My daughter recently made the difficult decision to euthanize her dog at home. Her dog had been suffering from uncontrollable seizures, and despite spending thousands on treatments and sleepless nights caring for him, his condition worsened. The decision to euthanize him at home was made with love, and her family supported her decision.
However, the experience didn’t go as smoothly as we had hoped. The person performing the euthanasia was an hour late, and the first sedation wasn’t enough, causing the dog to struggle and cry. A second shot was given, and while it eventually worked, it was heart-wrenching to witness. My daughter was shaking so badly that her brother had to help hold the dog down. They also weren’t given a blanket to wrap him in and had to provide one themselves.
It’s been two weeks, and I’m still struggling to come to terms with what happened. I can’t stop imagining the scene, and I feel like my daughter might be suffering even more than I am. I’m questioning whether we made the right decision to do this at home.
Any advice or comments on how to move forward would be appreciated.
I am so sorry you and your daughter are going through this. Pet deaths hit differently. The fact that your daughter made this decision out of love is important. She did everything she could for her dog, and even though it wasn’t perfect, it was done with love.
@Oak
Exactly this. No decision in situations like this is ever easy, and sometimes we don’t know if it was the ‘right’ one. But what matters most is that the decision was made out of love. Your daughter clearly loved her dog deeply, and that’s what matters.
I’m so sorry it wasn’t peaceful for your daughter’s dog. I went through something similar, and my dog needed way more medication than expected. It’s a reminder that things don’t always go perfectly. Your daughter did the best she could for her dog.
I’m a veterinarian, and I want to express how sorry I am for your experience. It’s never ideal when euthanasia doesn’t go smoothly, but in cases of neurological disease, extra sedation is sometimes necessary. The brain disease may have caused the vocalizations and movements you saw. Doing it at home was likely still better for the dog than a stressful trip to the vet’s office. I’m also sorry the vet didn’t come prepared with a body bag. I hope you find some peace in knowing that your daughter made the decision out of love.
@Calvine
This comment brought me peace as I’ve been struggling with similar memories. Knowing that it wasn’t anyone’s fault and that brain issues can cause a less peaceful passing helps a lot. Thank you.
What your daughter did was incredibly brave and loving. It’s difficult to be present during a pet’s last moments, but being there is often the greatest comfort we can give them. It’s hard, but she was there for her dog, and that’s what matters. As painful as it was, it would have been harder for the dog to pass alone in a vet’s office. Hold on to that.
Your daughter made the right decision, even if it didn’t go perfectly. Being there for her dog at the end, surrounded by love, is what counts. You should be proud of her.
It’s never easy to go through something like this. As hard as it was, your daughter made sure her dog was surrounded by the people who loved him most, and that’s what’s important. It’s going to be a difficult time for her as she processes this loss, but the fact that she was there for him will eventually bring her comfort.
I completely understand how hard it is to be there during the process. I was there for my family dog’s euthanasia, and it was incredibly difficult, but I wouldn’t change that. I know your daughter is grieving, but she gave her dog the gift of being with him until the very end.