How to euthanize a dog. Painful and painless ways

So nature ordered that the life expectancy of dogs is much shorter than that of humans. And in any case, sooner or later, you have to say goodbye to your pet. But it becomes even more difficult because it is often necessary to do this earlier than expected, and in some cases even independently decide its fate. Is it hard to take responsibility? Of course ... But once in a family, a four-legged friend already depends on the person, and his life is already in the hands of the owner.

When there are no other options

There are two types of reasons why you have to resort to euthanasia: medical and social indicators.

Quite often, euthanasia is recommended for medical reasons. First of all, this is due to the health of the pet. The last severe stages of diseases that bring flour, as well as diseases that do not respond to any treatment at all, become a good reason to stop the suffering of a beloved pet. It is very difficult for owners to realize that euthanasia in such a case is a humane act, and not everyone can go for it, although this is a completely reasonable solution.

If you take into account the opinion of professionals, then with disappointing diagnoses, especially when it comes to elderly animals, between the option of constant pain relief with slow extinction of the pet and euthanasia, they recommend the latter. After all, not only the owner is hard and painful to watch this, but the dog is experiencing heavy torment.

You should not make such a decision yourself, it is best to consult with a qualified doctor to find out if there is even the slightest chance of recovery.

Veterinarians argue that for such a procedure it is very important to choose the right moment. And it is better if it happens before the dog begins to feel physical pain. Often, delaying the decision, the owners allow prolonged torment of the pet.

Injuries and injuries from accidents or other accidents can also lead to euthanasia. Often dogs are euthanized due to the fact that the owners do not have the necessary funds for treatment.

Social causes include asocial behavior of the animal. Such tough measures are resorted to if the dog cannot be kept close to people due to aggressiveness. The dog attacked an adult or a child for no apparent reason, caused severe bodily harm? This is an occasion for euthanasia in order to protect yourself and others.

Sleep at home

For some reason, pet owners want to euthanize a dog on their own. What is needed to euthanize a dog yourself?

There are several methods of euthanasia that differ in their methodology:

• Introduction to the pulmonary lobe of an alcoholic or ammonia solution; in the process, the dog chokes. Most often used to euthanize unwanted offspring.
• Holding a powerful current discharge through the dog’s body. In this case, cardiac arrest becomes the cause of death.

Is it worth mentioning that such methods are not humane and more like torture. This is also evidenced by the fact that often the animal does not die immediately, experiencing hellish torment.

Therefore, it is still recommended to resort to the help of a specialist or at least consult with him, choosing the necessary dosage of funds for a more civilized way of euthanasia. Medicines of the following groups can be used:

1. Anesthetics:

• Negatively affect the activity of the central nervous system, cause pulmonary edema and breathing stops (Pnetobarbital and Etaminal sodium).
• Thiopental sodium introduces the animal into a deep hypnotic state and loss of consciousness.
• Propofol also introduces the dog into short-term hypnosis, provokes inhibition of respiratory functions.
• Droperidol is a sedative drug with a sedative effect that reduces locomotor activity.
• Zolarepam is an anesthetic that reduces pain.

2. Sedative (sedative) drugs. Xylazine is primarily used as an anesthetic. It affects the relaxation of muscles, lowers blood pressure, in excess of normal doses, depresses breathing.
3. Muscle relaxants:

• Arduan is a synthetic drug that blocks conduction between nerves and muscles. Used in complex anesthesia.
• Ditilin - an increased dose leads to respiratory arrest.
• Lidocaine - used for painless euthanasia of animals.

4. Means that affect the balance of electrolytes. This group of drugs includes magnesium sulfate. With the intravenous administration of a large amount of the drug, muscle weakness appears, blood pressure decreases, breathing is inhibited. All symptoms lead to cardiac arrest.

Euthanasia in veterinary clinic

In this case, the most humane medical procedure is used, which consists of two stages:

• Initially, the veterinarian gives the dog an injection, usually in the muscle, which plunges the pet into a narcotic sleep. It is better if during this period the owner will sit next to the pet, as the dog will feel more relaxed and not nervous.
• After a certain time, a second injection follows, the role of which is to stop cardiac activity. This process takes some time, but the dog does not feel anything. At this stage, the doctor asks the owners to go out so as not to see the seizures , convulsive movements of the pet.

If the dog is not just nervous, but also shows aggression towards the doctor and owner, then a muscle relaxant is administered remotely. In this situation, the entire process of euthanasia will take longer.

After stating death, it will be possible to discuss the issue of burial. You can bury the animal yourself only in personal territory. If the pet's aggression against a person became the cause of euthanasia, then cremation is prohibited in this case. The body of the animal is passed on to veterinarians for signs of rabies.

It will be interesting : how dogs see the world .

The cost of euthanasia

The price of the procedure depends on the body weight of the dog. The larger the animal, the more expensive it will cost. The average cost of euthanasia is:

• ten-kilogram dog - from 1t. up to 2t. rubles;
• from 10 to 20 - from 2t. up to 3t rubles;
• within 30 kilograms - 3-4 thousand rubles .;
• from 30 to 50 kg - 4-5 tons;
• with a weight of up to 70 kg - from 5 to 7 rubles.

These prices apply to Moscow and the Moscow Region districts; in provincial cities, the cost of euthanasia may be 25-30% cheaper.

If the veterinarian is not expected to arrive at home, then euthanasia will be cheaper. A doctor’s visit costs an average of 1200 rubles.

In addition to euthanasia, clinics offer a wide range of additional services:

• taking away the dog and conducting cremation;
• delivery of his ashes back in a special urn (this service will be more expensive than ordinary cremation).

If we talk about the cost, then a full range of services (euthanasia and cremation) in a veterinary clinic will be cheaper than ordering everything separately and transporting the pet’s body to the crematorium yourself.

Two polar opinions on euthanasia

In relation to euthanasia, modern dog owners are divided into two opposite camps:

• The first one believes that if a friend, or rather a family member, is hopeless, then euthanasia is a truly difficult, but the most correct decision. They share the view that a dog that faithfully served a person has every right to decent care - without excruciating pain, next to its owner. In such judgments there is a rational kernel, since many diseases lead to a very unsightly, painful death. These include oncological diseases with metastases and multiple surgical interventions, injuries that are not compatible with life, irreversible processes inside the body that have a chronic or age-related cause. If anesthesia does not bring relief, then the owners are inclined to decide to let the animal go.
• In the camp of opponents of euthanasia, they believe that euthanasia is murder, albeit with good intentions, and is a sin. In their opinion, a person has no right to decide who and how much to live. Cases of miraculous healing of terminally ill cats and dogs are cited as examples. Any, even the most hopeless situation, gives hope for a miraculous cure. Euthanasia takes away hope and deprives the pet, albeit a ghostly, but a chance of life.

Dogs are the most loyal creatures, ready to die for the owner. They meekly endure all illnesses and deprivations, without showing the appearance of how hard it is for them. In this difficult situation, each pet owner makes an independent decision.