Love Means Sometimes Having to Say Goodbye:Details of the Euthanasia Process

When the heart hurts sometimes we go on auto pilot and loose our nerve to ask important questions.  Sometimes people will shy away from euthanasia as a choice because of all of the little unknowns.  You are already pre-grieving; it just seems barbaric to have to handle the "business" details of the procedure.  Questions swirl that can feel dark.  You may feel that we are going to judge you for putting "petty" earthly matters ahead of loving your pet.

Let me be the first to say BULL!  If anyone judges you scoop your pet up and go somewhere else-it's a bad fit.  There are many things in medicine that seem mysterious.  If it brings you comfort, helps you to make decisions, or helps to minimize your pain then ask away.  What happens during the death process?  What are my options for burial?  How much will everything cost?

The process of euthanasia will very from clinic to clinic.  The goal of any clinic should be to create and environemtn that makes you feel as safe and comfortable as possible.  We want to minimize the distress and fear that the pet must feel.   Some clinics place an IV catheter so that the final injection can be giving easily.  Some clinics give the pet a sedative so that they are unaware of the final moments.  This also can ease much of the natural, but unpleasant to view, post death changes that can occur after the euthanasia injections is given.  The actual injection is a very strong overdose of an anesthetic.  It causes brain death often before it is completely given.  This injection is painless and works quickly.  Even with sedation, the electrical impulses leaving the body can cause muscle twitches or cause the pet to vocalize.  This is known as the "death moan".  These are not the pet "fighting death" they are just normal post death events.  The pet will not close their eyes and urinate and defecate.

The clinic will also discuss burial options with you.  You can choose cremation with the ashes returned to you.  You can choose to have the pet buried in a plot, complete with funeral, at any pet cemetery of your choosing.  You may also decide that group cremation is what is best for your family.  This option is the most economical.  The pet will be cremated with other pets and the ashes spread over the other pet's graves.  No matter which option you choose, your pet will be treated with dignity.

This decision is never easy, but you make it from a place of love for your pet.  Now that you know some of the behind the scenes stuff maybe it will be a little less scary.

chris