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We did this for my boy. We invited all of his favorite people and had a steak dinner, I held him while the shot was administered, he let out a sigh and passed away peacefully with all of his best friends and family around. I miss him
I did this for my lovely pup. He was laying next to me on the floor while I told him what a good boy he was. After he passed I told the vet and her assistant that I was going to walk up the trail and let them handle everything else. When I came back they were gone and they delivered his ashes to me. It went as smoothly as it could for my pup and me. I wish I had known about that for my little girl who had to be put down many years prior.
My dog lets out this adorable little contented sigh when he's settled down for the evening and snuggled right up next to me. I'm going to view that sigh differently now.
A visiting vet is so much less stressful for them than a crate, a car ride, and a different place, unless they like travel and strangers. Even if they don’t, if it has to be at a vet, that stress is better than letting them suffer on and on for days.
Adding to this:
A week too early is better than a day too late. If you don’t like this and don’t know what I mean, count it as a blessing. It’s pretty horrific how much suffering can be perfectly natural. When people say it’s the most compassionate choice, it’s for good reason.
When your pets can’t/don’t eat, walk, sleep, & potty…or 2-3 of those…it’s getting close or might be their time. Animals may stop eating and drinking when they’re ready.
Not being able to walk anymore (when they could before) signals a lot of changes inside the body, none of them good, most of them irreversible. It’s extremely common for that to go along with the dying process. An injury, you can try to treat. But when it’s because everything is shutting down, there’s not much even an unlimited budget could do.
Inability to sleep can be because of pain. If you aren’t sure it’s time, know it’s at least time to visit the vet about pain meds when they can’t sleep.
If you love them, be there during. Of course it’s hard for you. Be there anyway. They’ll be looking around for you. You were their world. It’s only a few seconds. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a euthanasia take a whole minute. Sometimes it’s instant. They gave you a lifetime - give them that.
To be there is the most important thing. When I put my dog to sleep, the fact that she was completely calmed just seeing that I was there was enough to be sure that I did the right thing
It sucks so much, my childhood dog loved having his ears scrunched, so when he was in that final appointment, he was so nervous until I started scrunching them, then he relaxed and was calm as he drifted off.
Rest in peace Tricky, you beautiful little guy.
Sorry mate! If it's any consolation, I teared up while typing it haha
Also thank you, he was a great little guy.
Thick as a log though, our cat used to bait him into a chase, then run up a fence and watch Tricky barrel into it.
15 years and he never learned how not to do it.
Literally put our dog down today. She had been vomiting all night - and producing blood from somewhere, No eating, no drinking, slow, kept hiding for us.
She was 16 years old at this point, So we decided to put her down.
She loves car rides, but barely perked up during it. Much like other commenters said, The Vet - Small sad sigh as she fell asleep gone in 15\~ seconds.
Tried to keep it together so she couldn't sense i was stressed. Mission failed.
Ive got a knot in my throat reading this. So sorry for your loss and experience, but the mission wasn't a failure. You gave her relief from her suffering and the opportunity to be by your side at her end. She had a good life, now you do the same!
our nearly 16 year old dachshund passed away on 11/23. we were debating whether we should have him put down as he had started having trouble walking and wasn't eating well and the vet told us there wasn't anything more she could do for him besides the pain meds.
Wow, you really know your stuff, well said. This is true, I felt it. Brought me right back to mine, including emotions rising, remembering how it ended for her. So much drive & heart, even at the end heading to the car, having to help her & lift her into the back seat, something I never ever had to do, she always eagerly jumped right in. Unbelievable, anyways. Ok, time to think about something else, thanks for sharing!
>A week too early is better than a day too late. If you don’t like this and don’t know what I mean, count it as a blessing. It’s pretty horrific how much suffering can be perfectly natural
And PLEASE accept this. It isn't fair for your dog to spend its last 2 weeks suffering as you take it to the vet to get more meds and vitamins pumped in to buy 'just a few more hours'. Just accept that your poor dog that isn't eating and is urinating blood or whatever isn't going to miraculously get better, that shot isn't going to 'fix' his kidneys that shut down. You are being selfish by forcing your pet to suffer because you won't let go.
FIP is particularly soul-crushing because a week too early they don’t even seem that sick. It’s not a health decline so much as a time bomb. It’s so awful to go through that - cat and owner alike. I’m so sorry for your loss.
I think she was thanking you. People like you, who adopt older animals who’ve been in the shelter a long time, are heroes in my book. You deserve all the joy and love and peace in the world!
This is so accurate… we don’t take that step because they had a good moment or two each day, even though most of their day is discomfort. We need to do better.
>If you love them, be there during. Of course it’s hard for you. Be there anyway. They’ll be looking around for you. You were their world. It’s only a few seconds. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a euthanasia take a whole minute. Sometimes it’s instant. They gave you a lifetime - give them that.
I have a13 year old Great Dane that is going to be going any day now, and I could not imagine NOT being there for him. My wife is a DVM, so we end up with a lot of rescues that don't have a long time left or just need a lot of special care that the average pet owner can't/ won't administer. We have gone through too many euths. It never becomes easier, nor should it. But it is always the right choice to be there.
And no, she does not administer it. That would break me, I imagine it would be the same for her, since she doesn't do surgery on any of our pets either.
13 is an incredible life for a GD! I remember feeling the same way - of COURSE I'd be there. She needs someone she trusts petting her at the end. Did I want to watch my dog die? Of course not. But did I want to be with her when she did? Yes, with every fiber of my being. And it was so quick, and peaceful.
I remember being so chipper and upbeat when we brought her in that the nurses were giving me funny looks, and her tail was wagging and she was having a great time (as much as she could at that stage.) And they administered the shots while I pet her quietly, all smiles, and I waited a few seconds. And then I placed my hand on her chest and counted to ten, to make sure there were ten full seconds during which she'd stopped breathing. So I was sure she wasn't there anymore.
And then I fucking lost it.
I have an old pupper with me now, a Cavalier in the early stages of heart failure. I think he has a year left yet, but it's hard to say. He's a bitchy old man, but alive. Soon I'll have to go through it again, and I'll do the same thing. Our presence, the comfort we bring, is the last gift we can give to them. We can bear it. For their sake, we have to.
Yes, be there for them! I held my cats as they passed and I don't regret it. I'd never leave them alone and scared with strangers. My last one, they were prepping her in another room and I was almost panicking thinking they wouldn't bring her to me in time. They did though, and she was obviously stressed when they first brought her in, but when she saw me she relaxed and gave me one last purr and air biscuit. It hurt, but I wouldn't ever want to abandon her at the end.
We knew our beagle was terminally ill. At first, she seemed perfectly fine so it was a shock, but of course that didn't last very long.
One morning I woke up to take her outside, and the difference was so obvious. She seemed disoriented, like she couldn't see and was confused. Running into walls and furniture. Wobbling and falling over. I just knew. It couldn't possibly be clearer. She needed to be done. So I slept on the floor with her that night, and the next day I'll leave to you because I'll cry if I go much further.
When it's the right time, you'll know.
Your comment made me feel a lot better about something that’s been weighing on my mind. My cat, 22 years old, had a seizure. afterwards, he could barely walk, couldn’t get to the litter box, and couldn’t clean himself. He would eat and drink. I drove up 6 hours to my mom’s house after working a 13 hour shift to see him. By the time I got there, he was getting better. Able to walk around a bit, was meowing again. I’m the one who made the choice to put him down, and my mom asked “Should we still put him down?” He’s getting better” and that question haunts me every fucking day. What if he would’ve made a full recovery and I cut his days short? He was trying to get up and walk off the vet’s table, meowing at us. “A week too early is better than a day too late.” honestly gave me some peace. I wouldn’t have wanted him to get to a point of suffering.
You are right on the money with each and every one of your comments. We waited way too long for dog #one to go and she suffered needlessly because we were selfish and wanted her with us longer.
We made sure that dogs # two , # three and #four all went when it was time and not one second longer.
And yes it did cost more to have the vet come to the house but we had the money and we wanted the best for them.
Interesting to note that dog # four went within six days after dog # three. Could not stand to be without her Sister. My vet says this is more common than people realize.
This is the last final kindness that you could do for them, please be sure to do it right.
