How do veterinarians put animals to sleep

I have found that pet owners are surprised at the small quantity of ashes that are returned. Remember, most living creatures are about 95 percent water. It is perfectly reasonable to ask, "How do I know that the ashes that I receive will actually be those of my pet?

Your veterinarian should be able to provide you with the name and phone number of the cremation service. Don't be afraid to call them and ask them about your concerns. You should get courteous and respectful answers to all your questions, and if you don't, let your veterinarian know. In fact, it would be a good idea to call the cremation service long before that final day so that the last moments with your pet are as stress-free as possible.

It is not unusual, nor unreasonable, for pet owners to save a bit of their pet's hair as a physical remembrance of their special friend. Some people want their pet to be buried or cremated with a few photos, or a rose, or even a personal letter or poem addressed to their pet. Just remember that it is YOUR friend and YOUR pet that is passing away, and you can do anything you wish to ease your transition into the time of separation from that friend.

Many, many pet owners experience a very strong and lasting sense of pain and grief after the passing of a pet. Grief is such a personal experience. Even a close friend might say, "Oh, just go get another one. Some pet parents tend to be critical of their own grief, saying things like, "Oh, this is ridiculous to feel like this over a Cocker Spaniel.

Our pets are important to us, and we don't have to apologize for feeling so devastated when we lose them. It is okay for you to feel the need to talk to someone who understands your sadness! The loss of a pet also often brings up memories of other losses—potentially causing a vicious cycle of sadness, helplessness and even clinical depression.

There are a number of grief support groups and counselors who specialize in pet loss counseling. You can find support groups online who meet online or in person to discuss feelings related to the loss of a pet. Never feel ashamed or belittle yourself for having strong feelings of loss and sadness over a deceased pet. You are NOT alone in your sadness.

There are numerous websites that can be helpful and informative while you progress along the road of accepting the loss of your pet. Do pets grieve when they lose a human companion? If you are having serious self-doubt about having a pet euthanized, my personal advice is to read A Letter From Annie.

It will make a difference. Home Dog Care Center. Written by: PetMD Editorial. Published: August 06, Help us make PetMD better Was this article helpful? Yes No. Share this article. What did you find helpful? What was not helpful? Say more Sign me up for the PetMD Newsletter. Submit Feedback. Still have questions? Continue to Chewy. Connect With a Vet Experienced vets answer all your pet questions via chat or video. I will listen to his chest with my stethoscope to make sure I no longer hear a heartbeat.

If there are other pets in the home, I urge clients to allow them some time to see and smell the deceased pet. I typically will step outside during this time to give them privacy, and they can have as much time as they need. If we are transporting the pet for cremation, our driver will be waiting outside until I tell him they are ready for him to come in.

All pets are placed in cloth sleeping bags that zipper on three sides, and we use a stretcher to carry larger pets. We tell all of our clients that we treat their pet at all times as if they are there, looking over our shoulders.

Carney said. This is why I do it: I feel called to provide this for pets and people. Carney said it won't impact the company's ability to provide any of its services. Cremations are all done at the main facility at Andersontown Road, near Mechanicsburg. For more information, visit www. Euthanasia solution is either pink or blue.

Normally we use two drugs. The first is a dissociative drug, which basically means it causes a disconnect between the brain and the body so the pet does not feel any pain.

Complete onset of sedation usually only takes minutes. The second is the euthanasia solution and effects are immediate. When asked why vets sometimes flush the IV line in between injections, Hanlon said it depends if there is a line attached to the IV and, if so, how long it is. We feel that the animals are more comfortable with their owners and do not want to stress them by bringing them to the treatment area for catheter placement if not needed.

The doctor instead gives them a quick shot in the rear, which most animals don't notice, and they slowly become heavily sedated or even lightly anesthetized.

To the pet, this procedure should be very similar to other visits to the vet where they received vaccine injections or similar injections. The family is able to stay by the head of the patient and hug, pet and talk to them while the doctor uses a rear leg vein whenever possible to administer the euthanasia solution.

If the owner does not wish to be present, the price is less the office visit charge. Hanlon said Ani-Care offers a special room for people to spend time with their pets before, during and after euthanization, and there is a door leading outside so the people don't have to go through a crowded waiting room after euthanasia. Some owners opt to come in ahead of time to complete paperwork and payment because they will be unable to think about it after.

Others are brought to the "Quiet Room," paperwork is completed, payment is taken and then the doctor takes over," Hanlon said. Ani-Care does offer cremation services for pets who have died at home, at the same cost as if the pet was euthanized at Ani-Care. Do you offer cremation services for those whose pets died at home? If so, what does that cost? Yes, the price for private vs communal cremation is the same as if the pet was euthanized by us. Pets' bodies are wrapped in bags supplied by the crematory and labeled with forms from the crematory in order to identify the remains as well as which cremation service the owner requested.

Remains are kept in a dedicated freezer until the crematory staff picks them up. Private cremains are returned in the next week when the crematory returns. When asked what happens to the cremains if the family doesn't opt for private cremation, Hanlon said "You would have to ask a crematory that question.

There are usually government-controlled disposal regulations that need to be followed. When the family is taking their pet home for burial, Hanlon said, each situation is different.

However, sometimes it needs to be viewed as a treatment in terminally ill patients and the only way we can guarantee no pain or suffering. Some vet staff experience "compassion fatigue," especially those in shelter environments or hospitals that work with rescues. Also, not every vet will euthanize every owner request. Some may choose not to euthanize for aggression, others for treatable conditions. These are ethical considerations a vet must be comfortable with.

