putting my first pet dog down?

Question

I'm super attached to this dog since he is my first pet but he has so many health problems that he needs to be put down. I only get to see him once every few months since I moved out of my childhood home so I am especially upset that he may get put down before I get to see him again.

If I can be there when he goes, which is best: Staying with him until after they give him the shot? Or saying goodbye at home and letting my parents take him to the vet? I'm worried that I will be too upset if I go but I feel like it may be a good learning experience to go.

Also, how can one prepare for this event? And how can you deal with it afterward?

Thank you.

Answer 1

oh hon..I'm SO sorry! saying goodbye to a pet is very difficult...esp because you have to be the one to make that choice when it's time.

i cant tell you which is best. i can only tell you about my experience.
my childhood dog (a sheltie named Cody) was put down at the age of 13. i was 15 yrs old at the time.
i went w/my mother to the vet and went in to the room where he was laying (he was in the vets office for IVs etc. *kidney failure).
i said my goodbyes, and then i left the vets office before they put him down. i walked home, and cried. it was horrible.

the next pet i had to put down was a dog that i was fostering for the SPCA and had recently adopted. he was only 6 months old, but had the hips of a 14 yr old dog (hip dysplasia). the vet told us even after hip replacement he would be in constant pain..it was that bad.
i stayed w/my sweet Zeek while they gave him the medication to put him to sleep...and i hugged him while they administer the shot to stop his heart...i held him while he breathed his last breathes. it was very peaceful.

BOTH are hard, BOTH will hurt like hell!
only you can decide that when you are there. its' up to you.

Answer 2

There is no right or wrong way to deal with this. Some people want to be there, some people don't. Some vets will even come to your house and do it.

Some people bring the dog home for burial, some have them cremated and take the ashes home, some just let the vet creamate and dispose of the ashes. Whatever you are comfortable with is what you should do.

I just went through this with a 16 year old dog on Monday. This was my second dog to be put to sleep in 6 years. It doesn't get any easier.

Personally, I felt I had to be there for both of them. I couldn't imagine just dropping them off at the vet's office and leaving them there. They would be so confused.

The actual process isn't too terribly hard to watch. It really is very peaceful.

Most vets deal with this process on a regular basis and are very caring and compassionate. They won't have a problem with you being upset and they'll let you have some private time both before and after if you want.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Losing a dog is very hard, especially when you have bonded so well with it.

I would suggest you do what you feel comfortable doing. If you would like to go to the vet with your dog, by all means, do so! Most vets will allow you to hold the dog while he or she dies. While this may be VERY sad for you, it will also give you and the dog a sense of closure. Your dog will die in the arms of the person he loves most in this world and you will be sure that your dog did not die a painful death.

There is no real way to prepare for something like this. Pace yourself. Do what you need to do. Don't be afraid to cry. Crying releases stress and acts as a physical emotion.

Do not bury the problem. Accept that something you don't want to happen is going to happen, and think of things in a positive light. Your dog has lived a happy life! The one thing a dog wants most is attention from his human, and he has had that from you and your family.

Do not do what most people do and rush into getting another dog. Take your time to work out what you really want. If you feel you and your family have time for another pet (I know you don't live at home), by all means, go for it. But respect your own emotions before going ahead with it.

You and your family are in my prayers. I wish the best of luck to you and your dog during this hard time. Chin up! =]

Answer 4

My dear friend,

I have been in your position before. I understand it is a very difficult situation. He has been your friend. I once did the mistake of not being there for him when he most wanted me...when he was going away. I have had talks with people where they said they should have been there. I would strongly recommend you to be there. For your emotional healing as well as for the comfort of that precious friend of yours. The vets are trained to explain it all to you. Dont worry. It is better to be there for him.

From a preparation perspective, buy the dog what he likes the best to eat. Make him happy. Play with him for few minutes. That is a good parting gift you can do. Talk to the vet.

Dont worry about him struggling. The intravenous injection makes the dog go into a deep sleep before it slows everything else. He wont feel anything.

All the best....

