Before I Put My Dog Down….

Sorry for the tear-jerker, but in the next month or so I’ll be putting down my 14-year-old dog. I’d type out the details of her conditions but it doesn’t really matter.

I’ve seen a lot of posts on IDO once a members’ best friend passes away and it got me thinking, any advice or things I should do or something you wish you would’ve done? I’ve been pretty stoic about this since we new it had to happen. My mindset over the past month has been “I need to call a vet and schedule this one of these days.” Well I’m now at those days, and maybe it’s more real now, and it’s hard to look at her knowing that I know she’ll be gone soon but she doesn’t.

I know I’ll be spending time with her and trying to make her happy. I plan on making her a cheeseburger or something before the time comes. And I’ll probably get a bag of her fur or something like that. Cremation of pets seems to be a trend but I’m old school and plan on digging a grave for her on our property and carrying her there myself. Any other thoughts, or keepsakes or anything?

I feel for you. I am staring at my 13 year old lab right now and thinking about this scenario in my near future. It’s not easy, and never will be.

Have her put down at home, laying on her own bed. Surrounded by her family. Much better experience for both you and the dog. IMO nothing worse than doing at the vet on a cold steel table, other animal smells and sounds.

I have the number of a place that does this. Real nice process. Worth the extra money. They did a plaster footprint at the time. Thought is was nothing. But now appreciate the extra gift.

Do the hamburger well ahead of time so it does not come back up. Have her hake a nice long pee and or poop ahead of time.

Good luck.

-J.

I’m sorry to hear that, it’s never easy. We lost both our dogs in the last year+. One we were able to schedule thru our vet, and it was so much more peaceful than I was anticipating. Some vets will come to your house to do it as well. Our other dog had been struggling and passed quickly and peacefully at home. My wife had her favorite pics of each dog memorialized by some wood carvings from this website and they turned out great. We also had them both cremated and their wooden “urns” sit in front of the carvings. It took me a while to look at the carvings without getting emotional, but now I love them. Hope you find peace.

http://www.hagenandoats.com/pet-portraits.html#/

Just spoil her. I keep my favorite bird dogs collar in a curio cabinet that I have filled with old fishing reels, knives, lures, etc.. Family keepsakes, things that are important to me. The collar sits next to my passed on, Ex Father In Laws fishing cap. When the time comes, do share please. I will share your grief and I want to hear her stories. God Bless.

I buried my dog, too. It was something I felt I needed to do. Very sad day.

We made a little photo album for the kids (and us) to look at. The memories are what’s valuable.

Sorry to hear Dan. Been through it many times and it does not get easier. Remember the good times and ensure she is not suffering.

+1000 on the doing it at home. I know my dog appreciated it. On her bed, in front of the fireplace listening to some music..

It’s a day every dog owner will have to reckon with, but it will never be easy. My guy is 11 and he’s been slowing down. Honestly starting to tear up just thinking about it.

Going to join the others in saying, have it done at home. So much more peaceful and calm for you and the doggo.

One of the things I plan on doing is getting a tattoo of his paw print. Not sure what else. I’ll be going the cremation route, and spreading the ashes in some of the places we’ve had adventures together.

Never an easy thing to do. They’re part of the family. Just spoil the hell out of her. Take her to her favorite place. When it comes time to put her down, stay in the room when it happens. I hear vets talk about having to put dogs down who are scared because their family isn’t there and they know something isn’t right. It might be more difficult for you to be there, but it’s not about you in that moment.

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So sorry Dan. Have been there myself. I have buried 1 dog and had 2 cremated. It is hard digging that grave through tears, believe me.

Sorry to hear this. We just went through this last week with our 14 year old beagle and was very tough. We had our vet come to our house and that helped a lot. We buried her in the backyard next to her brother and I made a nice sign for them. She got a Hershey’s chocolate bar for her last treat

That’s too bad Dan. It’s the memories that you’ll remember.

So sorry Dan. They are family. We have cremated are dogs and cats and we have gotten the plaster footprints. Nice to have them setting by their picture.

I feel for you Dan.I can’t add any thing more than what’s been said.
I would consider the cremation though.I could’nt bring myself to bury my pups i want them always with me.
Hang in there sir,spoil the hell out of her,and cherish the memories.

Dan, good advice above. Just do what feels right to you. No matter what and any advice that we can give you, the pain will be there. Wish there was an honest way to tell you that there’s an easier way but there is not.
When Lily, our Brittany, had to go I felt the burden of the world. It was the first pet that both of my daughters had from early childhood. So when addition to losing Lily, I had to also prepare my daughters it was a really tough family time for us.
We took her up to our farm and I dug her grave next to one of my Deerstand. Olivia and I spent time reminiscing about all the cute things that pooch did. We said our goodbyes and thank you for the loyalty and companionship that she gave our family.I returned the next day and planted a sampling oak tree above her grave. I don’t know to consider it ironic but that tree has outgrown all the other trees that I planted in my forestry restoration. Every time I look out into the field or drive by there with the four wheeler, I see how high that tree towers everything around it and it always gives me a sense that she’s giving back to the earth

Hey Dan forgive me if this is too soon but please if you have not done so yet, share some pictures of her life in our thread the dogs of a IDO. It’s becoming such a unique time peace and tribute to so many of our pets. Would hope that you have already or will share some pictures of her with us. Our thoughts are with you I know how tough it is

I agree with doing it at home… I think it was Dr. Pol who said, the last thing they should see is familiar settings and surrounded by their loved ones. As far as after that.. I can tell you its tough digging a hole, not physically but emotionally. I am glad that I did it, even though we moved, I still know where he is.

