Should I see my dead dog?

[Ethros]

Just to backtrack a bit, about 12 years ago when I was a kid our family dog died. She was getting old and sick or something, and was taken the vets and basically put to sleep. Anyway, I remember my dad bringing her home afterwards and saying that before he took her to be cremated the next day I could see her if I wanted, he said "she just looks asleep."

I chose not to, as I didn't want my last memory of her to be, well dead. I wanted to remember her alive. And now 13 years later it looks like the same scenario could be happening again soon. Our current dog is getting old and also isn't overly well. It could be a week or so, it could be months. But I'm just wondering about the potential of said same scenario


I don't know, I still think the same as I did last time really. I don't think she'd look asleep. She wouldn't be breathing, and if I stroked her she's not gonna wake up. I'd rather just say goodbye to her beforehand.
Anyway, I'm just wondering what choice others would make, or have made.
Thanks.

 

[Lookingglassman]

I say go there and be with her until the end. At least she will pass away knowing her loving master was holding her paw.

 

[the 4th hanson bro]

Just about a year ago, our 14 year old black lab got to that point. He couldn't stand up his hips were so bad. It was time.

I took him to the vet and sat there on the floor with him and fed him dog cookies. My vet used a 2 shot system. The first put him into a deep sleep, then they'd shave a spot and administer the final shot. I left before the second shot.

The way I thought about it was that he'd been there for us through so much, I needed to be there for him at the end. It was very peaceful, when it took effect he just put his head down and slept. The only disconcerting thing was that he was so tranquilized, his tongue totally relaxed and hung all the way out of his mouth.

I still miss him.

 

[Skellington]

I would probably have regretted it had I not been there when my dog was put down some years ago. It's not exactly a melodramatic experience, either. The owners generally only get to see the pet for a few moments afterwards, and it does look like it's asleep at that point. Every relationship is different, though.

 

[Jadzia]

When my cat died of natural causes, I was the one who found her. That wasn't as unpleasant an experience as I expected it being. Initially there was shock, realising that she was actually dead. Quickly followed by sadness which brought tears to my eyes. But the unexpected emotion which followed was acceptance. Her death felt comfortable.

In contrast, when my dog died, it was because my parent's decided to have him put to sleep. As this wasn't a natural death, it has never felt comfortable to me. I didn't want to see his dead body at the time, and I haven't regretted that decision.

In the future, I'd be happy to see an animal while they are still alive and on their last legs, but I don't think I'd choose to see any dead animal for 'last chance' reasons.

 

[Finn]

I had a college professor who had his dalmatian stuffed and put it in his living room. As far as I know, it's still there with a blank stare greeting his guests...

 

[Sector 7]

Having grown up on a farm, life and death were all part of God's natural cycle. I don't remember ever having a pet funeral. We new our pets were dead and we buried them in the pasture. As their bodies decayed they helped plants grow.

My brother, however, lost his dog after 14 years. He had her cremated, bought a brass urn on a stand with a photo. He keeps it on the mantle. Whatever makes him happy, although I think it is rather silly and/or creepy.

 

[Tora Ziyal]

I've had three pets put down and one die of natural causes. The last two who were put down, I held through the procedure. I would make that choice again -- it comforts both the animal and me.

 

[PKTrekGirl]

I had to put one of my dogs to sleep about a year and a half ago. I took my other dog with us and both of of stayed with her, right next to her, until the end. It seemed to be very peaceful, and to this day, although at the time it was very difficult, I'm glad I did it. She was not alone at the end - she had her 'family' with her, and that is important. And the least I could do, I felt, for a loyal pet.

Afterward, the vet's office handled the cremation (I did not have to take her home or to be cremated myself), and I was called back about a week later to pick up her ashes, which came in a very nice tin.

I think this is a very personal decision, and no one can tell you what to do. But I'm glad I did what I did.

 

[RoJoHen]

My first family cat died when I was about 9-years old. I don't remember caring all that much. It was my mom's cat, and she had had her for the last 16 years, so it affected her more than anything. She had the cat put down, brought her home in a box, and buried her in the garden in the backyard.

Our second cat died while I was away at college, so I didn't get a chance to see him. I had seen over the last couple holidays that he had been losing a lot of weight and was clearly getting sick. One day I got a phone call from my mom saying that she had him put down. He, too, is buried in the garden in the backyard.

 

[Ethros]

Yeah I don't really know too much about it. I think when I was kid with our old dog the vet basically just gave the body back and my dad had to sort out its cremation seperatly the next day.
I don't know, I'm just assuming it would be the same this time.

 

[RoJoHen]

I'm sure it just depends on the vet you go to.

 

[KimMH]

My husband had to take one of our dogs in - he couldn't stay. I took the other two in and it was very peaceful - they went to sleep and I was there to let them know I loved them and was glad they were in our lives. they are both on the mantle in little tins - it may be creepy or weird, but I like having them with us still.

 

[Jadzia]

I'm sure it just depends on the vet you go to.

When we had our dog put down, my dad said he didn't want to leave him with the vet.

He told me a story about some US veterinarian who accepted dogs to be put to sleep and disposed of. But they ended up being taken off to some military place where animals were being used in ballistics studies. I assume his story is true, but you never know.

To avoid risks of any "experiments", he had the vet come to the house, and insisted he'd bury the dog himself.

 

[Jonas Grumby]

I've had to have a few cats put to sleep over the years. I always stay with them during the procedure. Whatever comfort they can take from my presence, whatever easing of any possible fear, I want them to have.

 

[Dorian Thompson]

I always stay with them during the procedure. Whatever comfort they can take from my presence, whatever easing of any possible fear, I want them to have.

This. Exactly.

 

[Kestra]

I don't think I'd be able to do it. This whole thread is making me immensely sad and I can't even look at my cat. I think it would be a good thing for the animal but it's difficult to tell how you'd react until it happens.

If you are on the fence, I say do it. Better to be uncomfortable than run the risk of a major regret, especially for the last memory of a dear companion.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Our old cat purred during the process, before the sedative got to be too much. I know they do that when they're in pain...but she was also letting me rub her belly as she went to sleep. So I think it meant she knew in her last moments that she was loved. It was a hard, hard thing to be present for, but for me it was very important.

 

[Pegaritaville]

Having grown up on a farm, life and death were all part of God's natural cycle. I don't remember ever having a pet funeral. We new our pets were dead and we buried them in the pasture. As their bodies decayed they helped plants grow.

My brother, however, lost his dog after 14 years. He had her cremated, bought a brass urn on a stand with a photo. He keeps it on the mantle. Whatever makes him happy, although I think it is rather silly and/or creepy.

I also grew up on a farm and we buried a lot of our pets in the pasture (or, if it was winter, took them out on the river and cremated them on the ice). But it was different for me when I had to put down my first "own" dog.

I got my basset hound when I was 7 years old. Fifteen years later, I just couldn't face putting her down. My last memory of her was my brother carrying her (she was too sick to walk) up the sidewalk. To this day, I can picture that vividly and to this day part of me wishes I would have had the guts to take "Gertie" to the vet myself. But I also realize that I couldn't deal with it at the time.

Bottom line? Go with your gut feeling. If you can handle it, great, but don't feel guilty if you can't. Your dog knows how you feel.

 

[reversepolarity]

Bottom line? Go with your gut feeling. If you can handle it, great, but don't feel guilty if you can't. Your dog knows how you feel.

Well said Pegaritaville, I think that's very eloquently put