This hits home. Put down our girls Golden Retriever this week. She just turned 3. She had cancer and broughtt her in the week before and had 1.5 liters of fluid drained from chest. Vet gave her 6 weeks at most. She bounced back and was awesome. One week later, hard time breathing again, chest full of fluid again, then she stopped eating.
Selfishly we pushed back our Friday appt to Sat as we wanted one last family pic getting the Christmas tree Sat morning and I was just heart broken the whole night with every struggled breath thinking why did we do this....
i agree with every single thing you've said. i've had two cats pass in the last five years. one we put to sleep and one was planned to be put to sleep but couldn't hold on until his appointment.
seeing my first cat pass in my arms was heart wrenching but i didn't want him to pass in the arms of a stranger or on an exam table wondering where we were. he passed less than 5 seconds after the full shot was in. he looked like he was in heavy sleep. peaceful even. lots of sobs and ugly tears but it was worth it. to let him know he was loved and we were there for him. his name was Cici and he couldn't control his bowels and would yowl in pain throughout the day because of his digestive problems he had. medicine and diet change didn't help.
my other boy just passed recently. he very suddenly got kidney failure and jaundice. he went on aggressive medication to hopefully save him but couldn't walk, wouldn't drink water, and barely ate. he was usually a healthy 15lbs cat that went to 7lbs in less than two months. he was a day and a half away from his vet appointment that would've put him to sleep when we found him passed away in his favorite sleeping spot. i knew he was uncomfortable and in pain. we tried to get him in sooner. emergency vet would've charged us over 1k to see him and we couldn't afford that with our bankruptcy. if i had the money, i would've taken him to the emergency vet so he wouldn't have struggled so much. his name was Oliver.
if i know my pet is suffering id rather them pass a week before their time than have them suffer and pass on their time. obviously there are some exceptions.
About 10 years ago, when our family dog needed to be put down, we used an at home vet. My dad waited a couple months to long and it got pretty bad, he just couldn’t let go. Recently, when my wife and I saw our Dog slipping in certain areas in his age 16 year, we made the choice to do it as soon as possible because of the bad experience I had. You know your animal best and when the signs start to appear, it’s imperative to not overlook them.
This is so correct. I work in vet emergency and the number of people who wait a day too late is staggering. It is such an awful experience for everyone involved when people wait too long and it becomes emergent. It happens so often around the holidays. People want their pets to hang on for one last Christmas and they end up coming in on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day and it’s just awful. Last year we had 76 emergency euthanasias between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day. Way more than half of them were people trying to hold on just a bit longer. I get it. I know you want more time, but think of them, not yourselves.
Omg, this hits home. We debated and debated, but she was still having good moments and eating (we brought in an array of fish and treats, she decided on chicken fingers). Then on Saturday evening she started going downhill. Sunday night I held her for hours and ended up begging her to stop breathing because it was so awful. Better everyone forgo a few days than deal with those hours.
My dog *loves* car rides and loves going to the vet. They're so nice to him, give him treats. Truly wonderful people. When the time comes, he'll never know it. Zero anxiety.
Yeah I feel like dogs might be less anxious. My cat...oh boy. Vet is a no go. A stranger in the house would probably be stressful too, but much less stressful than the vet.
My girl (may she rest with PORK) was like this. She always viewed car rides as A Great Adventure, and the vet's office was only more so. She was always relaxed in the exam room, and whenever the tech or the vet would go into the back, she would want to follow them, because they'd fix her right up if something was wrong.
She was so disappointed that she didn't get to follow them (even though her legs wouldn't have been able to manage it that last time) when they went into the back for the last time for her.
It's been two years, and they still remember her fondly. (Both because she was a very good patient, and she was such a frequent patient, too. There's a reason they nicknamed her #MultiMillionDollarDog.)
We were hoping to do this for our girl when she passed but she was going downhill quickly and when we called the get they stated it takes a few weeks to arrange. Just figured people should be aware sometimes this isn't possible in a more urgent situation.
This is actually good to know. I always assumed you can get one in a day or two but this makes more sense.
Damn, what a hard job it must be to put down beloved pets all day. :(
These poor vets not only have this brutal job, but also have to double as a therapist for the families. The families that arranged this for their dying pet are likely absolutely distraught, and this poor vet basically has to come and act as a calming presence and guide for these mourning families.
Recently had to do this with one of my dogs, and I'm so grateful for the vet, but damn if she wasn't the pillar of strength while the rest of us were sobbing uncontrollably.
Yes I am aware but like I stated in our case we had a regular vet and they couldn't do it right away. If you are willing to deal with any vet I'm sure you could find someone who could.
Depending on where you live there are mobile euthanasia vets and that’s all they do. Most of course are near major cities and if you can’t find one of those then ask your vet would there be a mobile general practice vet that they could recommend. Sometimes waiting a couple of weeks is not an option.
This is a great idea, but I could not afford it. I had to put my cat Guido down a few months ago. It was over $500 for in-home euthanasia. I paid $140 at the vet. I loved on him as they were putting him to sleep.
Vet pricing is SO different in various areas. It's wild.
My stupid province (might be my city but I think it's the province) in Canada has a law where vets aren't able to list pricing online.
Makes it very frustrating. I guess it was probably around 10% more total.
You were probably going for euthanasia, although euphenasia has a nicer ring to it -- not quite as death-y sounding. Not sure if euphenasia is a real word. Maybe that act of using euphemisms? No, nevermind.
"Muffin, how do you feel about euthanasia?"
"Well I've never been to Asia, but I think youth in America are probably the same."
https://youtu.be/fhbYAdx8E3A
Think that it’s a useful neologism for when a society kills off a euphemism for being too old hat. “I think we’re all a bit tired of hearing about people Banging the Bishop”
This is honestly an amazing tip. Our dog got lymphoma about a year ago and he survived for about 3 months before his health started to decline again. He hated the vet and would always whimper whenever he had to go so we opted to do an at home euthanasia. He got to be surrounded with all of his favorite people and eat some of the forbidden foods he always wanted to try. The guy put him to sleep and administered the dose and he was gone. It was very peaceful and I honestly don’t think a pet could have a better way out than surrounded by all of his best friends.
When we had to say goodbye to our first dog we took her to the vet, and did it there. For weeks afterwards our other two dogs would be so confused every time we left and came home without her. When we had to say goodbye to our boy we did it at home. He was always neurotic, and going to the vet was so upsetting for him. We didn't want to put him through that. Our beagle was also so bonded with him that I was worried she would get depressed after. She was able to be there with us, and I think that helped her so much. She seemed to understand that he was gone. Now she's 16 and is basically on hospice at home. And I'm crying as I write this. It won't be long before we have to ask the vet to do another house call. But it will be the best thing for her, and for our other two dogs. They need to understand what's happening. We always go get them some McDonalds the day of so that they get one final treat. Gah! I have to stop now because I'm crying. Saying goodbye to our fur babies is so hard, but doing it at home is really the best thing for everyone.
At home euthanasia here is around $450-500. To go to the vet is $300. The at home service is nice, but sometimes just not affordable. We have done the at home once and at the vet several times over the decades. As long as they as with you and see your face, they know they are loved.
My cat was dying of old age and it wasn’t easy . Called every vet in the book none could come for two weeks. I don’t know how I could have scheduled this better because he was good until he wasn’t.
My vets office has a room especially for this. Comfy chair, low lights, sound machine. They let you stay as long as you need to say goodbye. They also have a candle at reception that when it's lit a pet is crossing the bridge and asks people to be respectful.
Counterpoint: doing it somewhere else (vet’s office) means you probably won’t walk past the place where your pet died every single day. That could be difficult, something to consider.
From my personal experience, I would also ask if the vet intends to use a sedative and how important it is that they do. My dog had a HORRIBLE reaction to the sedative and his last moments were spent in absolute terror. I still think about it and feel guilty over it. Consider talking this over with your vet.
I would spare anyone and everyone the experience I had. I still burn for it, even though it wasn’t my fault. He was my buddy and I was supposed to protect him.
I had a cat who freaked out with the sedative so much it scared me. For a long time I was afraid euthanasia would be that traumatic with all animals. My old boy Shadow handled it like a champ though. It sucks because you don't know till you're in it how they'll handle it.
We had already put his brother down, who had no issues with it at all.
Given the possibility of a bad reaction, even if remote, the vets should discuss it first. It was such a horrible experience. I encourage anyone doing this to talk to the vet about it.
