Should You Put Your Dog to Sleep? A Veterinarian’s Advice
Believe That You Will See Your Dog Again One Day
Deciding if it’s time to put your dog to sleep (euthanasia) is agonizing. Here, a veterinarian describes how to know when it’s time to say good-bye.
These guidelines are from Marie Haynes, a veterinarian who had to put her own dog to sleep. This veterinarian shares her story of putting her dog to sleep, and offers information about pet euthanasia.
“If you can save your dog or cat even one day of discomfort, you must,” says Dr Haynes.
And that’s the number one criteria for deciding if you should put your dog or cat to sleep: if suffering is involved. If your dog is suffering in any way, then it may be time to decide on pet euthanasia.
One of the best ways to cope with your dog’s death is believing that their souls and spirits live on – and you’ll be reunited one day. Read Animals and the Afterlife: True Stories of Our Best Friends’ Journey Beyond Death to learn how some pet owners experience their beloved animal companions after they’ve passed.
And, here are some guidelines to help you decide if it’s time to say good-bey to your dog or cat to sleep…
Is It Time to Put Your Dog to Sleep?
It’s often difficult to tell whether a dog is in pain or suffering, says Dr Haynes, but there are some general guidelines:
- Is your dog’s appetite suffering? If so, this is often a sign of pain.
- Does it seem like your dog is enjoying life?
- Does your dog still do the things that bring her joy?
- Are you enjoying having your dog around — or is there more pain than happiness?
- Does your dog seem happy more often than not?
- Or, do you find that your dog looks distressed or uncomfortable most of the time?
Pet owners often want to be told what to do about putting their dog to sleep, but it has to be the pet owner’s decision. The vet only sees a snapshot of the pet’s life, while the pet owner has the big perspective. “I see a scared, sick animal in the hospital,” says Dr Haynes. “I don’t see a pet owner’s beloved dog.”
“You have taken care of your dog or cat all its life,” says Dr Haynes. “This is your final chance to take care of your pet. If you can spare your dog pain and suffering, then putting it to sleep is the ultimate gift – no matter how hard it is for you.”
The bottom line: when it’s time to put a dog to sleep
There will come a day when it is absolutely clear to you that your dog or cat is not enjoying life. That day is one day too late. If you can save your pet even one day of discomfort, you must.
Deciding on euthanasia is difficult, but it could be the most loving thing you do for your dog.
You can be present if you put your dog to sleep. Euthanasia is similar to falling asleep, and you can be with your dog when he or she drifts away. Remember that euthanasia is generally painless, and almost always goes smoothly.
To help you cope with with feelings of guilt, read 4 Ways to Deal With Guilty Feelings After Pet Loss.
How this veterinarian decided to put her dog to sleep
“My shepherd/cattle dog cross, Eddie, had a multitude of problems and I couldn’t decide if it was time for euthanasia. Then, one day he tore his cruciate ligament. He had already previously torn the ligament on the other knee and although it was healed he had severe arthritis in that knee. With both knees injured, Eddie was unable to walk. My decision to put my dog to sleep was finally made for me.
I went to my office and collected the supplies I needed for euthanasia. Eddie was such a good boy as I shaved his front leg and placed the needle in his vein. I will never forget the look of love and trust he gave me as I made the injection. Then, the life just went out of him and he was gone. Once he had passed away, his buddy Joey (my other dog) came in the room but he did not seem to care about or comprehend what was happening. Then, my two cats came in and I swear they suddenly had a look of glee in their eyes as Eddie was very much a cat tormentor!”
For help saying good-bye, read Letting Go of an Animal You Love: 75 Ways to Survive Pet Loss. I interviewed veterinarians, grief experts, counselors, and pet owners who survived their dog’s death for the best coping tips.
Are you still confused and unsure? You may find Can’t Take Care of Your Dog Anymore? Help for Pet Owners helpful.
If you have any questions or thoughts on putting your dog to sleep, please comment below.
Category: Dogs & Doggy Care Tips, Pet Care Tips
Our beloved Yorkie/Spitz is 16 years old, is deaf and almost completely blind. She has a heart murmer that the vet says is a 5 out of 5 in severity. The murmur is causing congestive heart failure and ultimately renal (kidney) failure. She has lost weight and is not able to be an active ranch dog anymore. She sleeps and coughs due to the heart failure. She passes out or has seizures if she gets excited. The renal failure causes her to drink large amounts of water and then urinate large amounts anywhere at any time. Her deafness and blindness make her very vulnerable outdoors on. She is stuck indoors unless we are there to watch her every move.
