How to live without your beloved pet friend is the first question that comes to mind, when you are enforced to give your dog a humane death. You shared the ups and downs of life with your canine friend for more than a decade. Pet owners are always passionate and possessive about their dog and so when the vet suggests they need to consider euthanasia….which means death….it sounds horrible!
The AVMA defines it as ‘Good Death’. In its 2001 published report “Euthanasia is nothing but an act of giving humane death to an animal. It is the responsibility of veterinarians as well as the pet owners to make sure that if an animal’s life needs to be taken, then it is performed with the highest amount of respect. Also, making sure that the death is painless and distress-free.”
Every dog owner visiting Zen Dog Veterinary Care PLLC wants to know about the euthanasia procedure and there are some questions they are afraid to ask.
What is involved in the euthanasia procedure?
In general, IV injection is used with Pentobarbitone, an anesthetic agent. An overdose is given to make the pet comatose. First, the pet gets unconscious and slowly it passes away. It takes 30 to 60 seconds for the injection to induce a cardiac attack but in a painless manner.
Will my pet feel hurt during the process?
As the process involves an IV injection, the dog will feel a needle pierce on the front leg as the needle goes in. After that they will not feel hurt. It is just like your dog getting vaccination or some injection in the past.
If my dog is sensitive, what will you do?
If your pet is sensitive then the vet will apply numbing cream or give some sedative to make it feel relaxed. These may prolong the process because sedation makes it hard to find the vein because of reduced blood pressure.
How long will the process take?
Generally, a peaceful death will take 30 seconds via veins administration. For sensitive dogs, it can take half an hour because sedation will be administered before the euthanasia procedure.
What happens to my dog after euthanasia?
It will be your choice to cremate it at home or burial ground. If it is a burial ground, you have two alternatives, individual or communal. In individual cremation, your pet’s ashes are given to you, while in communal cremation the remains are spread in a park or cremation garden.
Can I have an at-home euthanasia process?
If it is a mobile vet practice then you can get your pet to sleep at home. However, it comes with a cost. If you are in New York then visit https://www.zendogvet.net/euthanasia to make an appointment. The Zen Dog Vet is a mobile service that helps pet owners around NY, Long Island, Brooklyn, Queens, and Westchester. They even take care of pet’s aftercare and transportation.
Death natural or made as an act of humane is crushing. You will feel the emotions and even if you cry the vet will not judge you. They know how hard the Good Death decision you had to make was!