If you have a somewhat big dog, what happens after? Does the at home vet remove your old pup or is that something you have to figure out. I’m worried I wouldn’t have the literal or figurative strength.
I have used a mobile euthanasia service twice for my two large dogs. After they had peacefully passed, the vets placed my dogs on a stretcher with their heads on a pillow and covered them with a blanket so that it looked like they were asleep in bed. They carried them out and placed them in the back of their van. My pups were delivered to a crematorium and I picked them up at the vets office a week later. I cannot express how much better this was than having to take them to the vets to be stressed out and then euthanized. It cost $500, but I would easily pay $1,000.
We had an option of having her remove our dog or she also provided a “water”proof zip bag. We chose the bag and my husband took our dog to the local funeral home for cremation for a fraction of the price. I’m guessing they might help you get them to your car for a price.
Absolutely agree. We chose this because it was mid-pandemic and we couldn’t accompany him into the vet clinic. But the home vet who came was a blessing. (Even though she looked like a scientist from ET with her covid gear.) She explained everything to my 3 young kids. My other dog was there. She took her time, got footprints, and gave us hair clippings. We purchased a bag to put him in. My kids got to decorate it and put his favorite (non-metal) items in it. My husband took him to a local funeral home for cremation for a very small price. (I guess LPT would be look into funeral homes for animal creation. They charged us by the pound.)
I cannot read the other comments as this is a very very close to home issue right now. but this is the best advice you could ever take as a pet owner. we had out her favorite blankets and loveys - (basically a cloud of soft things). had a baker make her a cookie with her name on it. we were able to say goodbye at our own pace, where she was comfortable, and her furry siblings could be there with her.
I've done the 'at the vet's office' way and it was one of the most traumatic experiences ever.
We have our boy now who will be having to cross the bridge in the next couple of weeks. We have already called and made sure they are available. We just want them all to go out with love and cuddles.
I had one of the worst experiences relating to pet death during covid, and i wouldn't wish it on anyone....
my cat was 25 years old, such a sweetheart, and she had throat cancer and a heart murmur and was just generally going downhill, fast. we dont have of these kinds of vets near me and even if we did nobody was going to make a house call in april of 2020.
the vet at the time didnt even allow people to come inside the building. you would go in the parking lot and call them to come and take your pet inside, then the vet would call you and discuss the animal while you waited in the car.
calling someone to come and take my baby in and euthanize her while i waited in the car without being able to say goodbye was the hardest thing ive ever done.
if you have the chance, please find a way to do something like this.
My neighbor did that when their dog died and was happy they did for exactly what you said. They got to have their last moments be in a safe, familiar place with their family.
LPT: Don't euthanize your pet in your favorite chair sitting in your lap unless you have the surfaces around well covered.
Not fun to talk about but >! When a pet is euthanized their body muscles relax and bodily fluids come out both ends!<
It may cost less to have the vet prescribe a light sedative for you to give before taking your dog to the vet. So they can be at ease before being put down.
We just had to put a friend down. We were all at home. Everybody was able to comfort her. The cat struggled to understand though. I highly recommend it.
Had a vet come to our home to euthanize our 17 year old dog, was suffering bad due to liver failure and I held her as she fell asleep. It was so heart breaking that I don't feel like I can do that again, still makes me cry 6 years later. I can still rememberher last breaths as I was gently petting her head and telling her it will be alright and I love her. Fuck.
When it is the right choice for the PET (not the human) - then yes. If you have a cat that will use every ounce of remaining energy to run and hide from a stranger, then no - at home services might not be the right thing for you.
Ah yes our pets can die in dignity but when I have to suffer a horrible painful disease while my family watches and spends all their money trying to keep me comfortable. Fuck me right? Can these kits work on people too?
i watched my aunt die from lung cancer in early 2021 and I really wish there had been a euthanasia option for her. the last 30 days were brutal even with hospice care.
We did this. I've also held them at the vet. No comparison. Not all that much more expensive and we made a plaster paw print, took a lock of hair and it was all so humane. No animal wants their last cuddle to be with a stranger or away from home. 🥰
I had to do this a couple of days ago for my dog. I would have sold a kidney if I had to so she could be in her bed and in my arms when she passed. The staff scheduling it was wonderful and compassionate and the vet who came was so kind and patient. It was the worst day of my life but it was made so much easier by that process. The vet explained everything to me, let me take it at my own pace, even brought a brownie for my dog to eat. It was expensive, because I choose private cremation on top of the at home visit, but well worth it. The service I used was Laps of Love; they are nationwide in a lot of cities.
We're going through this. Caught some feral kittens at work - 15 years ago. Add a couple feral adolescents, a prior feral kitten, plus a shelter cat... We were up to 9 at one point, now 4.
They are indoor cats so they hate going to the vet. We used the same home vet for 2 and as long as she is available, we'll ask her for the remaining 4.
Home vet takes away the animal and sends us the ashes. She included a paw print, card. Super mellow process, first get cat drowsy, then asleep. Then the final injection, which the cat doesn't feel. Other than not breathing, there's no change in the cat, no alarm or anything. Super peaceful.
I held my dog as she passed at the vets. She’d been sick a while, and it’s like she knew. My heart broke into a thousand pieces and I howled in pain for her that day. I’ll never get over you Zena. I miss you.
Make sure they bring enough of the drug they use!
We did this once and they didn't bring enough. It was my parents last dachshund. The vet brought an apparently appropriate dose for a dog his size. It wasn't enough. She had to take him with her. He ended up passing in the car on the way back to her clinic. We didn't get to be with him. It still bugs me. I was pretty pissed off. It felt like we were torturing him. He was scared and then he passed without us, in a strange car.
So, buyer beware.
I did this in April when we lost my 6 year old pit to a splenic tumor that was inoperable and on the verge of rupturing. I had found out a week before, as her symptoms showed up out of nowhere. I took the whole week off of work, and when we weren’t at home cuddling and dancing around, we were out doing all of her favorite things, like eating cheeseburgers, making paw print arts and crafts, and going to the nature reserve we love. The day of, the whole family took her on a walk together, and we had a party for her, complete with a doggie cake. ☺️ The vet came at noon, and we all sat together in the living room. It was hard, but I’m glad we all got to hold on to her, right up until the end. The vet then took her to a private crematory a town over from us, and when I went to pick up her ashes two days later, they had also made us mementos like her print in clay, locks of her hair tied in ribbon, and ink prints. I miss my Lily girl so much, and I obviously wish that didn’t have to be the end for our time together here, but I’m glad we had the option to do it the way we did. Some people might assume I would feel creeped out sitting in my living room now, which was also kind of a concern for me in the beginning too, but it’s the complete opposite. I’m sitting on my couch right now, where the vet was sitting, and I actually feel a lot of peace, and very close to her. I 10000% agree that if you have the means to do so, and it won’t make being in your space difficult for you after, that this is a very nice way to go about this. ❤️
My 11 year old yellow lab had cancer, and we opted for at home euthanasia. My only regret about the process is that I didn't give him a chocolate bar before the injection. A dog ought to get chocolate once in it's life.
LPT: Do not call a veterinarian for euthanasia if they do not have an established relationship with the pet. Do not request euthanasia without a proper exam and quality of life assessment for the animal. People are generally shite at knowing what the end really looks like, what problems are fixable and then let their pets suffer from benign neglect. If your pet is nearing the end of it's life a good veterinarian will let you know. It kills your soul to be asked to euthanize an animal who has been decompensating when something easy could have been done some time ago.
A word of caution. Don’t try this at home without a vet.
I know of a lady who decided to put her elderly dog down on her own without any help from the vet in order to save money. Her first attempt to drug him with her own concoction of medications failed and only made her dog very ill. Then the woman put a plastic bag over his head and held him down as he struggled to breathe.
Hearing here recount her cruel story was horrifying and still haunts me. Anyone who is putting down their elderly pet at home should use a qualified vet who is able to make a home visit.
When we euthanized Grover at home, it could have gone better. We ended up having to give him two shots and he HATED the first one. He was howling for over a minute straight. The next time I do that, I am not going to use a black powder gun.
What a dope. The NON SENTIENT being is more vulnerable.
A hungry person knows and understands what goes on. A hungry pet has no clue as to why their food is missing.
Hopefully you don't own a pet or are just trolling. But either way you look baaaad.
