The word euthanasia literally means "a good death".There are various different terms that are used to describe euthanasia such as 'putting to sleep', 'putting out of his/her misery'. These terms can be confusing, particularly to children as they may then be afraid to go to sleep themselves.
In animals, euthanasia involves a humane way of dying. In small animals this will almost always be an overdose of an anaesthetic agent injected into a vein. The injection itself is painless although obviously the needle can cause a slight reaction in sensitive animals.
The decision to have your pet euthanased is likely to be one of the hardest decisions you will have to make. The decision should be taken with advice from your veterinary surgeon but at the end of the day, you will have to make the choice.
There are several reasons why you may wish to have your pet euthanased. The most common one is severe or incurable illness. Any animal which is in severe, untreatable pain should be euthanased to reduce suffering. This can be difficult to determine as many animals, particularly small pets, will hide signs of pain. Changes in behaviour (e.g. very quiet or suddenly aggressive), reluctance to move, eat or drink can all be signs of pain. Your vet will be able to advise you as to whether the condition is treatable or not. Even if there is a treatment available, it may not be in the best interests of the animal, in which case euthanasia should be considered.
If your animal has a severe, long-term illness, you may be able to make arrangements with your vet beforehand.
If you think euthanasia is a possibility, mention it to the receptionist when you book the appointment so that you can go at a quieter time of the day if possible. Some vets will do home visits if you would prefer this.
Other reasons for euthanasia involve behavioural problems such as aggression. Some problems can be treated so consult your vet about this. However, if your dog is a danger to other people or animals, it may well be safer to have him euthanased. This is obviously a very difficult decision in a healthy animal.
After you have come to the decision to have your pet euthanased, you will have to sign a consent form. The vet will probably ask a nurse to hold your animal while the injection is given. This is to avoid the pet struggling and hurting itself.
In some cases, the animal may have to be sedated before the injection is given. This is common in aggressive animals or small pets where a vein is hard to find. The final injection will take slightly longer to have an effect but the animal will still lose consciousness quickly.
Death is often very quick after the injection and does startle some people. When an animal dies, all of its muscles relax. This can cause leakage of urine or faeces which can be distressing for some people. Gasping breaths are also quite common, as are reflex movements. These do not mean that the animal is still alive.
The vet will check to see whether the animal has died by listening for a heartbeat and checking reflexes.
The decision of whether to stay with a pet during the euthanasia process is a difficult one. In general, it is a good idea to see your pet after death, whatever you do beforehand, as this will promote acceptance that the animal is gone. Children under the age of about 8-10 years should not witness euthanasia as this may induce a fear of injections. They should, however, be allowed to see the pet after death. Older children should be offered the chance to stay or wait outside.
In most cases, euthanasia is quick and peaceful and people who stay with their pet are pleased that they were with them to the end. However, in some cases, such as nervous or aggressive animals, the injection process can be a bit more traumatic for owners. Rest assured that the veterinary team will do all in their power to make the process as quick and painless as possible whether you decide to stay or not.
If you do decide to stay, you may not be able to hold your pet as you might want to. Most vets will be happy for you to stroke your pet and talk to them but generally the nurse will need to hold the head and front leg. After the animal has died, you may be allowed to spend some time alone with your pet.
Before euthanasia, you will need to decide what you want to do with your pet's body afterwards. In Britain, there are usually three options. You may take your pet home to bury but this should be away from watercourses and deep enough so that wild animals do not dig the body up. Because of this, burial is generally limited to smaller pets.
The next cheapest option is to have your pet cremated along with other pets at a pet crematorium. Your vet will have a particular crematorium that they use and you should ask for details of this.
If you do not like the thought of mass cremation, you can elect for individual cremation of your pet when you will be able to have the ashes returned to you in a box or casket if you wish. This is generally quite expensive but is a nice way of remembering your pet.
It is generally best to think about this before you need to so that the decision is not made when you are very upset.
Introduction / Grief / Memorials