My husband will not let her go. He just can’t. He keeps delaying the inevitable. My poor husband has had this little dog by his side day and night for 15 years. She was so tough and sooo smart. A real true hero of a dog. One of a kind. She knows everything about us and how to run the ranch. It won’t be the same without her. We tried medications. I feel that putting her down and burying her on the ranch will be our last gift to her for being so wonderful and loyal for her whole life. I am ready because she is ready.
Oh dear we also have a 20 year old cat.
We have a Bichon named Jon Benet, sounds weird I know.. We bought the puppy for our daughter for Christmas in 1996 and she was not named so when we saw the news of Jon Benet Ramsey’s death my 6 year old daughter named her Jon Benet. Funny thing is we found out later that Jon Benet had a Bichon dog as well..Getting to the heart of the story is that J.B. is now 16 years old in human years so that makes her between 77 to 80 in doggie years. We love her so much, but she is almost totally deaf and really hard to see, she sleeps most of every day. However when she goes out to potty she runs around. She comes back inside all excited and runs through the house and sometimes runs into things and hits herself really hard. It is those times I just want to sit down and cry my eyes out.. Her dental condition is bad, but she does eat ok. I am just torn and I know at her age she is probably in some pain, just don’t know for sure. When she starts to walk it is like she has to warm up before her back legs start working well. She gets groomed once a month and she really enjoys feeling pretty and seems to get a little spunk at those times. However for the most part she is just sleeping the remainder of her life away (22) hours a day…She poops when she is walking through the house and she does not even realize it. We just go behind and pick it up..Am I being selfish keeping her on this earth this way??? It is just really hard to put her down.
Hello, As I read your responses I am sitting listening to my springer/dalmation mix sit at the back door and cry. She is wanting to get outside with my lab/chow mix. Gabi (the lab) has been in our family since she was old enough to leave her mother. Sadie(the springer) was rescued from the side of a back road about 3 and a half years ago. When we brought her home she submitted to the lab. However, recently she has been attacking the lab and we can no longer leave them in the same room together. Our lab suffers from pain in her back legs and she has recentlt started lossing patchs of hair, leaving behind white patches of flaky skin.We have tried the various meds for her pain and her skin and nothing is working. I know that in the wild the other pack members kill the leader when they can no longer function. Gabi has trouble getting up, she no longer plays like she used to and she didn’t eat last night.She is 10 and a half. We have had her in the house all week and she doesn’t really like it as she is normally an indoor/outdoor dog. We have a huge fenced in yard with large dog houses that we let the dogs stay in when we are not home.She still loves attention and wages her tail weakly but I am wondering if putting her to sleep would be more merciful than what we are doing. The dogs whimper for the other since we have separated them permanently. If we do put them together the srpinger attacks and Gabi submits. Is this a sign that she is ready to go? We love our dogs very much and it is hurting all of us to see this take place. Any advice would be great. I have talked to trainers, vets etc. but we still can’t decide. Thanks
Im in bits, absolute bits. Megan my GSP has been by my side for 16 and half years. She has had the best life ever possible for a dog i feel, but now as i write this she is lay on her bed at my feet not a happy dog. She sleeps most of the day and her one back leg has now overnight given up on her. When she walks she drags her foot which needs constant care as the claw is wearing down i have to carry her to the grass so she can go to toilet, sometimes she has accidents in her bed overnight i feel so distressed to see her like this. I know she isnt happy and cries quite abit, i know now that i should take her to the vets so she can pass over but i hate the thought of not ever seeing her again. This is the worst feeling in the world….why cant they live forever. I love you MEG XX
Hi everyone, I am reading, with great sadness, and a lot of tears, your stories. We had to put down our darling Boxer, Lily, last year, as she had become paralysed and couldn’t walk.
Of course I cried for months, and still cry,but in the end, and this is the part I want you to all read, it’s out of our OWN SELFISHNESS that we keep our dogs alive when they should be euthanased. It’s kinder to put them to sleep than to let them suffer. If a dog can’t walk properly, can’t run around and enjoy life (even if it IS wagging its tail) then it’s time to say goodbye, for YOUR DOG’S SAKE. So, if you truly love your furry babies, and I know you do, then PLEASE. I am begging you, be kind to them and let them go. Letting them go is the best gift you could give them, even if it does upset you. You will get over the grief eventually, and that’s not to say you’ll ever forget your babies. I am always adopting dogs – special needs dogs, unwanted dogs, strays etc. and I love them all equally, but I know now that when the time comes, I will do the right thing by THEM. Just because your dog “smiles and you and wags its tail” is no reason to prolong their poor quality of life, after all, as I said before, that’s just to keep YOU happy.
I wish you all well, and my heart goes out to you, as I shed tears reading all your stories.
Chris from Australia
ps: one way of overcoming your grief is to adopt another doggie (or cat) that needs your love. it helps!
Brian,
Your chihuahua sound like he has IVDD, intervertebral disk disease. Put him on crate rest right away and go to the website called dodgerslist.com and read about thise terrible disease.
Kannan…I am living your same nightmare..
We put our loving Fox Terrier down Mar 6..Not a single day has went by that I haven’t cried from guilt, thinking she might have made it a few more days..And like you..2 months have went by and I don’t think I will ever get over it.
She was the most loved family member I have ever had… (13 1/2 years)..YES including humans!..
Thanks and I am sharing your hurt….
Jim A.
We had a German Shepherd called Tuffy. She was the darling of my home and the housing society we lived in. She was friendly with all the children around. She was about 15 1/2 years old. For the last one month she had problem in walking and started falling. She developed anal infection too and it was not curing. For the last 10 days she became immobile as her hind legs got paralysed. She was urinating and defecating at home. Her hind legs were getting swollen every day. The vet told us that her heart is not pumping enough. Though the doctor had advised us to put her to sleep, we could not make up our mind for almost 3 to 4 weeks as still she was full of life and responding to us and still there was brilliance in her face and she was eating well too. Finally, we fixed up the date for 6th May 2012 and gave her all the food she loved, spoked to her and we all took photographs with her and then took her to the vet. There she started shivering and it gave us a feeling that she was not still ready to give up. But, still we happened to put her to sleep and since then we all lost our sleep. Everyone at home is in tears and there is a huge sense of guilt, as it appears to us that she wanted to live a few more days. My daughter was very close to her and she had been taking care of her so dearly. Today is my daughter’s birth day and she still cries. I wonder whether we would be able to recover fully as we might carry this feeling of guilt throughout.
It’s Been a little over 24hrs since we had to have our
15yr old boxer dog “BEAU” put to sleep! We had
Him since he was just 6 weeks old and he was everything to us! beaus health declined in in the last 12 months. His hearing went, he had tumors in his eyes, his back legs were going, he had a large lump on his bum, his hair was falling out due to advanced kidney failure. He also had dementia which made him bark all of the time and his kidney failure was making him wee all over the place including in his bed!! We are struggling to come to terms with the loss. Our 3 children have grown up with him. I had to be strong and take him! The worst part was that I couldn’t handle being there with him so I left him with the vet which is killing me for doing this. I feel totally guilty about it. I feel as though he is still here! We loved him so much and will miss him.
In response to Cathy’s comment of her dog Winston:
I have been wondering what to do about my miniature schnauzer, Jazz. He’s 16 now and sometimes shakes, don’t think he is in pain though as when I bend his legs and stretch them he doesn’t even flinch, but he has had trouble straightening his back legs sometimes. When he has this though he can’t walk at all to drag them like your dog. He does have his good days but shows some discomfort. Thing is though he’s not off his food, in fact he’s very greedy. Likes his walks but are beginning to get difficult. I need to hold him up when he has a poo, otherwise he just will fall on it. He often leans to one side and can fall when doing this, our laminate doesn’t help! I do try to make his life as comfortable as I can but as I work I do worry about him when leaving him and make sure he is in bed when I go and cover everything hard that he could fall on with cushions. I am struggling with the decision as some days he seems ok and others he can seem quite bad. But also at the same time think how long can I let him go on having these days where he’s bad. I will be taking him to the vets soon for his booster and will ask for some advice. But any advice & comments are much appreciated.
I am trying to decide (with great difficulty) if it is time to put my precious Winston down. Winston is 17 years old a sheltie/lab mix and I have had him since he was 6 weeks old. He used to shake with pain from arthritis and we started a regimen of two baby aspirin a day and the shaking stopped so I really don’t believe he is in pain anymore. He sees very well but is quite deaf at this point. His nose has taken over for his loss of hearing since he can smell a cracked egg from two rooms away.
Anyway, he has started dragging his left rear leg and sometimes his right leg as well. Even just a few minutes ago he went outside and did not go potty but went for a simple walk around the yard dragging his leg but a smile on his face. I think he was just happy to enjoy the outside. This is what makes my decision so hard.
Enjoys spending time with me in the living room otherwise he just sleeps on his cushioned bed. He eats and drinks normally. So what is the right thing to do?
I lost my Grand puppy Beau just under a month ago. A beautiful vibrant Weimaraner /Border Collie mix and only 4-1/2 years old. Out of the blue he suffered 3 major seizures on Easter Sunday. Each one destroyed this beautiful animal’s personality, memory, and physical appearance. After 10-15 minutes after the seizure’s ended he would gain his eye sight again and most of the paralysis would go away but he became extremely aggressive. He spent the day at the hospital and we picked him up in the evening and brought him home. Within the hour he suffered the third and worse seizure. We took him back to the hospital. They kept him overnight locked in a small cage ( he was 70lb dog) in a dark corner of the hospital and drugged him with propofol to stop the incessive barking & pacing. The next morning the Vet declared it was most likely a brain tumor or lesions with the aggressive behavior, and deemed him as untreatable, as well as a ticking time bomb. We had a decision to make and it was excruciating but one that needed to be made. We brought him home to Grandmas( my house) where he had run the perimeter and been spoiled much of his 4 years…his favorite place on earth. We feed him well and loved him for the entire day, all though he did not even acknowledge any of us….he was not my grand puppy at all. He allowed us to touch him and watch him walk about the yard. We brought over his partner in crime Buddy ( 4 yr old Coon Hound )to play. He didn’t play. He paced…..drank excessively and every once in a while there would be a glimpse of Beau in his actions but very short lived….They took him to be put down at 4:00 p.m. I said my goodbyes to this beautiful creature in my front room. He allowed me to hug him and kiss him and not once did he react, he just sat there and let me do and say what I wanted and then quickly jumped up as it was time to go….. The kids kissed him and stroked him telling him how much he was loved as he went to sleep…I thank God they did so their last memory of Beau was him going to a peaceful sleep. ( When he would lay down to sleep is when the seizure’s happened and I didn’t want that to be what they remembered)….We don’t know for sure if he was untreatable or if there was a treatment to cure him, or if the next seizure would kill him, if he would attack anyone…what we do know is our beloved Beau was not the same and would never be the same happy healthy loving energetic dog again. There were signs of trouble and we missed those signs. I am totally grief stricken with the loss of him and cannot seem to get passed it…as here I am telling my story, wiping away the tears a month later…We made the right decision for Beau …I am a bit angry now and asking why??? Why my beautiful grand-puppy and why he was so young? 2 days later I found out my kids are expecting my first grandchild. If I were asked to give up my grand-puppy to get a grand-baby I couldn’t have made that choice….Beau made that choice for me….RIP Beaudacious 4/09/12 Grandma loves you and misses you !!!!!
My wife and I rescued 2 chihuahuas from going to the shelter this past september by agreeing to take them both together. We were told that the male that we recieved was 7 and the female is 4. About a week ago, the male started to yelp at times for no reason, and the past day and a half, anytime he walks or anyone touches certain parts of his body he yelps and snips. We have only had him a short time, but he is one of the family. But my wife and I were talking tonight and think that he may need to be put down, but i cannt imagine coming home from work and not seeing his wagging tail. What should i do? Please Help
I Have A Bichon And Have Only Had Hem For 4 Years Since The Day He Was Born, But The Vet Said He Was An Old Dog Who Was 14 So i Guess He Was Talking About Dog Years Or something. The Vet Says He Has Worms But He doesnt Say What Kind. my Dog Hasnt Eaten For 5 Days. Any Thing He Eats He’ll Just Throw it back Up. The Vet Doesnt Help Much Because He Hasnt recommended Anything On How To get Some food In Him. He Gives Us Some Pills But They Dont Work. My Dog Cant Really Walk Much. He’ll Stumble Or wobble When He trys To walk. It Looks Like a Lot Of Effort for Him To Even get Up. He Doesnt Respond To anyone. He Wont even Bark. The Vet Said That The Best Thing To Do If He Doesnt Get Better Is To Put Him To Sleep But i Cant Imajine Life With Him! Isn’t There Another Way?! I Thought Worms Were Curable! I Need Help.
I have a 4yr old cocker spaniel that have skin problems, a horrible condition on her left ear, cherry eyes on both eyes and she is going a lil blind. I don’t have the money to help her I’m losing my apartment and won’t have a place to live and no one to take care of her while I go to work. I feel that she is really not enjoying her life I mean she gets happy wen she sees me and eats well and drinks lots of water I can’t afford taking her to the vet , I know if I take her to a shelter they will put her to sleep so I just need to know if it will be more convinient that we put her to sleep because she is my brother’s dog and he is moving out of state and can’t take her with him. I don’t have anyone to take her pls help me I don’t want to make the wrong choice,, she is always scratching,biting her legs Cus they itch I love her so much but j can’t keep her because I just recently lost a very gd job and now I’m working 12 hrs part time at under 8$ an hr that’s why I can’t afford rent or nothing help!!!