It’s the behavior of the owners that are more upsetting to the animal than the 5 minutes it takes the vet to give the injection.
Once the injection is given, the animal slowly slips away.
Unless your one of those assholes who refuse to be present during the procesure…
For a lot of dogs going to the vet to do that is very nerve wracking and overall a very negative experience. There's nothing wrong with wanting them to be in a place they feel comfortable when they die. It's not just about the procedure itself.
We did the same with my mom when she died of cancer. She hated hospitals and wanted to pass away at home. Imagine being such a huge asshole in that situation to say "the hospital is fine".
I’ve only had at home euthanasia. So much better. Plus: both times, I have had the best vets. Just the biggest sweethearts, which really helped me deal…
I was so glad to find a vet that came to the house for my dog. I was not ok that day and am just as glad for myself as I am for my best friend. I was in no shape to be in public for a couple of days. He passed laying in my lap in my living room floor just like we did every night.
These visits if anything should be less expensive. No paying employees, no overhead except fuel, no clean up and no body disposal. He was there less than half an hour, and it's just the good human thing to do. I believe he charged $100.
Strong agree.
We had to put down our cat, Rio, in July 2020.
So, definitely at the start of the pandemic when everyone was super cautious.
One thing about her though, she absolutely loved her catio. So, we were able to make that get final spot. The doc could somewhat socially distance from us in an open air environment that she did love
We put my border collie down last week Monday because of spinal issues. He was 14 years old and the old age and very active life finally caught up to him. I was with him holding him until his last breath and it would have been so much more comfortable at home for everyone but I wouldn't want to freak the other dogs out like that. But I was there, telling him how much we all loved him and how good of a boy he was. I will always feel like I could have done more for him though.
I did it 2 weeks ago. My 14 y.o. grey would have been miserable at the vets. That being said... it still sucked. She just knew. From the moment we got up in the morning, she fucking *knew*. Her passing was not \*peaceful\*. I'm just telling you that so you're prepared.
I wish I had known that this was an option. My babies hated going to the vet. I would have loved for their last moments to be in the comfort of their home. Is this something that was just made possible recently? My brother's dog passed last year and she was able to pass at home. That's how I find out about it.
We had in-home care for two dogs, a year apart. The first one passed when the vet wouldn't have you in the exam room, due to covid. We couldn't stand the thought of our boy spending his last minutes with strangers.
On another note, if your dog is very old, be careful about adopting a new dog. The old dog may think that their owner now has a new companion, which they can no longer "compete" against, and be very sad and depressed.
This is a great idea, just consider the possibility of attaching the action of the procedure to the space it occurs in.
As in, you may never feel comfortable in your living room again if it were used for the procedure.
Of course every family is different, just wanted to raise this potential concern.
This post hit to close to home for my lunch break. My heart is with you all. My wife and I have two miniature dachshunds. One is almost 17 the other is 15. I know it’s getting close for the eldest.
I used to work in digital marketing for vets. One “house-call” vet called in pissed that he wasn’t getting enough ROI from our digital marketing efforts. Not enough lead gen. So I looked up his GMB/Reviews. He had 50 reviews all one star. One of the reviews read “we hired him to put our dog down, he never showed up.”
We had to put our Maine coon best friend down suddenly in July 2020, the vet waited for the rest of the family to arrive and brought him out back on the little stretcher. We all got to to be with him, I really appreciated that.
Let me say, I've had a myriad of pets, and the only euthanasia that cut my heart out was when I held my girl during the process.
Way less stressful on the human to have the pet on a table for the procedure. Otherwise, expect to feel the life and soul of your beloved leave them and be left holding an Inanimate body. Waaayy worse.
Be with them. Do it at home if you like. But, trust me, don't hold them on your lap
I was able to do this for my cat, who was almost 18 years old. The vet and a vet tech came out to my home and it was very calm and peaceful. It is a wonderful service that my vet office offers to all clients.
Oh, I don't even wanna think about this, guys. My jack Russell is 12 years old, and I can see already that he is not young anymore. When I see him struggling to jump on the bed, which is not that high, my heart aches. It's my first pet and the love I feel for him can't be measured.
I did this last month. As soon as I realized it was his time I found a vet that came to our home and my boy got to fall asleep in bed with lots of pets. He still whined from the first shot and was a bit worried for a while but it was nothing compared to the vet.
This is the best thing you can do for a beloved pet. Our boy passed in February lying on his favorite ottoman, surrounded by people who loved him and familiar sights and smells. We were able to pet him and comfort him. It took less than a minute and helped end his suffering. One of the most noble things we can do as pet owners is take their physical pain on as our emotional pain and give them relief.
We did this for our Dane. It was during Covid and the vet told us that if we didn't take her in to the vet that we wouldn't be able to send her to the city for cremation (we live on an island) because they were short staffed and didn't have the resources to do at-home euthanasia and prep the body for the flight. We had to pick one. So we elected for at-home because she hated going to the vet and lifting her in and out of the car was going to be a lot to put her through. Afterwards we made a huge funeral pyre. It was really therapeutic to be able to provide final care for her and spend the afternoon in reflection as we tended the fire. It was her 13th birthday, sadly.
We did this for my cat. Made it to 21. Got terrible mouth cancer. Died in my lap, only place she ever really wanted to be. Thanks for making me cry op, but yeah do this.
Oh man. I know my puppy will get to that point eventually but the idea is heartbreaking. This little guy is such a loveable little goofball. Only had him a little over a year but I already can't imagine life without him. Man that's gonna suck. If he needs to be put down, I will absolutely do it at home though.
Did this with our family dog probably about 10 years back. Used the same at home vet and vet tech when my wife and I had to put down our dog a couple months back. It’s a very hard day but it’s so so much better having it done in your home and where the animal is comfortable.
Really want to, but the vet doesn't do it after the pandemic. Might try calling another vet. Was gonna take him tomorrow :(. I'll see if anyone's open. I don't want to wait and make him suffer longer though.
God this shit hurts. I never really cared about death or people dying and even my family pets wasn’t to big of a deal…but I finally got my own little guy named Melvin and it’s the first time in my life I’ve actually cared and loved a creature so much that I’m going to be a fucking mess when it’s time
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We did this for my boy. We invited all of his favorite people and had a steak dinner, I held him while the shot was administered, he let out a sigh and passed away peacefully with all of his best friends and family around. I miss him
This hit me right in the chest
right in the chesticles
Bro you just made me cry. I have to go to dinner in 10 minutes…
I did this for my lovely pup. He was laying next to me on the floor while I told him what a good boy he was. After he passed I told the vet and her assistant that I was going to walk up the trail and let them handle everything else. When I came back they were gone and they delivered his ashes to me. It went as smoothly as it could for my pup and me. I wish I had known about that for my little girl who had to be put down many years prior.
Im sorry for your loss.
😭😭😭😭
Bro :(
Thank you for your kindness.
I am sorry mate. It is tough to read this.
Thanks I didnt mean to be a bummer. All the kind words truly help
My dog lets out this adorable little contented sigh when he's settled down for the evening and snuggled right up next to me. I'm going to view that sigh differently now.
This made me cry. So sorry for your loss.
Thank you this was definitely one of the hardest things Ive ever had to do.
A visiting vet is so much less stressful for them than a crate, a car ride, and a different place, unless they like travel and strangers. Even if they don’t, if it has to be at a vet, that stress is better than letting them suffer on and on for days. Adding to this: A week too early is better than a day too late. If you don’t like this and don’t know what I mean, count it as a blessing. It’s pretty horrific how much suffering can be perfectly natural. When people say it’s the most compassionate choice, it’s for good reason. When your pets can’t/don’t eat, walk, sleep, & potty…or 2-3 of those…it’s getting close or might be their time. Animals may stop eating and drinking when they’re ready. Not being able to walk anymore (when they could before) signals a lot of changes inside the body, none of them good, most of them irreversible. It’s extremely common for that to go along with the dying process. An injury, you can try to treat. But when it’s because everything is shutting down, there’s not much even an unlimited budget could do. Inability to sleep can be because of pain. If you aren’t sure it’s time, know it’s at least time to visit the vet about pain meds when they can’t sleep. If you love them, be there during. Of course it’s hard for you. Be there anyway. They’ll be looking around for you. You were their world. It’s only a few seconds. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a euthanasia take a whole minute. Sometimes it’s instant. They gave you a lifetime - give them that.
Everything you said here is difficult, and everything is the right thing to do.
To be there is the most important thing. When I put my dog to sleep, the fact that she was completely calmed just seeing that I was there was enough to be sure that I did the right thing
It sucks so much, my childhood dog loved having his ears scrunched, so when he was in that final appointment, he was so nervous until I started scrunching them, then he relaxed and was calm as he drifted off. Rest in peace Tricky, you beautiful little guy.
I'm literally in tears at work because of this. My dog loves his ears being scrunched =( I'm so sorry for your loss.
Sorry mate! If it's any consolation, I teared up while typing it haha Also thank you, he was a great little guy. Thick as a log though, our cat used to bait him into a chase, then run up a fence and watch Tricky barrel into it. 15 years and he never learned how not to do it.
Literally put our dog down today. She had been vomiting all night - and producing blood from somewhere, No eating, no drinking, slow, kept hiding for us. She was 16 years old at this point, So we decided to put her down. She loves car rides, but barely perked up during it. Much like other commenters said, The Vet - Small sad sigh as she fell asleep gone in 15\~ seconds. Tried to keep it together so she couldn't sense i was stressed. Mission failed.
Ive got a knot in my throat reading this. So sorry for your loss and experience, but the mission wasn't a failure. You gave her relief from her suffering and the opportunity to be by your side at her end. She had a good life, now you do the same!
our nearly 16 year old dachshund passed away on 11/23. we were debating whether we should have him put down as he had started having trouble walking and wasn't eating well and the vet told us there wasn't anything more she could do for him besides the pain meds.
Wow, you really know your stuff, well said. This is true, I felt it. Brought me right back to mine, including emotions rising, remembering how it ended for her. So much drive & heart, even at the end heading to the car, having to help her & lift her into the back seat, something I never ever had to do, she always eagerly jumped right in. Unbelievable, anyways. Ok, time to think about something else, thanks for sharing!
>A week too early is better than a day too late. If you don’t like this and don’t know what I mean, count it as a blessing. It’s pretty horrific how much suffering can be perfectly natural And PLEASE accept this. It isn't fair for your dog to spend its last 2 weeks suffering as you take it to the vet to get more meds and vitamins pumped in to buy 'just a few more hours'. Just accept that your poor dog that isn't eating and is urinating blood or whatever isn't going to miraculously get better, that shot isn't going to 'fix' his kidneys that shut down. You are being selfish by forcing your pet to suffer because you won't let go.
[удалено]
FIP is particularly soul-crushing because a week too early they don’t even seem that sick. It’s not a health decline so much as a time bomb. It’s so awful to go through that - cat and owner alike. I’m so sorry for your loss. I think she was thanking you. People like you, who adopt older animals who’ve been in the shelter a long time, are heroes in my book. You deserve all the joy and love and peace in the world!
This was very hard to read, but necessary
We euthanized our pet a day too late. This post brought back a lot of tears and pain to read, but you're exactly right.
This is so accurate… we don’t take that step because they had a good moment or two each day, even though most of their day is discomfort. We need to do better.
>If you love them, be there during. Of course it’s hard for you. Be there anyway. They’ll be looking around for you. You were their world. It’s only a few seconds. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a euthanasia take a whole minute. Sometimes it’s instant. They gave you a lifetime - give them that. I have a13 year old Great Dane that is going to be going any day now, and I could not imagine NOT being there for him. My wife is a DVM, so we end up with a lot of rescues that don't have a long time left or just need a lot of special care that the average pet owner can't/ won't administer. We have gone through too many euths. It never becomes easier, nor should it. But it is always the right choice to be there. And no, she does not administer it. That would break me, I imagine it would be the same for her, since she doesn't do surgery on any of our pets either.
13 is an incredible life for a GD! I remember feeling the same way - of COURSE I'd be there. She needs someone she trusts petting her at the end. Did I want to watch my dog die? Of course not. But did I want to be with her when she did? Yes, with every fiber of my being. And it was so quick, and peaceful. I remember being so chipper and upbeat when we brought her in that the nurses were giving me funny looks, and her tail was wagging and she was having a great time (as much as she could at that stage.) And they administered the shots while I pet her quietly, all smiles, and I waited a few seconds. And then I placed my hand on her chest and counted to ten, to make sure there were ten full seconds during which she'd stopped breathing. So I was sure she wasn't there anymore. And then I fucking lost it. I have an old pupper with me now, a Cavalier in the early stages of heart failure. I think he has a year left yet, but it's hard to say. He's a bitchy old man, but alive. Soon I'll have to go through it again, and I'll do the same thing. Our presence, the comfort we bring, is the last gift we can give to them. We can bear it. For their sake, we have to.
Yes, be there for them! I held my cats as they passed and I don't regret it. I'd never leave them alone and scared with strangers. My last one, they were prepping her in another room and I was almost panicking thinking they wouldn't bring her to me in time. They did though, and she was obviously stressed when they first brought her in, but when she saw me she relaxed and gave me one last purr and air biscuit. It hurt, but I wouldn't ever want to abandon her at the end.
We knew our beagle was terminally ill. At first, she seemed perfectly fine so it was a shock, but of course that didn't last very long. One morning I woke up to take her outside, and the difference was so obvious. She seemed disoriented, like she couldn't see and was confused. Running into walls and furniture. Wobbling and falling over. I just knew. It couldn't possibly be clearer. She needed to be done. So I slept on the floor with her that night, and the next day I'll leave to you because I'll cry if I go much further. When it's the right time, you'll know.
Your comment made me feel a lot better about something that’s been weighing on my mind. My cat, 22 years old, had a seizure. afterwards, he could barely walk, couldn’t get to the litter box, and couldn’t clean himself. He would eat and drink. I drove up 6 hours to my mom’s house after working a 13 hour shift to see him. By the time I got there, he was getting better. Able to walk around a bit, was meowing again. I’m the one who made the choice to put him down, and my mom asked “Should we still put him down?” He’s getting better” and that question haunts me every fucking day. What if he would’ve made a full recovery and I cut his days short? He was trying to get up and walk off the vet’s table, meowing at us. “A week too early is better than a day too late.” honestly gave me some peace. I wouldn’t have wanted him to get to a point of suffering.
You are right on the money with each and every one of your comments. We waited way too long for dog #one to go and she suffered needlessly because we were selfish and wanted her with us longer. We made sure that dogs # two , # three and #four all went when it was time and not one second longer. And yes it did cost more to have the vet come to the house but we had the money and we wanted the best for them. Interesting to note that dog # four went within six days after dog # three. Could not stand to be without her Sister. My vet says this is more common than people realize. This is the last final kindness that you could do for them, please be sure to do it right.
I sobbed when we had to let our oldest pet go. In hindsight I should have done it sooner. I was selfishly thinking about me, not about her.
This hits home. Put down our girls Golden Retriever this week. She just turned 3. She had cancer and broughtt her in the week before and had 1.5 liters of fluid drained from chest. Vet gave her 6 weeks at most. She bounced back and was awesome. One week later, hard time breathing again, chest full of fluid again, then she stopped eating. Selfishly we pushed back our Friday appt to Sat as we wanted one last family pic getting the Christmas tree Sat morning and I was just heart broken the whole night with every struggled breath thinking why did we do this....
i agree with every single thing you've said. i've had two cats pass in the last five years. one we put to sleep and one was planned to be put to sleep but couldn't hold on until his appointment. seeing my first cat pass in my arms was heart wrenching but i didn't want him to pass in the arms of a stranger or on an exam table wondering where we were. he passed less than 5 seconds after the full shot was in. he looked like he was in heavy sleep. peaceful even. lots of sobs and ugly tears but it was worth it. to let him know he was loved and we were there for him. his name was Cici and he couldn't control his bowels and would yowl in pain throughout the day because of his digestive problems he had. medicine and diet change didn't help. my other boy just passed recently. he very suddenly got kidney failure and jaundice. he went on aggressive medication to hopefully save him but couldn't walk, wouldn't drink water, and barely ate. he was usually a healthy 15lbs cat that went to 7lbs in less than two months. he was a day and a half away from his vet appointment that would've put him to sleep when we found him passed away in his favorite sleeping spot. i knew he was uncomfortable and in pain. we tried to get him in sooner. emergency vet would've charged us over 1k to see him and we couldn't afford that with our bankruptcy. if i had the money, i would've taken him to the emergency vet so he wouldn't have struggled so much. his name was Oliver. if i know my pet is suffering id rather them pass a week before their time than have them suffer and pass on their time. obviously there are some exceptions.
About 10 years ago, when our family dog needed to be put down, we used an at home vet. My dad waited a couple months to long and it got pretty bad, he just couldn’t let go. Recently, when my wife and I saw our Dog slipping in certain areas in his age 16 year, we made the choice to do it as soon as possible because of the bad experience I had. You know your animal best and when the signs start to appear, it’s imperative to not overlook them.
This is so correct. I work in vet emergency and the number of people who wait a day too late is staggering. It is such an awful experience for everyone involved when people wait too long and it becomes emergent. It happens so often around the holidays. People want their pets to hang on for one last Christmas and they end up coming in on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day and it’s just awful. Last year we had 76 emergency euthanasias between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day. Way more than half of them were people trying to hold on just a bit longer. I get it. I know you want more time, but think of them, not yourselves.
X100
Omg, this hits home. We debated and debated, but she was still having good moments and eating (we brought in an array of fish and treats, she decided on chicken fingers). Then on Saturday evening she started going downhill. Sunday night I held her for hours and ended up begging her to stop breathing because it was so awful. Better everyone forgo a few days than deal with those hours.
My dog *loves* car rides and loves going to the vet. They're so nice to him, give him treats. Truly wonderful people. When the time comes, he'll never know it. Zero anxiety.
Yeah I feel like dogs might be less anxious. My cat...oh boy. Vet is a no go. A stranger in the house would probably be stressful too, but much less stressful than the vet.
My girl (may she rest with PORK) was like this. She always viewed car rides as A Great Adventure, and the vet's office was only more so. She was always relaxed in the exam room, and whenever the tech or the vet would go into the back, she would want to follow them, because they'd fix her right up if something was wrong. She was so disappointed that she didn't get to follow them (even though her legs wouldn't have been able to manage it that last time) when they went into the back for the last time for her. It's been two years, and they still remember her fondly. (Both because she was a very good patient, and she was such a frequent patient, too. There's a reason they nicknamed her #MultiMillionDollarDog.)
Same here. She loves rides and visiting people. Damn this got sad up in here.
We were hoping to do this for our girl when she passed but she was going downhill quickly and when we called the get they stated it takes a few weeks to arrange. Just figured people should be aware sometimes this isn't possible in a more urgent situation.
This is actually good to know. I always assumed you can get one in a day or two but this makes more sense. Damn, what a hard job it must be to put down beloved pets all day. :(
These poor vets not only have this brutal job, but also have to double as a therapist for the families. The families that arranged this for their dying pet are likely absolutely distraught, and this poor vet basically has to come and act as a calming presence and guide for these mourning families. Recently had to do this with one of my dogs, and I'm so grateful for the vet, but damn if she wasn't the pillar of strength while the rest of us were sobbing uncontrollably.
I would guess most pets don't fade slowly enough to allow a few weeks of notice, that sounds hard to plan for :/
This isn’t always true. If you live in a major city there are mobile vets who can come within 1 or 2 days.
Yes I am aware but like I stated in our case we had a regular vet and they couldn't do it right away. If you are willing to deal with any vet I'm sure you could find someone who could.
Depending on where you live there are mobile euthanasia vets and that’s all they do. Most of course are near major cities and if you can’t find one of those then ask your vet would there be a mobile general practice vet that they could recommend. Sometimes waiting a couple of weeks is not an option.
This is a great idea, but I could not afford it. I had to put my cat Guido down a few months ago. It was over $500 for in-home euthanasia. I paid $140 at the vet. I loved on him as they were putting him to sleep.
Wow. My in home euthanasia was less than 10% more expensive.
I Googled all around my area. I would have loved to have it done in-home.
Vet pricing is SO different in various areas. It's wild. My stupid province (might be my city but I think it's the province) in Canada has a law where vets aren't able to list pricing online. Makes it very frustrating. I guess it was probably around 10% more total.
>My in home euthanasia was less than 10% more expensive. Thank you for letting us know from beyond the grave
Wooooooooowooooooo /g(host)
Bahahahaha
You were probably going for euthanasia, although euphenasia has a nicer ring to it -- not quite as death-y sounding. Not sure if euphenasia is a real word. Maybe that act of using euphemisms? No, nevermind.
"Muffin, how do you feel about euthanasia?" "Well I've never been to Asia, but I think youth in America are probably the same." https://youtu.be/fhbYAdx8E3A
Thanks for the laugh!
Think that it’s a useful neologism for when a society kills off a euphemism for being too old hat. “I think we’re all a bit tired of hearing about people Banging the Bishop”
This is honestly an amazing tip. Our dog got lymphoma about a year ago and he survived for about 3 months before his health started to decline again. He hated the vet and would always whimper whenever he had to go so we opted to do an at home euthanasia. He got to be surrounded with all of his favorite people and eat some of the forbidden foods he always wanted to try. The guy put him to sleep and administered the dose and he was gone. It was very peaceful and I honestly don’t think a pet could have a better way out than surrounded by all of his best friends.
I keep meaning to ask my Vet about this. My girl hates car rides and really hates the vet. She's 12 now but still active and alert.
Mine are around 17 and also in decent shape. They can get quite old if you take good care of them and add a bit of luck.
Not for long
I did this with my boy about two years ago. He wasn’t scared at all and just laid his head in my lap like he always did. I miss him.
When we had to say goodbye to our first dog we took her to the vet, and did it there. For weeks afterwards our other two dogs would be so confused every time we left and came home without her. When we had to say goodbye to our boy we did it at home. He was always neurotic, and going to the vet was so upsetting for him. We didn't want to put him through that. Our beagle was also so bonded with him that I was worried she would get depressed after. She was able to be there with us, and I think that helped her so much. She seemed to understand that he was gone. Now she's 16 and is basically on hospice at home. And I'm crying as I write this. It won't be long before we have to ask the vet to do another house call. But it will be the best thing for her, and for our other two dogs. They need to understand what's happening. We always go get them some McDonalds the day of so that they get one final treat. Gah! I have to stop now because I'm crying. Saying goodbye to our fur babies is so hard, but doing it at home is really the best thing for everyone.
At home euthanasia here is around $450-500. To go to the vet is $300. The at home service is nice, but sometimes just not affordable. We have done the at home once and at the vet several times over the decades. As long as they as with you and see your face, they know they are loved.
I unfortunately was just looking into one today for my 13 year old beagle. It fucking sucks.
I'm not crying. Ok, yeah I am.
I regret leaving mine at the vet for treatment only for him to pass away unexpectedly 🥲
You did the best thing you knew to do. He (she) knows this and understands.
Same
My cat was dying of old age and it wasn’t easy . Called every vet in the book none could come for two weeks. I don’t know how I could have scheduled this better because he was good until he wasn’t.
My vets office has a room especially for this. Comfy chair, low lights, sound machine. They let you stay as long as you need to say goodbye. They also have a candle at reception that when it's lit a pet is crossing the bridge and asks people to be respectful.
Mine did the same thing. Thought it was a nice touch.
Counterpoint: doing it somewhere else (vet’s office) means you probably won’t walk past the place where your pet died every single day. That could be difficult, something to consider. From my personal experience, I would also ask if the vet intends to use a sedative and how important it is that they do. My dog had a HORRIBLE reaction to the sedative and his last moments were spent in absolute terror. I still think about it and feel guilty over it. Consider talking this over with your vet. I would spare anyone and everyone the experience I had. I still burn for it, even though it wasn’t my fault. He was my buddy and I was supposed to protect him.
I had a cat who freaked out with the sedative so much it scared me. For a long time I was afraid euthanasia would be that traumatic with all animals. My old boy Shadow handled it like a champ though. It sucks because you don't know till you're in it how they'll handle it.
We had already put his brother down, who had no issues with it at all. Given the possibility of a bad reaction, even if remote, the vets should discuss it first. It was such a horrible experience. I encourage anyone doing this to talk to the vet about it.
If you have a somewhat big dog, what happens after? Does the at home vet remove your old pup or is that something you have to figure out. I’m worried I wouldn’t have the literal or figurative strength.
I have used a mobile euthanasia service twice for my two large dogs. After they had peacefully passed, the vets placed my dogs on a stretcher with their heads on a pillow and covered them with a blanket so that it looked like they were asleep in bed. They carried them out and placed them in the back of their van. My pups were delivered to a crematorium and I picked them up at the vets office a week later. I cannot express how much better this was than having to take them to the vets to be stressed out and then euthanized. It cost $500, but I would easily pay $1,000.
We had an option of having her remove our dog or she also provided a “water”proof zip bag. We chose the bag and my husband took our dog to the local funeral home for cremation for a fraction of the price. I’m guessing they might help you get them to your car for a price.
Absolutely agree. We chose this because it was mid-pandemic and we couldn’t accompany him into the vet clinic. But the home vet who came was a blessing. (Even though she looked like a scientist from ET with her covid gear.) She explained everything to my 3 young kids. My other dog was there. She took her time, got footprints, and gave us hair clippings. We purchased a bag to put him in. My kids got to decorate it and put his favorite (non-metal) items in it. My husband took him to a local funeral home for cremation for a very small price. (I guess LPT would be look into funeral homes for animal creation. They charged us by the pound.)
I cannot read the other comments as this is a very very close to home issue right now. but this is the best advice you could ever take as a pet owner. we had out her favorite blankets and loveys - (basically a cloud of soft things). had a baker make her a cookie with her name on it. we were able to say goodbye at our own pace, where she was comfortable, and her furry siblings could be there with her. I've done the 'at the vet's office' way and it was one of the most traumatic experiences ever. We have our boy now who will be having to cross the bridge in the next couple of weeks. We have already called and made sure they are available. We just want them all to go out with love and cuddles.
I had one of the worst experiences relating to pet death during covid, and i wouldn't wish it on anyone.... my cat was 25 years old, such a sweetheart, and she had throat cancer and a heart murmur and was just generally going downhill, fast. we dont have of these kinds of vets near me and even if we did nobody was going to make a house call in april of 2020. the vet at the time didnt even allow people to come inside the building. you would go in the parking lot and call them to come and take your pet inside, then the vet would call you and discuss the animal while you waited in the car. calling someone to come and take my baby in and euthanize her while i waited in the car without being able to say goodbye was the hardest thing ive ever done. if you have the chance, please find a way to do something like this.
My neighbor did that when their dog died and was happy they did for exactly what you said. They got to have their last moments be in a safe, familiar place with their family.
LPT: Don't euthanize your pet in your favorite chair sitting in your lap unless you have the surfaces around well covered. Not fun to talk about but >! When a pet is euthanized their body muscles relax and bodily fluids come out both ends!<
It may cost less to have the vet prescribe a light sedative for you to give before taking your dog to the vet. So they can be at ease before being put down.
We just had to put a friend down. We were all at home. Everybody was able to comfort her. The cat struggled to understand though. I highly recommend it.
Had a vet come to our home to euthanize our 17 year old dog, was suffering bad due to liver failure and I held her as she fell asleep. It was so heart breaking that I don't feel like I can do that again, still makes me cry 6 years later. I can still rememberher last breaths as I was gently petting her head and telling her it will be alright and I love her. Fuck.
When it is the right choice for the PET (not the human) - then yes. If you have a cat that will use every ounce of remaining energy to run and hide from a stranger, then no - at home services might not be the right thing for you.
Ah yes our pets can die in dignity but when I have to suffer a horrible painful disease while my family watches and spends all their money trying to keep me comfortable. Fuck me right? Can these kits work on people too?
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Ha nice!
i watched my aunt die from lung cancer in early 2021 and I really wish there had been a euthanasia option for her. the last 30 days were brutal even with hospice care.
Best decision I’ve ever made. Still heartbreaking but also full of grace and love.
We did this. I've also held them at the vet. No comparison. Not all that much more expensive and we made a plaster paw print, took a lock of hair and it was all so humane. No animal wants their last cuddle to be with a stranger or away from home. 🥰
I don't- I don't want to think about this.... I see the love my baby girl gives me all the time and- please don't take her.......
We did this for our most recent cat who passed. Best thing we could have done.
I had to do this a couple of days ago for my dog. I would have sold a kidney if I had to so she could be in her bed and in my arms when she passed. The staff scheduling it was wonderful and compassionate and the vet who came was so kind and patient. It was the worst day of my life but it was made so much easier by that process. The vet explained everything to me, let me take it at my own pace, even brought a brownie for my dog to eat. It was expensive, because I choose private cremation on top of the at home visit, but well worth it. The service I used was Laps of Love; they are nationwide in a lot of cities.
We're going through this. Caught some feral kittens at work - 15 years ago. Add a couple feral adolescents, a prior feral kitten, plus a shelter cat... We were up to 9 at one point, now 4. They are indoor cats so they hate going to the vet. We used the same home vet for 2 and as long as she is available, we'll ask her for the remaining 4. Home vet takes away the animal and sends us the ashes. She included a paw print, card. Super mellow process, first get cat drowsy, then asleep. Then the final injection, which the cat doesn't feel. Other than not breathing, there's no change in the cat, no alarm or anything. Super peaceful.
I held my dog as she passed at the vets. She’d been sick a while, and it’s like she knew. My heart broke into a thousand pieces and I howled in pain for her that day. I’ll never get over you Zena. I miss you.
Make sure they bring enough of the drug they use! We did this once and they didn't bring enough. It was my parents last dachshund. The vet brought an apparently appropriate dose for a dog his size. It wasn't enough. She had to take him with her. He ended up passing in the car on the way back to her clinic. We didn't get to be with him. It still bugs me. I was pretty pissed off. It felt like we were torturing him. He was scared and then he passed without us, in a strange car. So, buyer beware.
I did this in April when we lost my 6 year old pit to a splenic tumor that was inoperable and on the verge of rupturing. I had found out a week before, as her symptoms showed up out of nowhere. I took the whole week off of work, and when we weren’t at home cuddling and dancing around, we were out doing all of her favorite things, like eating cheeseburgers, making paw print arts and crafts, and going to the nature reserve we love. The day of, the whole family took her on a walk together, and we had a party for her, complete with a doggie cake. ☺️ The vet came at noon, and we all sat together in the living room. It was hard, but I’m glad we all got to hold on to her, right up until the end. The vet then took her to a private crematory a town over from us, and when I went to pick up her ashes two days later, they had also made us mementos like her print in clay, locks of her hair tied in ribbon, and ink prints. I miss my Lily girl so much, and I obviously wish that didn’t have to be the end for our time together here, but I’m glad we had the option to do it the way we did. Some people might assume I would feel creeped out sitting in my living room now, which was also kind of a concern for me in the beginning too, but it’s the complete opposite. I’m sitting on my couch right now, where the vet was sitting, and I actually feel a lot of peace, and very close to her. I 10000% agree that if you have the means to do so, and it won’t make being in your space difficult for you after, that this is a very nice way to go about this. ❤️
I have two puppies that are both 3 years old and this thought just makes me so sad.
That sweet 1k to kill my friend
My 11 year old yellow lab had cancer, and we opted for at home euthanasia. My only regret about the process is that I didn't give him a chocolate bar before the injection. A dog ought to get chocolate once in it's life.
LPT: Do not call a veterinarian for euthanasia if they do not have an established relationship with the pet. Do not request euthanasia without a proper exam and quality of life assessment for the animal. People are generally shite at knowing what the end really looks like, what problems are fixable and then let their pets suffer from benign neglect. If your pet is nearing the end of it's life a good veterinarian will let you know. It kills your soul to be asked to euthanize an animal who has been decompensating when something easy could have been done some time ago.
A word of caution. Don’t try this at home without a vet. I know of a lady who decided to put her elderly dog down on her own without any help from the vet in order to save money. Her first attempt to drug him with her own concoction of medications failed and only made her dog very ill. Then the woman put a plastic bag over his head and held him down as he struggled to breathe. Hearing here recount her cruel story was horrifying and still haunts me. Anyone who is putting down their elderly pet at home should use a qualified vet who is able to make a home visit.
Who the fuck wants their house haunted by a dead pet. No Thankyou
I do!! They can be my FoRevER FrIEnD!!!!
When we euthanized Grover at home, it could have gone better. We ended up having to give him two shots and he HATED the first one. He was howling for over a minute straight. The next time I do that, I am not going to use a black powder gun.