You guys are great. Everyone talks about IDO being a tight community, but I think the dog lovers of IDO are an even tighter group.

I’m thinking this will happen mid-October so I plan on starting to dig soon so it’s ready. And it’ll be close to a hundred yard walk from the house and she’ll be heavy, but I want to do all this myself. I got her with a few days of coming back from Iraq in 2007, she’s been with me through multiple states, women, and houses, and she’s always loved me. And like others have said, I’ll be right there when she goes, holding a paw or her if I can, hopefully looking her in the eyes. It’ll be tough but I owe it to her, and I wanna carry/escort her to her final spot on my own.

Some real great ideas guys, thanks for taking some time for this.

Randy, I’ll try and get some pictures on here tomorrow.

There’s a lot of good information posted above. My wife is a DVM, and this is an almost daily thing for her to help people through. We had to put down one of the goldens that she brought home as a puppy last December. Don’t know how she kept it together to do that.

At home is usually the most peaceful for the pet, and if you know mid-October is the time, I’d recommend scheduling the appointment as soon as you can. With how busy vet clinics have been for the past year and a half, this will give you the best chance at having the “at home” euthanasia available. They all love animals and try to make things work if the timeline is unexpectedly cut short, but if they’re the only vet in the clinic that day, the options can be limited. They will always move appointments further out on the calendar if you think your pup is still comfortable and has more time.

Thank you for already deciding to be present. Your pet deserves it, and you make it easier on the vet as well. Anna is always heartbroken when the owners refuse to be present.

She recommends that you start spoiling your pup now. She’s had too many instances of family’s making a steak (or similar) for their pup’s last meal and their pup is too tired/weak to eat.

Many places will do the paw prints or other momentos, just ask when you are scheduling the appointment and they should be able to help you. Then they can bring the correct items and help for the at-home visit.

If you have never been present for a euthanasia before, you should be aware that the muscle control for bladder/intestine stops. If you can let them relieve themselves prior to the event, it will limit how much is voided. You will want to have your pup lay on a blanket for the final moments. You can then wrap them up in it for your last walk together.

You should also be aware that the sedative they use prior to the euthanasia solution can occasionally induce small seizures in your pup. It doesn’t always happen, but it can be startling if you don’t expect it. It will be okay, it is not causing them pain. The vet will quickly follow up with the euthanasia solution.

Finally, I recommend you pick their final resting place and dig it now. Digging in the frost (unless you have equipment) is not how you want to remember that day. Then you don’t have to think about it if your pet perks up for a few weeks and you delay the date. This is from experience.

If you have any other questions, you can ask your vet or shoot me a PM and I will ask Anna.

Man, I’m sorry to hear that Dan.
When we put our last dog down we did it thisat the vets office only outside under some pine trees. Our kids came home from college to be there, it was very nice.

I also gave her a burger, she devoured it which surprised me do to her health. One thing I did before we left house was put away all her stuff, bowls, toys, blankets and such.

Hope Jack handles it ok. Just writing this causes a lot of emotions. Our current dog just turned ten and looks every day of it. I’m thinking about overlapping next time around.

Take care Dan, very sorry.

Dan, all I can say is my heart aches for you, been a few years since I put my beloved Gracie down and I know what you are going through.
Like has already been said, spoil the heck out of her.

It ain’t easy Dan and that just tells me how special those critters are.
We have a vet come over and I lay a blanket down in the Living room, I will never put another one down as they lay on an exam table. No Way.

“If I could be half the person my dog is, I’d be twice the human I am.”

Dan, i feel for you!!!!!! been through it to often myself. i still think of my past dogs often!!!!1

Sorry to hear you’re going through this Dan. It’s tough for sure. I did it once before and I’ll probably be doing it again within 3 years.
You know what the dog still likes to do. Do that often and give lots of praise and treats. It may simply be sitting next to the dog on its bed and petting and talking to it.
With my dog, she stopped eating and I did various things (added water to her food, gave canned dog food) so she would keep eating a few more weeks. I did this so we had her put down a few days before we went on a weeklong houseboat trip. Thinking back, that was not the right thing to do. What I did made it easier on my family. What I should have done is what is best for/easiest on the dog.

netguy…….dont look back and wish you had done things different.

sounds exactly like my experience with my chocolate lab 2 years ago. except for the houseboat trip!!!! i mean it sounds almost to a Tee what i went through and did.

i took off work to take her to the vet to see what was wrong with her, when i got home she went out to hopefully go to do her thing, i watched and seen her coughing up flem. alot of times i had to help her down the steps. i knew right then that she wouldnt be coming back home.

i still think i made her suffer longer then i should of, but i kept putting it off!!!!!! we had her cremated and she sits on the headboard of the bed right where i sleep!!!!

We did it at home. Afterwards I ordered this monument and put it in her back yard.

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As others have mentioned.

Our dog stopped eating her regular food the last few months so it was ground beef and rice and that did the trick for a good period of time right down to the end.

Nothing I can add to the heart felt thoughts above. A lot of great people on this forum.

I went thru this last fall. After the first shot my dog went from sitting up to laying down immediately, no seizures,poop, or pee. Vet did the second shot and he was at peace. I’m still having a hard time but it was 100% the right thing to do. His grave is in my back yard and I talk to him often. By all means did the hole ahead of time, I don’t think I could have dug it that day.