Your Dog Deserves A Peaceful Ending

From the time you bring your dog home, a deep relationship begins to develop. Before you know it, you can’t even remember what life was like without your furry, little friend. In many cases, the human-animal bond is often even more powerful than many human relationships. Alas, the average lifespan of the typical canine is a fraction of its owner’s. When you come to the realization that your dog’s quality of life is declining and may be coming to an end, the decision to put your loved one down can be extremely emotionally taxing.When deciding whether or not to put your dog to sleep, there are many factors to consider. Has your dog’s appetite decreased? Is he or she experiencing a great deal of pain? Is your dog able to go to the bathroom comfortably? Does your dog still enjoy the things that once made him/her happy? Deciding to put your dog down is a personal choice and there is no right or wrong answer. While, this decision is difficult, creating a peaceful, comforting environment for your dog’s final hours is an easy choice.For most dogs, the journey to the vet’s office is fraught with fear and anxiety. For some, the car ride alone is enough to induce panic. Your dog likely has a negative association with the vet’s office due to previous visits. On top of that, grieving the loss of your pet in front of other people can be an uncomfortable experience.In recent years, in-home euthanasia has become a popular alternative for many pet owners for the reasons mentioned above. While putting your dog to sleep is an extremely stressful event for you and your family, saving your dog the anxiety of a trip to the vet’s office and allowing him/her to live out his/her final hours surrounded by loved ones in the comfort of your home can be a compassionate way for you to say good-bye.What to ExpectThough you’ll want to discuss specific details of the process with your provider, the procedure should follow a basic pattern. The service provider will come to your home at a predetermined time to perform the procedure. A sedative/anesthetic that is specifically formulated to the needs of your dog will be administered putting your dog at ease. Once administered, the sedative should take between 5 and 15 minutes to take affect. At this point the euthanasia solution is injected. As the euthanasia solution enters the bloodstream, the dog’s breathing will quicken in response to injection and breathing then stops within 30 seconds, followed by the heart slowing and stopping within 1-3 minutes. The entire process will typically take 60 minutes to complete.Though they are only with us for a brief period of time, our pets have a profound impact on our lives. Every moment of your dog’s life is something to be cherished. Death is a natural part of the life cycle and in-home euthanasia is a dignified way for you to honor the final hours of your dog’s life.