The final decision when you have two dogs

[TillyandFlorence]

I have two dogs, and my beloved old girl is approaching the time when I will need to make the hardest decision. Although it's unbearable to think about, I know I need to start preparing myself.

She loves her vet, so doing it at the clinic is an option, however, I don't want my other dog to wonder why she has disappeared.

However, if I do it at home, my younger dog would have to be out of the room while the vet did it, and I worry when he came back in and saw her, that he would think I caused her passing (which I would have, but you know what i mean).

What's the best thing to do? I can't think about it without crying and just want to do the right thing for them both.

I have rabbits, rather than dogs, but I have always made sure that that the surviving one has seen the body of the dead one.

I don't think animals see cause & effect in the same way people do (or anticipate death - one rabbit was happily guzzling grapes as the drugs took hold, bless her).

Anyway you want to manage the logistics will be fine.

I'm sorry about your dog, it's so hard isn't it.

We had three and when the oldest one left, we brought the body home for the other dogs to “see”. He was very ill before he died so I don’t think the other dogs were remotely surprised

it won’t be possible to do that with the other dogs as they’re so big but if you can do it at home and let the other dog g see the body they are much more accepting

I think regardless of where you have your old girl pts it would be a good idea to have your other dog present, or able to see her once she has gone.
Most animals live in 'the now' but I think it would help uou as much as them .

I have been in this situation twice. On both occasions I had the vet come to our home. The second dog was out of the room whilst the dog was put to sleep and afterwards allowed into the room. Both had a good sniff and that was it really. One lay down near his brother until we took him to the crematorium. The other made a huge fuss of the vets.
The dog isn't going to blame you for it. Their brains aren't wired that way. You, however, will probably feel guilty even though you'll know it's the right thing to do. It's such a hard decision to make, but the kindest thing you can do for your dog when the time comes. I hope you don't have to make it too soon.

We had a ddog of 4 pts this year... At the Vet's surgery. Ddogs seemed oddly fine. Maybe if only 1 at home would have been different.. Vet did say they grieve.. We lost one 5 years ago and the loss was more obvious to the rest of them...

We had a ddog of 4 pts this year... At the Vet's surgery. Ddogs seemed oddly fine. Maybe if only 1 at home would have been different.. Vet did say they grieve.. We lost one 5 years ago and the loss was more obvious to the rest of them...

When I had my old girl PTS I was my younger dog was allowed to be in the room.
On the drive home she was wrapped in her blanket and he lay on top of her.

Thanks everyone, lots to think about. Hugs to you all who have gone through the same thing.

Our younger dog definitely grieved for around a year when the older one was PTS. It was COVID times so not too many options, we took her to the vet.

I suspect it depends how closely the dogs are bonded. We've twice had a dog pts at the vet's and the other dogs have been fine. The current pair are very close, so we might do it differently next time.

We recently had to have one of our three dogs pts. It was done at the vets and then we brought her home to bury and allow the other two to see her and say goodbye. It worked well, other dogs carried on, though I do understand they have each other.

You may find the dogs relationships changes a bit as the elderly dog gets older. The other dogs tend to sense the change especially if the older dog is poorly.

They may distanced themselves from the older dog. The dogs will be very aware of the situation and may not need any guidance from you on how to deal with the situation. I would not over think it too much. Some of my dogs have seen the dog after the were pts and sometimes that wasn't possible (covid). The dogs dealt with both situations.

I am sorry that you are having to go through this.