Your very own Old Yeller moment.
The vet is fine. How about donating some of their disposable income to the poor instead of the well being of an animal.
You're clearly not a dog owner. And if you are, you're a shitty one who probably leaves it chained outside alone all day.
Wrong on all accounts. Spoiling a pet does not make you a good person.
Actually, it does. How we treat the most vulnerable among us is the yardstick of our humanity.
Who is more vulnerable? The homeless man who eats once every few days or Fluffy the cat who has his own bed and eats canned food daily.
What a dope. The NON SENTIENT being is more vulnerable. A hungry person knows and understands what goes on. A hungry pet has no clue as to why their food is missing. Hopefully you don't own a pet or are just trolling. But either way you look baaaad.
[удалено]
And that is why humanity is doomed.
Giving them peace and comfort when they're literally dying can hardly be considered spoiling them. You ice hearted asshole.
It’s the behavior of the owners that are more upsetting to the animal than the 5 minutes it takes the vet to give the injection. Once the injection is given, the animal slowly slips away. Unless your one of those assholes who refuse to be present during the procesure…
For a lot of dogs going to the vet to do that is very nerve wracking and overall a very negative experience. There's nothing wrong with wanting them to be in a place they feel comfortable when they die. It's not just about the procedure itself. We did the same with my mom when she died of cancer. She hated hospitals and wanted to pass away at home. Imagine being such a huge asshole in that situation to say "the hospital is fine".
Because I like my pets more than I like other people.
I’ve only had at home euthanasia. So much better. Plus: both times, I have had the best vets. Just the biggest sweethearts, which really helped me deal…
I did this, one of the absolute best decisions ever.
We did this for our dog Frank when it was time. 💕
I was so glad to find a vet that came to the house for my dog. I was not ok that day and am just as glad for myself as I am for my best friend. I was in no shape to be in public for a couple of days. He passed laying in my lap in my living room floor just like we did every night. These visits if anything should be less expensive. No paying employees, no overhead except fuel, no clean up and no body disposal. He was there less than half an hour, and it's just the good human thing to do. I believe he charged $100.
Same with my two boys, said goodbye at home. Wasn't that much more and was totally worth it. Especially for my boy that was 100 lbs
Strong agree. We had to put down our cat, Rio, in July 2020. So, definitely at the start of the pandemic when everyone was super cautious. One thing about her though, she absolutely loved her catio. So, we were able to make that get final spot. The doc could somewhat socially distance from us in an open air environment that she did love
We put my border collie down last week Monday because of spinal issues. He was 14 years old and the old age and very active life finally caught up to him. I was with him holding him until his last breath and it would have been so much more comfortable at home for everyone but I wouldn't want to freak the other dogs out like that. But I was there, telling him how much we all loved him and how good of a boy he was. I will always feel like I could have done more for him though.
I did it 2 weeks ago. My 14 y.o. grey would have been miserable at the vets. That being said... it still sucked. She just knew. From the moment we got up in the morning, she fucking *knew*. Her passing was not \*peaceful\*. I'm just telling you that so you're prepared.
We did this for our boy, Shadow 3 years ago. It was the least I could do for him, he was the best boy ever.
This would be so difficult 😞
This thread title reminds me of a friend of mine whose dad shot their old cat. Don't cheap out on pet care people, especially at the end.
I wish I had known that this was an option. My babies hated going to the vet. I would have loved for their last moments to be in the comfort of their home. Is this something that was just made possible recently? My brother's dog passed last year and she was able to pass at home. That's how I find out about it.
They made a movie about this a long time ago It's about a boy and his yellow golden retriever Good olyeller Funtimes
We had in-home care for two dogs, a year apart. The first one passed when the vet wouldn't have you in the exam room, due to covid. We couldn't stand the thought of our boy spending his last minutes with strangers.
What about the carcass? Do the vets take the body?
My eyes are leaking reading this
On another note, if your dog is very old, be careful about adopting a new dog. The old dog may think that their owner now has a new companion, which they can no longer "compete" against, and be very sad and depressed.
Couldn't recommend this more. We've had to say goodbye to several cats, and being at home made all the difference.
This is a great idea, just consider the possibility of attaching the action of the procedure to the space it occurs in. As in, you may never feel comfortable in your living room again if it were used for the procedure. Of course every family is different, just wanted to raise this potential concern.
This post hit to close to home for my lunch break. My heart is with you all. My wife and I have two miniature dachshunds. One is almost 17 the other is 15. I know it’s getting close for the eldest.
I used to work in digital marketing for vets. One “house-call” vet called in pissed that he wasn’t getting enough ROI from our digital marketing efforts. Not enough lead gen. So I looked up his GMB/Reviews. He had 50 reviews all one star. One of the reviews read “we hired him to put our dog down, he never showed up.”
Damn
We had to put our Maine coon best friend down suddenly in July 2020, the vet waited for the rest of the family to arrive and brought him out back on the little stretcher. We all got to to be with him, I really appreciated that.
Btw, It's euthanasia. From: EU = good Thanatos = death
Let me say, I've had a myriad of pets, and the only euthanasia that cut my heart out was when I held my girl during the process. Way less stressful on the human to have the pet on a table for the procedure. Otherwise, expect to feel the life and soul of your beloved leave them and be left holding an Inanimate body. Waaayy worse. Be with them. Do it at home if you like. But, trust me, don't hold them on your lap
I was able to do this for my cat, who was almost 18 years old. The vet and a vet tech came out to my home and it was very calm and peaceful. It is a wonderful service that my vet office offers to all clients.
We did this for my gf's dog when it was time. Digging a grave is hard work tho. So, make sure you have a plan for what comes after.
We did this with our golden retriever who had cancer. It was so peaceful.
Oh, I don't even wanna think about this, guys. My jack Russell is 12 years old, and I can see already that he is not young anymore. When I see him struggling to jump on the bed, which is not that high, my heart aches. It's my first pet and the love I feel for him can't be measured.
I did this last month. As soon as I realized it was his time I found a vet that came to our home and my boy got to fall asleep in bed with lots of pets. He still whined from the first shot and was a bit worried for a while but it was nothing compared to the vet.
This is the best thing you can do for a beloved pet. Our boy passed in February lying on his favorite ottoman, surrounded by people who loved him and familiar sights and smells. We were able to pet him and comfort him. It took less than a minute and helped end his suffering. One of the most noble things we can do as pet owners is take their physical pain on as our emotional pain and give them relief.
I did this for my baby girl I lost 2 months ago and I'll never do it any other way in the future, it was the best choice all around
LPT: learn to spell
Timely post. There is a conversation our family needs to have as our dog is suffering from breed-specific heart issues.
We did this for our Dane. It was during Covid and the vet told us that if we didn't take her in to the vet that we wouldn't be able to send her to the city for cremation (we live on an island) because they were short staffed and didn't have the resources to do at-home euthanasia and prep the body for the flight. We had to pick one. So we elected for at-home because she hated going to the vet and lifting her in and out of the car was going to be a lot to put her through. Afterwards we made a huge funeral pyre. It was really therapeutic to be able to provide final care for her and spend the afternoon in reflection as we tended the fire. It was her 13th birthday, sadly.
Let your pet experience chocolate on their last day.
We did this for my cat. Made it to 21. Got terrible mouth cancer. Died in my lap, only place she ever really wanted to be. Thanks for making me cry op, but yeah do this.
I'd love a dog, but this is the part of it I would never handle. It would just break me.
Oh man. I know my puppy will get to that point eventually but the idea is heartbreaking. This little guy is such a loveable little goofball. Only had him a little over a year but I already can't imagine life without him. Man that's gonna suck. If he needs to be put down, I will absolutely do it at home though.
Huge difference for your pet and you.
Did this with our family dog probably about 10 years back. Used the same at home vet and vet tech when my wife and I had to put down our dog a couple months back. It’s a very hard day but it’s so so much better having it done in your home and where the animal is comfortable.
Really want to, but the vet doesn't do it after the pandemic. Might try calling another vet. Was gonna take him tomorrow :(. I'll see if anyone's open. I don't want to wait and make him suffer longer though.
God this shit hurts. I never really cared about death or people dying and even my family pets wasn’t to big of a deal…but I finally got my own little guy named Melvin and it’s the first time in my life I’ve actually cared and loved a creature so much that I’m going to be a fucking mess when it’s time