How can one HUMANELY euthanize a pet at home?

Question

I saw a question just like this, and the responses that admonished not to do it at home. Here's what I just went through five days ago (and a year ago, too): My beloved Boxer suffered a heart attack around midnight less than a week ago. I called our local vet and had to BEG him to meet me at his office. He gave her an aspirin and another pill for her heart. When I asked him to stick around a little while to better assess her, he responded, "I have to get up in the morning." I took her home, and she began writhing in agony and crying. Finally that ceased and I thought she might be okay. I called the vet the next day to say she was panting (usually indicative of pain). He told me that was good...she was "oxygenating." Finally early the next morning she again began writhing in extreme pain and crying. I knew from my experience with this vet he wouldn't meet me at his office. The only other vet was out of town. This beautiful little dog suffered the most agonizing death imaginable. I considered shooting her or suffocating her, but couldn't bring myself to do it because it seemed like a betrayal. Something similar happened with an old dog last year, too. The closet vet other than these is 30 miles away, which would necessitate subjecting the dog to more discomfort and stress. I need to find a way to gently put them to sleep at home so that no other dog will have to suffer this way....and neither will I.

Answer 1

You're talking about suffication and then you say that you are worried about the VET causing stress?  

Please, do us all a favor.  Get a vet and use them.  Have them put to sleep.  

Or better yet, don't get another pet.  Just thinking that you are so kind and thinking of the animal doesn't mean that you are a good pet owner, for crying out loud.

There is something wrong with you if you think that's a good idea.  

Answer 2

A bullet is very quick & humane if you have the nerve to do it. That's how they did it years ago. I know you didn't want her to suffer & I'm sorry you both had to go through that. Sounds awful.

Answer 3

So sorry for what you and your pets have had to go through.A shot to the head is quick and fast.You tell them how much you love them,place a towel over the gun and place it right at the temple.Again so sorry.Tilks Mom

Answer 4

Would the vet 30 miles away have seen your dog?  If the local one wasn't willing to help like he should, and these others wouldn't, then a gunshot is the least painful way.  However, not to the temple.  To the back of the skull where the base of the skull and the top of the spine meet.  Anyone who hasn't HAD no other choice shouldn't be condemning you.  The goal is to relieve the dog's suffering.  Sometimes you have to make heartwrenching decisions, and do things you really don't want to do.

And to Corn/wheat person...at a mile a minute, which translates to SIXTY miles per hour, it would have taken at least 30 minutes, IF you had a clear shot down the road, with no traffic, stop lights, stop signs, speed limits, or turns.  Most likely, you would be able to do thirty miles in 45 mintes to an hour on residential roadways.  I highly doubt there is many of you who could handle a car at 120 MPH, which is how fast you'd have to move to do 30 miles in 15 minutes.  Of course, when you crashed, you would accomplish your goal like that...the dog would be dead...problem is, probably so would you.

ADDED:  MOST vets will not do a midnight emergency call for someone who isn't an established, regular client.  And instead of the agonizing hours, or the 45 minute stressed ride, why not end it immediately with a gunshot, if you are willing and capable of doing it quickly and efficiently?

Answer 5

I am so sorry that you and your dog had to go through that.

You must live in a pretty small area.... here we have a vet every few miles it seems, and two emergency vets (24 hours) within a 30 minute drive of each other.

It sort of sounds like because you are in a small area, you are kind of getting inferior vet care. Do we even know for sure if your dog had a heart attack? Or did the vet just give you a heart pill without doing any testing?? Maybe the medication was the source of the dog's ultimate death.

If you only have the two vets in your area to work with, maybe you should see about getting a younger dog. I know you said you didn't want to because of it outliving you, but there are arrangements that can be made. If you do a search on the internet, there are placement agencies that will place your dog in the event of your terminal illness and/or death. If you get a pure bred dog, you can probably make arrangements with a rescue agency that works with that specific type of dog also.

If you do have an older dog that has a terminal illness or heart problems, I would ask the vet for advise as far as pain management and tranquilizers that you could give your dog in the event that it is suffering and you are not able to get vet services. I think that providing the dog with a comfortable situation in which to die naturally would probably be the kindest to you and your dog.  

Answer 6

If you really want to do it at home then you should call a vet to come to your home and put the dog to sleep. It will cost more, but then you won't have to worry about taking it anywhere. I would be really hesitant about doing something on your own because there are animal cruelty laws.

Answer 7

You can't sorry.  I would never go to that vet again and in fact file a complaint with the state licensing board about him.  And I have driven over 30 miles to get to an emergency vet when my dog was gravely ill - stress or not, she needed medical care.  And I would have driven the same distance to have her euthanized if that was what was needed.

Answer 8

I am a fellow animal lover so I feel very sorry for you and our deceased pets, but to euthanize them at home is animal cruelty, which is a crime.  I would say that you should drive the extra 30 miles for the other vet, if you truly care about your pet, you wouldnt even think twice.  Also, with regular check ups, some things are able to be caught before they go into too much pain.  Your vet should have euthanized the dog right there and then or at least kept it overnight.  It is never okay to murder your own animal.  Just like a human, its still murder to kill a human being to get them out of pain when you love them.

Answer 9

There is not a legal way to euthanize a pet at home. I know it is tough but sometimes they need to be euthanized before they get to that point. Sometimes you know when its time and sometimes you don't. That is also another reason why dogs over the age of 8 are recommended to see a vet for a regular checkup every 6 months rather then every year. I'm very sorry for your loss. I hope that you never have to go through that again.

Answer 10

Oh my gosh..What a horrible situation!  I would contact a local vet clinic or call a vet school and ask about that.  Texas A&M University has a great vet school.  

My heart breaks that you and your fur baby had to go through that.  

God bless you.

Answer 11

You would rather let your dog cry and be in pain for hours instead of driving 30 miles for another vet?  

That's quite disgusting.

Your answer is: quit making excuses and pay to have the dog properly euthanized by a professional.  Take the dog to the vet during the DAY.  Or, get your dog in the car and drive.  Turn on your hazards and go.  Simple.

Answer 12

30 miles is like.. a 30 minute drive. Take your dog to the vet!

Answer 13

Corn is Not Dog Food, I never thaught I could find another who could could love animals such as I do.

As for the question, i would call that son of a #@$% who calls himself a vet, and demand that he get his &%@ down to his office before you call the authorities

I hope that guy get's fired, dies in a hole, and burns in h**l

Answer 14

Driving 30 miles takes, what, 15 minutes?

10 if you're panicked and ignore a few laws?

How is 10 minutes of stress and discomfort WORSE than hours of suffering?

I would have RUN 30 miles with the dog on my back rather than allow her to suffer a second longer than necessary.



EDIT TO ADD:

To Jennifer T,

OK, fine.

How is a 45 minute drive worse than hours of suffering?

Especially when relief is at the end of the drive???

How does that even make sense?

Answer 15

The bottom line is this: unless your are a licensed vet, it is illegal for you to attempt to put the dog down and you can be subject to a thousand dollar fine and a year in jail.  Don't be a cheapskate; the the dog to the vet and tell him directly "I want you to euthanize this dog!"  and pay the required fee.