Jessica
I have an almost 10 year old rat terrier. He has been an awesome dog and I love him. But for the last year we have been dealing with his health. He has been to several doctors and they all just put him on antibiotics and shampoo’s to help him. Nothing help’s my dog and he is constantly scratching, licking and bleeding. He still eats and drinks, just not as much as he used to. He is not as active as he was, but once in a while I can still get him very excited and he will play for a bit, and then goes right to bed. What should I do with him? Our vet bills are outrages now and we just can’t afford to continue taking him, especially when nothing is helping.
Please help.
I have an 18 year old beagle springer spaniel mix, and I’ve been debating for a little while whether or not to put her to sleep. I had to start crating her in the house about a year ago, because she would defecate and urinate everywhere despite going outside regularly. For the last few months she has started defecating and urinating in her crate as well; I’ve had to clean her crate at least once every 2 days. She has just recently started eating the feces immediately after defecating. She has tumors and growths all over her body and severe arthritis. Her hearing, sight, and sense of smell have all diminished to the point of being nearly non-existent. But she still wags her tail and is happy when she sees me. She also eats and drinks very well. I feel terrible even contemplating putting her to sleep…
I’ve just read so many of your posts.. and yesterday we put my Mom’s beloved doggie an almost 18 year old bichon the cutest little baby and wonderful loving personality with a blessed soul.. we put her to sleep yesterday… She lost usage of her back legs they stuck straight out and seemed paralyzed.. she wasn’t eating.. and she would now and then yelp and a little bit of crying.. it was time…we loved her so very much and she gave us so many great years.. but I layed down on the floor with her and I talked to her.. I told her that she gave us beautiful years and if she wanted to go that it was up to her and if she wanted to stay and could rally we’d be right here behind her. She actually raised her tail.. she seems ready and happy that I told her it was okay to go… they say not to cry in front of your dog and to seem happy so that her/his last days are happy, talk to her or him and thank her or him for the time she/he gave you. My dog/ (Mom’s dog) was not eating.. and she did not go to the bathroom…she was very ill and though her upper body sometimes perked up and we could feel like she was okay.. only half of her was okay.. but she needed all of her body to be okay.. she was old and ready.. and we knew that the merciful thing was to have her not suffer and to give her the gift of her dignity and a peaceful passing. I’m hearing from so many that it’s hard to do this and some saying that they fear doing this alone. I understand, I bought a beautiful blanket pink and fluffy, I bought a medal from the local people hospital that said “remember I’ll always be with you” with a cross on the back, you could use whatever religion you believe in or even just a wonderful saying. We brought her to the vet my Mother holding her and my Step Dad and myself. I was in the room and made sure that she was treated with the utmost of care, on top of the beautiful comfortable new pink blanket that I bought for her and the vet was kind and caring.. they easily put her under sedation so she was completely peaceful.. I knew this was the right thing and the most merciful thing and loving act and she was fine with it.I stood and kept my hand on her head and my other hand on her body.. the vet tech was also petting her and I asked the vet to let me know when she had passed and he checked and said that she had..We bought a little bouquet of flowers and she was wrapped in the blanket and I made sure that her final resting was with that blanket. Flowers and another family member came to the house and we had a ceremony and put stones and flowers outside. and we said a prayer.. there is no question in my mind that this was the right thing to do for the pet that I loved. A routine and a formal procedure of how you would like to honor your pet either with a friend or a pet bereivent group is fine but if the beloved pet is suffering at all it is time to show the ultimate care. When the pet is old and is suffering any day more is a day too long.. it’s time now not time to wait.. The vet gave us a paw print made of plaster of paris. we took her things and put them in the garage.. they can be donated to the shelter for another pet to enjoy. If you have no family then have a routine set in advance of how you will spend that day and the next day in honoring your pet. A friend of mine goes once a week to the shelter to walk the pets that are there and to clean out their cages as a donation of her time. You could also go a few times a week to help the shelters. Paws-a-while I think is the name of one organization. I hope this has helped. I know that I’m at peace my pet is and my Mom is. I hope this helps anyone who just doesn’t know what to do. God bless.