Vets, just as pet owners, must live with the decisions they make regarding the pets they care for. Owners should not take it personally if a vet refuses to euthanize a particular patient. This is usually a mixture of drugs, including acepromazine, ketamine, xylazine, butorphanol, diazepam, tiletamine-zolazepam," she wrote. It also depends on the health history of the animal. For example, acepromazine can lower the seizure threshold, so we would not use that in an animal with epilepsy.

The dose depends on the animal's weight and illness, and every animal can react differently to sedative drugs -- some need more than others. And there can be side effects, as I just explained with the acepromazine, vomiting can also be seen, and we warn owners about this before administering the injection. The color depends on the brand.

They are highly concentrated barbiturates. Because it reduces anxiety, and has analgesic benefit for our patients -- not because the procedure is painful, but chronic painful conditions like arthritis are one of the major reasons clients opt for euthanasia. It also benefits our clients. They have some quiet time to say goodbye while their pet gently gets more sleepy.

How long depends on how long it takes the pet to become sedated, which can be 5 to 15 minutes. The pet is then unaware of the final, lethal, intravenous overdose of barbiturate, and with several deep breaths, they pass away. We have a quiet room with soundproofed insulation, so they are also free to express their grief fully.

We save shaved hair, and we make pawprints as mementos. The final injection must be given intravenously to work quickly. This can be technically challenging. The sedative will cause blood pressure to drop, and very sick or dehydrated patients will also have low blood pressure, with veins that easily collapse.

If that happens the solution can leak out into the tissue around the vein, which will sting, and also prolong the time for the animal to pass. Hence the recent unsuccessful human executions by lethal injection. If a hospitalized patient is on intravenous fluids, and already has an IV catheter in place when an owner opts for euthanasia, then we will, of course, inject through the catheter. Flushing the catheter ensures that the line is open, and a clot has not formed.

You can also feel that by how well an injection goes when you are giving it through the port, so that flushing may not always be needed in between. We also understand when someone cannot be there, and we do also make house calls for euthanasia. If our schedule does not allow the extra time for a house call, we refer to Peaceful Pet Passage, which is a mobile euthanasia service.

I know Dr Elizabeth Carney and Dr Allan Hill personally, and I trust both of them to take good care of my clients and their pets at the worst time in their lives together. We explain the process, the owner signs the consent form -- also for the rabies law, stating that the pet has not bitten anyone in the last 10 days. I give the sedative injection intramuscularly, usually in one of the thigh muscles. We wait for the pet to become sedated, and then we have a technician hold the leg to raise the vein that I inject into.

We wait until the animal has stopped breathing, then I listen for the heart to stop beating. We offer the client some time alone with their pet. Payment depends on the circumstances and the owner; some will pay before, some after. There is no exam fee charged, but if a house call is made we do charge a house call fee in addition to the euthanasia charge.

Clients are welcome, and several have traveled there for the cremation. Bodies are held frozen, Allied comes once a week, and brings back ashes in carved wooden urns with gold inlay.

If clients do not want their individual pet's ashes, the ashes are disposed of at Allied. Parker said Compassion Animal Hospital provides blankets and boxes for families who want to take their pet's body home. It is normal for animals to release their bowels and bladder after, and we provide plastic to put underneath," she said. Also, depending on the township, some people will bury their pets at home. We do provide service for pets that died at home, and we have sent staff to the house to pick them up.

Parker said Compassion Animal Hospital has referred some clients to pet bereavement counselors, and provides materials to help explain the process to children. Maria Sheffield-Stankiewicz, practice manager at East York Veterinary Center, describes the center's euthanasia process for dogs and cats as follows. She said the process varies slightly for exotic animals. We always use the same drug, but the dose is dependent on body weight. Some owners will opt for communal cremation sometimes called group or mass cremation.

Alternatively, you may wish to bring your dog's remains home so you can handle aftercare on your own. Try to settle up the bill in advance. The last thing you will want is a tearful wait in the lobby to pay your bill after your pet is gone.

Most importantly, take the time to say goodbye. Talk to your dog, touch your pet, and express your love however you can. You and your dog will find comfort in this. In dogs and cats, euthanasia usually involves the intravenous injection of a solution of pharmaceutical agents that will quickly stop the heart. In most cases, this solution is predominantly made up of pentobarbital, though some euthanasia solutions also contain phenytoin. The solution is usually a pink, purple, or blue tint and may be slightly thick.

The most effective way to administer the solution is through a vein. Injection into a body cavity will often work, but not as quickly.

Your vet may prefer to have an intravenous catheter placed in your dog. This will allow easier access to the vein and make the injection process quick and painless for your dog. It may also help decrease the chance of complications during the injection. Your vet might administer a sedative to your dog prior to administering the actual euthanasia solution. This will allow your pet to be extremely relaxed and sleepy before the next step.

Finally, the euthanasia solution is injected into your pet's vein, where it rapidly travels throughout the body.

Within seconds, your dog will become unconscious, experiencing no pain or suffering. Breathing will slow down and then stop over the next several seconds.

Cardiac arrest will soon follow, resulting in death. Typically, a peaceful death occurs within 30 seconds of intravenous administration. Once the solution has been administered, your vet will listen to your dog's heart to confirm the death.

Your vet will let you know that your dog has passed on. At this time, your vet will probably step out of the room to give you a few moments alone with your dog. This is an emotional time, and the veterinary staff will provide plenty of tissues and privacy. You are in a safe environment where everyone understands what you are going through. Stay as short or as long as you are comfortable.