Here, putting a dog down is done as peacefully as possible.
You can be with them for all of it.
Everything’s done in the exam room. Anyone you want can be there in your family, friends.
When you’re ready, I give a shot of Morphine.
The dog might wince for a second.
Then you give whatever treat(s) you may have brought. Some dogs aren’t eating, which is sad. Other times they can have a big old Brisket Sandwich and not worry about diarrhea tomorrow. Candy. Whatever they like.
Five minutes later they get ‘drunk’ and roll onto their side and go to ‘sleep’ with their eyes half open. Limp as a dishrag. But they’re not “gone”.
I have to give Pentobarbital for that, (the end) so I put them on the table and I give the second shot in the vein, in their arm.
They’re passed out on Morphine so they don’t feel any of that aggravation and arm pinching.
Seconds later, that’s it.
Rarely, a vein is hard to find. Again, they’re unaware of discomfort if I have to find a vein twice.
After they’re gone you can stay a while and think. Pray. Recollect. Get used to the idea that it’s done. Other people are just ready to go and head out immediately. It’s all good. Everyone’s different.
Folks like to book this first thing in the morning at 8 am – so there’s minimal waiting. Or first thing after surgery time, again so there’s no delay for a previous appointment, and some people like the last appointment of the day so it’s really quiet. Whichever you like.
What to do with the remains?
Most people select cremation with ‘no ashes back’ in which case the pet’s sent to the cemetery and we don’t request ashes.
Other times, people want ashes returned and we have them send ashes back to give to you. They can present those in something simple, and something extremely fancy. They have a picture book.
And some people like these little ‘foot prints’ where they make a paw imprint in a piece of soft resin / plaster to keep. It’s a tangible thing that represents the dog, in my opinion better than a lonely looking container of ashes. When it’s home you pop it in the oven and harden it. A lot of people write the name in the clay before they harden it.
