP, I was thinking about you and hoped it went as well as could be expected

I’m so glad to hear it worked the way you hoped, so comforting for you and the other dogs, well done you were brave doing this, it was the right thing to do ❤️💐🌈

I'm so sorry. It sounds like you did absolutely the right thing for your boy in the end.

Sorry that should have said at the end not in.