euthanizing my dog at home?

Question

My dog is dying of lymphoma, and we would like to put him down ourselves at home; I cannot find a vet who will come out to the country to do this. I have several Ambien tablets (sleeping pills). If I crush them in some water and give that to him would he be able to just go to sleep and his system would shut down? I do not want him to suffer (i.e., have a seizure, vomit, etc.), but I just want him to go gently. He is at the end and needs us to help him, but we just cannot stand the thought of his going to the vets office, as he has always hated going to the vet. Please, please help if you can, and as quickly as possible. I would like to do this today, if possible. I also have several pain medications; Tylenol #3, Tylox, Darvocet, etc. from different surgeries that I never took. If anyone could help me it would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

Hi,

I know what you are going through, my dog had the same condition and its heartbreaking to see them suffer. Believe me, I went through the same thought process as you're going through now. But you mustn't do it. Dog's aren't human and there is no way of knowing what human tablets might do to the dog. My dog hated the vets too. But you must take him. If you have a car, the vet may come to the car to put your dog to sleep. They understand. In the meantime, have a look at this poem, it helps put things right in your mind.

Best of luck - email me if you need to talk

IF IT SHOULD BE

If it should be that I grow weak
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then you must do what must be done,
For this last battle cannot be won.

You will be sad, I understand.
Don't let your grief then stay your hand.
For this day, more than all the rest,
Your love for me must stand the test.

We've had so many happy years.
What is to come can hold no fears.
You'd not want me to suffer so;
The time has come -- please let me go.

Take me where my need they'll tend,
And please stay with me till the end.
Hold me firm and speak to me,
Until my eyes no longer see.

I know in time that you will see
The kindness that you did for me.
Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I've been saved.

Please do not grieve -- it must be you
Who had this painful thing to do.
We've been so close, we two, these years;
Don't let your heart hold back its tears.

Answer 2

This will sound a little harsh but, if the puppy is in that much pain, a bullet to the head may be the best, most humane thing to do in you situation. I'm so very sorry about your predicament, and wish you the best of luck. Is it at all possible you can keep it comfortable until you can find a vet? If not i'm afraid this might be the best option to put it out of its misery.

Answer 3

My heart goes out to you. I understand you want your dog to die peacefully rather than panicked because he is at the vet, but trying drugs at home are not a good way to do this.

Instead of a quiet end, human drugs could mean a horrible, painful, scary death for the dog.

I would definitely try to find a large animal vet who will come to you. If that doesn't work, call the local humane society and they might be able to help you. Many humane societies have shelters where they need to put down old or sick animals and they would have the correct drugs on hand. Plus, many humane societies have officers and vehicles they use to investigate cruelty cases so they could come to you.

If those things fail, ask the vet to send you a sedative to calm the dog for the trip. Be warned: if your dog is in bad enough shape the sedative may knock him out cold or even kill him immediately so if you want to say goodbye, do it before the sedative.

I wish you the best as you struggle with this painful dilemma.

Answer 4

firstly i am so sorry you have to feel like this and feel desperate enough to try and take it upon your self to euthanase your animal.
i see no reason at all why you vet wont come to your home??? i do home visits every day for people who want to have there animal put down at home.

the agent in which we use to euthanase animals is a fatally Strong anaesthetic agent which when used will stop the heart. no amount of sleeping pills will give this controlled result and will probably cause results you are not wanting ..... we can not tell the effect these pills will have.

shooting small animals in the UK is not the done thing unless you have a gun license and experience. i not not sure if this is legal in the US??

ring your vet and try to arrange an appointment for him/her to come at a point in the day that suits the vet. if the animal is OK in his self and not a welfare issue allow the vet to tell you when its convenient to come.
this may be pricey but allot less upsetting for you.

qualified veterinary nurse UK

Answer 5

Call a large animal vet. They do farm calls and are more likely to go to you. They will probably charge a farm call, my horse vet charges $65 to come out and work on my horses.

Not to seem harsh or anything, I would use a bullet before I used human drugs. Human drug overdose would be a slow, cruel way for any animal to die. The vet uses an anesthetic overdose shot directly into the bloodstream to do it. Oral medications have to travel through the gut and then into the bloodstream.

Other than a bullet to the brain, and I WOULD NEVER put any of my animals to sleep that way. There is no quick, painless or humane way to put your dog down without using a vet. I would just take him to the vet. Its possible is suffering so much he would be happy to go no matter where you have him taken care of.

Answer 6

If you live in the country see if there is a large animal vet that will come out and euthanize your dog. DO NOT DO IT YOURSELF!!! If you cannot find one then take the dog to the vet. It would be the most humane. Don't experiment!!!!

Answer 7

If you have any decency about your self and for this dog you will not attempt a DIY euthansia.
Call your vet and have him perscribe a sedative for the dog in order to take him TO the vet's office. The then dog won't panic.

Take the dog to the vet and have the vet take care of him and let him die in comfort and with dignity.

Don't DIY you may cause him a horrible painful death if you screw it up. Then you will always remember how he died because you f-cked it up.

Do what is right for the dog. Please.

Answer 8

I just had to put my sons Doberman to sleep. My son had been murdered & Dominique was the last physical memory I had of him. It was the hardest thing I've had to do but it was the right thing. Get a tranquilizer from the vet in advance & take your pet to him after he has calmed down. Hold his head & tell him how you feel while he is falling asleep. I couldn't deal with seeing the actual act of putting him down but I know I did the best thing....
So sorry...

Answer 9

I feel very sorry that you have to have your dog put to sleep but doing it yourself with pills is not a good idea some sedatives affect the heart rate and some may make your dog very sick i understand that he dosnt like going to the vet so perhaps you can ask the vet for some acp tablets which will sedate him you can give them on the vets instructions at home with a meal then he will be very sleepy and if you take him to your vet in the car the vet should be prepeared to come out to the car and put him to sleep so that he dosnt have to go into the surgery. I have bred dogs for the past 20yrs and know what its like to have to say good bye i have used this method in the past with dogs who dont like the vets.
please dont give your dog a cocktail of drugs its much kinder to ask the vet about acp
take care
Mandy

Answer 10

I am so sorry you are having to go through this.
I know my baby hated the vet too.

The only suggestion I can offer since your vet won't make the trip is try to find another vet that will.
Most vets that deal with bovine or equine medicine do make house calls. It's easier to trait a bunch of horses and livestock at the farm than bring the farm to the vet. So, if you know of anyone with horses, cows or any other livestock find out who there vet is.

A lot of times you can find a vet who is retired but kept his license who will come and put it down for you.

Do not attempt the pill thing, more than likely you will end up just poisoning the dog and putting it through more pain.

I am betting if you go to a church any church, and ask the pastor, preacher, parsonage or priest, there is a vet there too that will help since it is Sunday.