When It is Time to Euthanize Your Animal, Do It With Dignity

-doing the right thing for the right reasons is spiritual art-

To begin with, do not wait too long to let your dog go.  This happens way too often. And by delaying the inevitable you’re being a bit selfish.  If your dog’s quality of life is diminished that they can’t walk, have stopped playing or won’t eat ,you’ve waited   too long. We know saying goodbye to your companion is, at the very least, excruciating. Because the dog population at our sanctuary typically remains at around forty (give or take a few) there are a variety of health issues that must be dealt with on a daily basis.  One of them is deciding which dogs are fading so the veterinarian can be called to euthanize them..  Something to consider is whether or not your dog likes car rides or instead fights tooth and nail when you try to get them in the car.  If they hate it, ask your veterinarian to make a house call. It may cost a little more but if it keeps your dog from flipping out, it’s well worth it, right?  If they love the car (and all that it implies) that’s good for all of you.  The next move is to get all the foods your dog would or does love but that they’re never allowed to eat..  For instance, fried chicken, chocolate cake, double cheeseburgers and ice cream are obviously not a diet you want to contaminate your healthy dog’s digestive system with.  However, as a last meal, it couldn’t be more ideal.  This is why it is essential that your animal has not gotten so sick  that they have lost their desire to eat!  Last, yet just as important, is opting to sedate your animal prior to the actual euthanization.  Some veterinarians don’t like to do it  for one or two reasons.  Some say that the sedating solution stings (it is done intramuscularly, usually in the back leg) and negates the whole point of a “humane” process.  We find that having a piece of fried chicken in your dog’s mouth while receiving the injection distracts even the most sensitive of dogs from that one last sting.   Another reason veterinarians are reluctant to sedate an animal prior to euthanizing them is that it sometimes it can cause the blood pressure to drop, thus making the veins hard to penetrate.  But if your dog is sedated, they won’t feel or care if your vet has to probe a bit for the vein - which means no added stress for you, your veterinarian and most importantly, your animal.