Is it possible to euthanize dogs at home humanely?

Question

I have a miniature schnauzer who is reaching the end of his life and my family has been considering putting him to sleep at home. Is there any way that this can be done humanely without the assistance of a vetinarian? I've been checking Google for options, but the details I've found are sketchy. I'd rather take the dog to a vet as opposed to doing myself and botching it.

Does anyone have experiance with this and can offer a solution?

Answer 1

I am an Animal Protection Officer in Canada, and we get calls like this all the time.

While it is your choice whether or not to take your dog to the vet, you are entitled to euthanize your dog at home as long as it is done humanely. This means that it must be done swiftly, with no pain.

Typically people will take their animal to the farm and shoot it in the head. While this is unpleasant (and many people may not agree with it), as long as it is done with one shot, it is perfectly legal in our province.

YOU MUST BE CERTAIN YOU CAN DO IT SWIFTLY AND WITHOUT PAIN. If you cannot satisfy these conditions I would strongly advise that you take your animal to the vet in order to have a lethal dose of euthansol delivered humanely (this means after being administered a sedative).

Unfortunately, these drugs are not "sold" to the general public and are not available for home use.

One option to consider, if you would like to have your animal at home, is to ask the vet to make a home visit for this purpose.

While some vets may not do it, and others may charge a fee for a home visit, others may offer it as part of a regular service to their clients.

Be advised that watching your animal die is not fun, nor is it something that many people can handle without stressing the animal.

Any way you decide to do it, it is your choice, your conscience and possibly your consequences. Call your local shelter/Humane Society/SPCA/Animal Control/Protection Office in your area to confirm details.

Choose wisely.

Answer 2

No. Whatever you can do at home to put your dog to sleep will probably break a ton of state laws about the humane treatment of animals and animal abuse. And would you really want to risk messing up and making your poor dog suffer? Just take your dog to the animal hospital and have them do it, or call a vet to see if they make house calls.

Answer 3

If you've been going to your dog's veterianrian a long time, ask him/her if they would come to the house to euthanize your dog. Many will, as they understand it feels more comforting than the clinic.
I would think it's against the law for you to have a controlled substance, and the emotional effects of euthanizing your own pet could be harder than that the loss itself.

"Personnel administering an euthanatizing agent must know: 1) whether the agent is appropriate for the species, 2) what route, dose or concentration the agent should be administered, 3) if the agent may result in fear behavior, struggling, or vocalizations, 4) if the animal shows signs of experiencing pain, 5) how rapidly the agent results in unconsciousness, 6) if the agent causes tissue changes, 7) the technical skills for appropriate administration..."

There is a lot more to euthanasia than just administering solution, and to ensure your schnauzer doesn't suffer needlessly, your family should enlist a veterinarian to do this.

Answer 4

Trying to euthanize your dog at home without the assistance of a vet risks many things: breaking laws, putting your animal through pain and suffering, and breaking you and your familys hearts if you somehow "botch" the job and have to watch the sad situation. If you really want your dog to leave this world peacefully in his home, I know some veteranarians come to the dogs home to euthanize them there. If you decide against this or the vet wont come to your home, you should just take him into the office with some of his toys and his favorite blanket or bed so he can spend his last few moments with the things and people he knows and loves. I'm sorry to hear about his condition. I hope I helped!

Answer 5

Do the right thing for your beloved pet. Give him a painless, peaceful death and even if you are trained to perform euthanasia, you should know you just can't buy the drugs, they are strictly monitored by the federal and state governments.

This is something you don't want to botch, leave it to a vet to do.

Answer 6

Sorry but no...I thought of the same thing with my 12y/o Mastiff. I use to work in a shelter and they would not even give me the injections to "do it myself". In case they think I'm going to use it for other means. It is a very dangerous poison and considered a weapon, in the wrong/unauthorized hands.

Answer 7

Ask yourself. How would I like to be euthanized? Not by an amature! I would like to be in the hands of a trained professional. Do right by the animal-simply put.

Answer 8

How other taken a very old blind dog to vet what can we use to put him down

Answer 9

I have a friend who bathed his dog of the same breed as yours, took him to a hole in the yard and put a 45 against the back of his head. he said he didn't move at all and that he felt him around the house later joyous to be free of that old body.

Answer 10

I think a vet would probably be better, that way you won't be traumatized by the fact that you killed your dog. I think it's going to be hard enough to let him go, let alone having to put him down yourself. Vets can do it without causing pain or fear in your dog, and you can't offer him that confidently. There are some vets out there that will come to you- maybe that's an option?