My dog is going to be put to sleep please help

[Inneedofsomeadvice]

I have never had to do this. I know it is right, Ddog is suffering. Please can anyone give any advice of what I would and shouldn’t do? I have DC and they will be there when it happens (young teens). Vet is coming to the house. Ddog will be cremated and I will be turning her ashes into some sort of keep sake.

Any advice on what to do/not do with regards to dc? I feel so sick.

So very sorry for you. I''m facing this with my Ddog in the near future.

Get in a family group with the dog on your laps if dog can bear it. Get vet to explain the process of euthanasia and why it's better for the dog. Or do it yourself before the vet arrives.

There's no getting away from grief. Ask the DC where the ashes should be put.

One of my children came with us to have one of our dogs put to sleep and they were fine with it, relieved, in fact, to see it happening so gently.

I'm so sorry it is the most heartbreaking decision to make but you are doing it out of love. I had the vet sedate my ddog first (at home too) which made it a lot easier for me. And as she fell asleep we stayed by her head, giving her strokes and telling her what a good girl she was so she could see us and hear us. It's never going to be easy, I remember waiting for the vet to come round and hearing them knock on the door so vividly. My heart goes out to you all

Thanks all. Dc know it’s the right thing but they keep crying snd it’s breaking my heart. I knew it would be hard but not this hard. The vet will be sedating first yes. She is a small dog so can’t be on all of our laps so I don’t know how it will work as they want to cuddle her but maybe her laying in the bed would be best? Then we can be around her?

I feel like I’m killing her!

It's such a hard thing to do. Loving, and in your dog's best interest, but truly heart-breaking.

Doing this for them truly is the price we pay for loving our pets.

You are not killing her, she is suffering and you are helping her. Does she have a favourite blanket she could lay on, it will be peaceful and quick and you can stay with her if you want to but it's okay to leave the room. We cut some fur off our much loved pussycat which I keep in a locket. Is the vet taking her afterwards or is the cremation service coming to your home, it's the saddest part of being a let owner.

It does happen so gently.
And it does give closure.
Think about the practical aspects - what will you do with DDog when the vet has left?
Can you all stay calm (so DDog is calm)?
Do you want to keep her collar & lead x

Stay strong, this is the right thing to do, and your grief is totally justified. I was shocked at first by how sad I am when I lose pets, and how long that sadness lasts, but it is completely understandable. Don't be scared x

The vet will be taking her to the crematorium when they leave my house. I have made those arrangements. She’s having a private cremation so we can use her ashes.

How long does it take? Does the vet have to check with a stethoscope that she has passed?

It may not be best for the dog to have everyone huddling around her. Let the kids know they can leave the room if they want to and id say while they can be close by just one person should actually hold the dog while it's being done. Let them say goodbye one at a time and then move away a bit. It can be distressing to witness so sedating the dog beforehand is a good idea.

I've no advice but I'm so sorry, I don't think my DDog will see out the summer and it's heartbreaking.

No advice but I'm really so sorry. Losong a dog is awful. You aren't killing her. You're saving her from unnecessary pain because you love her. It probably doesn't feel like it now but at some point in the not too distant future, you'll be able to look back on her life and feel happy about all the lovely times you had with her.

@Inneedofsomeadvice

The vet will be taking her to the crematorium when they leave my house. I have made those arrangements. She’s having a private cremation so we can use her ashes.

How long does it take? Does the vet have to check with a stethoscope that she has passed?

They do check with a stethoscope, yes. It really is a gentle process and in my experience the vet and nurse will be very respectful and check with you every step of the way. They are also incredibly kind to both you and your ddog. I was so grateful for how the nurse was gently stroking my ddog with us, they are usually very compassionate and understand how hard this is for you all.

I second trying to keep it as calm and as happy an environment as you can (I know how bloody hard that is to do)

Just to let you know, her bladder may release as she slips away. This may (or may not) impact where you choose to have her lie. I ended up with very wet jeans when my old girl was PTS.

In my experience the vet will give your dog a sedative and then the injection. Your dog may just go peacefully or they may relief themselves and jerk too so be prepared for this.

It may be in a few of you are present that if she is happy to lie in her bed you can then be around her bed and stroking her if she likes that.

The vet will check with a stethoscope.

The vet usually leaves you with your dog for a while and then takes the dog when you are ready.

I guess depends on areas but our area takes about 10 days to get the ashes back.

For me the very very worst bit is the bit before it all happens.

This is such a hard thing to do and witness but you are doing the right thing for your very loved dog. to you all.

It's probably better if one calm person stays with her. Let everyone say goodbye then send them out of the room. If you're taking hair, do it before the final injection. Having lots of worked up people in the room will only upset her. The vet will guide you through the rest of the process. Have blankets and maybe a towel or puppy pad under her because there's a chance her bladder and bowel will release once the injection take effect.

I'm so sorry.

Thanks for letting me know about the toileting aspect I didn’t know that. I spoke to the vets and they are definitely sedating first, I think it’s best he sedates her when I’m with her in one room and then dc come on to say goodbye. I’m so scared of it but I know it’s not about me. Dc have been through so much trauma already and now have to deal with this. I didn’t want them to witness it but eldest is Adament so I don’t feel o can take that away from them.

I can’t shut the dc away in one room when I’m with ddog. They will come anyway, they will not quietly stay away. I will reiterate to them to try to stay as calm as they can. It’s breaking my heart. I keep telling her how sorry I am

You are providing the last act of love for your dog, Op.

OK/ You need to pull up your big girl pants and show your children how to handle this. It's an important part of owning a pet, being able to ensure they have a calm and peaceful end.

I have been through it many many times when the DC were little. Dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, precious precious rats.

I was very clear with them right from the start that this was us being kind and good owners by letting the much loved pet go without fear or pain. They had to hold it together, stroke them, tell them how lovely they were. Anyone who freaked out or did anything to distress the pet would have to leave the room. Weeping and wailing could - and did - take place once the pet was dead.

Reiterate to them that this is a time where they show ddog how much they love them by being the best friend they can, they have to stay calm. If they don't think they can - then that's fine, but they have to remove themselves.

My experience of endings has been 99% peaceful and not at all distressing for the children, apart from one rat (had to be DDs favourite) who struggled. All of the ddogs just went to sleep surrounded by people who loved them. None of the dc ever had to leave the room, but there were many tears once it was over.

Focus on ddog now and then the children would be my advice.

It will be peaceful, sedation beforehand is much better i agree.

Just be nice and calm at the time, previous animals i have tried so hard to keep my tears to myself until the vet says they have passed.

you are doing the best thing for your dog. im sorry