Answer 5

I am always present when my pets have been euthanized. It's a very personal decision though. You will definitely be upset, but you may feel better being able to be in the company of your childhood "friend" as he makes his transition.

Putting an animal to sleep can be the greatest show of love...you are putting aside your own feelings and thinking of him (his failing health is leading him to have a bad quality of life). I don't know if you can ever truly prepare for it, nothing really prepares you. Sometimes just realizing that you are doing the right thing for your pet can make it not seem so bad.

You miss him and mourn him....time does the rest. I get over the pain of the loss, but I never stop missing my pets who have gone.

Prayers to you and your pet.....

Answer 6

Only you can answer your question. What maybe right for me or any other person who answers may not be right for you.

For me I have to be with them however much it hurts. They never left me when I needed them most I won't leave them either. That may not be the way you feel though. Follow your heart. That's all you can do.

Prepare for it the best you can by being with him as much as you can and make sure lots of pictures are taken so as you have them to look back on. After it's just one day at a time. You just have to take it as it comes and try to remember you did all that you could while they were alive and in the end did the most loving and humane thing an owner can ever do.

I'm so very sorry the time has almost came for your beloved pet.

Answer 7

Well first, I think since the dog is being put down, SOMEONE should be at his side when he is given the shot. It is very painless, as well as quick. It puts him to sleep and then his heart stops. BUT I believe and feel someone should be with him at his side when he is puit down. It is the right thing. I am also very sorry for your lose. I put down one of my dogs a few years back and I held her in my arms. And yet to this day I get all teary eyed every time I think of this. BUT again, it was the right thing to do. I recently lost another dog (Oct 5th) he died from natural causes and my old lady was holding him when he passed on. It bugs the heck out of me that I wasn't there when he went. Once he has been put down remove his collar so he can be free to run about when he gets home. Take care and again I am so sorry. Hope all goes well.

Answer 8

I'm very sorry that you are in this situation. All I can do is tell you what has helped me through this process. I've learned that there really is no good way to mentally prepare yourself. I've unfortunately lost many pets and it never seems to get any easier. I try to have their last moments be as comfortable and stress free as possible. I have my vet come to the home to do the euthanasia. This is something that many veterinarians offer, but don't have advertised. I'm not sure how mobile your pet still is, but you can always take him for a nice walk, or play his favorite game before you have to say good bye. I like to feed my pets a meal that you would normally not allow them to have. Make something special for your dog. I've given them anything from lasagna to cheeseburgers. For me the moment is about them. I try to hide my sadness as long as I can. I don't want my pet to know how upset I am. My vet gives an injection to "knock" the pet out before she gives the injection to euthanize. I would recommend you stay with your pet for as long as you can. It you don't want to experience the last minute, you could always walk away after the first injection. The main thing is to make it as easy on your dog as possible. Comfort him by petting, talking and just being there. I'm very sorry. It sucks that their lives are so short. It's not going to be easy, but time does make it better. Good luck!

Answer 9

I worked as a vet tech many years ago and this was always the hardest part of the job. It is a very personal decision what you do and no one will criticize no matter what decision you make. We had some clients who wanted to be there with their pet and others who elected to wait in the waiting room. If that was the case, I petted the animal and talked to it soothingly throughout the procedure so that their last moments were as comfortable as possible. Hopefully you will have someone at your clinic willing to do the same for your dog, if you decide not to be there.

Answer 10

Eight weeks and a day ago I was forced to make the same decision. I decided to be with my dog and now in hind sight I'm glad I did. I'm not going to lie to you it was the WORST day of my life. I had never witnessed the death of a pet and I was terrified of what was going to happen. My baby had been so sick and I couldn't watch him suffer any longer. It was all so peaceful he really just fell to sleep. If it's any comfort at all they really do not suffer. Everyday since has been a real struggle for me. I'm just waiting for the day the pain starts to ease and I can make it through the day without crying. If you can find one person who understands the connection you and your dog had, and how hurt you are don't be afraid to lean on them. Understanding is the best thing I think we can hope for as we grieve. To those that will say "IT WAS JUST A DOG" I only feel pitty for them because they will never know the love we had.