Euthanasia is the painless death of a patient, often suffering from an irreversible disease. It can be done at your Vet practice or at your home. The choice is a personal one considering lots of options, some of which this article will try to address.

Table of contents

Deciding that it is the time to say goodbye to your pet and have them put to sleep (euthanised) is a very difficult and upsetting decision. But your pet’s best interests should always be at the forefront. Things to consider are: does your dog still have a good quality of life? What 5 things has your dog always enjoyed doing and can they still do them and enjoy them now? Is your dog having more bad days than good days? Discussing with your family and your vet may help you to come to terms with whether euthanasia is the right decision.

Euthanasia process

The process of euthanasia can start with sedation. This is a combination of drugs given that can make your dog very sleepy. For anxious dogs, or those that are easily panicked, this is a good choice, as it allows your pet to become sleepy with one injection and then be unaware of what is happening to them after.

If sedation is not needed then often your dog will have a cannula placed into a vein on its leg. This is simply allowing access directly into the vein

The drug that is used to euthanise your dog is pentobarbital, an anaesthetic drug, causing rapid unconsciousness and stops the heart, and therefore their breathing and reflexes. It is a painless drug and so does not cause pain or discomfort when injected into a vein (unlike some anaesthetics used in human medicine).

Euthanasia is designed to be pain free, stress free and respectful of your dog throughout.

At home experience

Opting to have your pet euthanised at home can often mean less anxiety for your dog as they will not have to enter the vet practice. It can be a calmer situation for you, knowing they will go peacefully in the place that they love and surrounded by familiar things. Your dog may be sedated or not as above and the actual process will be the same. You can have your dog on their favourite blanket or in their favourite room. Your pet may be able to be euthanised outside in the garden, if the weather is good. And they can be surrounded by sunshine. It often is a less stressful experience overall. But it will still be a sad time and saying goodbye will always be hard.

A home euthanasia often needs to be booked in advance to ensure your vet practice can come to you with both a veterinary surgeon and a nurse. It allows plenty of time without having to rush anything. It also allows you time to think about where in the house you would like it done; what option you would like for after; and whether you have any additional requests such as paw prints or cuttings of fur.

Post euthanasia options

There are many options for once your dog has been put to sleep. You could bury them in your garden (if you own your own home), so you can be prepared with this in advance. Or you can choose to have your dog cremated. And then you can have the ashes back to keep or scatter (if you choose individual cremation). Or you can choose not to have the ashes back (with the cheaper communal cremation option). Clippings of fur or even little paw prints can be done to be kept as memories.

Euthanasia is not an easy decision to make and often raises a lot of questions about your pet. Your vet will help you as much as possible with any questions you may have or helping you to make the decision. Your vet practice will guide you through the process and can help you with any further information or resources. If you choose to say goodbye to your dog at home, remember that it is your choice and what is right for you may not be right for someone else.

The stages of grief affect everyone and include both denial and anger. Accepting that you must say goodbye to your dog is hard, but choosing to euthanise your dog at home can help make the process easier for you. Many organisations can help with the emotions you may feel when you have lost your dog, the Blue Cross have trained advisors who may offer an impartial friendly person to speak to at the difficult time. 

Further reading: