Being a fur parent means having to give unconditional love to your beloved dogs. Unfortunately, it also means making a difficult decision on ending their suffering, especially if it’s already affecting their quality of life. If you are a loving dog owner who’s thinking about giving your beloved dog a compassionate death, then you might also want to consider “Dog Euthanasia Costs” and the “Reasons To Put a Dog Down”.
1. Natural VS Assisted Death
As dog owners, we’ve always hoped for our dog to undergo a natural death. So what is natural death? For dogs who are ill without chances of getting better, it means having to go through the pain as their health declines. Some vets will prescribe painkillers to help sick dogs cope with the discomfort but there will come a time when painkillers can’t relieve your dog of pain anymore. But if a dog’s pain and suffering are too unbearable for both the dog and the dog owner, then your vet might want you to consider euthanasia.
We all know what euthanasia is but what really happens during dog euthanasia? Euthanasia is usually performed in a vet’s clinic, in an animal hospital, or at home. Your vet will explain everything about what’s about to happen and you’ll be given time to say goodbye. Your vet will also give you a choice to stay during the procedure or wait outside. When you are ready, your dog will be given a sedative to make your dog fall into a deep sleep. Then your vet will administer a dose of sodium pentobarbital to your dog which will slowly stop your dog’s heart rate. The whole procedure will only take about 2-3 minutes which makes the transition smooth and painless. The only time your dog will feel pain is the pinch on the first injection.
2. What Might Be The Reasons To Put A Dog Down?
Death and suffering are two things that no dog owners will ever welcome in their dogs’ lives. That’s why we keep them healthy as much as possible. We bring them to the veterinarians regularly, groom them, feed them with healthy food, and keep them safe from any harm. But with life comes death, and sometimes suffering that even the best vet in the world can’t help save our fur babies from.
It’s very important for you to have an open and honest discussion with your vet so that you can decide without feeling guilty. Below are the things we should consider before coming up with a difficult decision of putting our dog out of misery:
3. How Much To Put A Dog To Sleep?
We all know that veterinary fees can be high so it’s best to know how much to put a dog down so you can be prepared financially. This will make it easier for you to focus on the most important things, saying goodbye and giving a proper memorial to your dog.
The cost of dog euthanasia will depend on several factors such as your location, the size of your dog, services offered by your vet, and where it will be done.
Vet Clinic
If you are still able to bring your dog to a vet clinic, you may ask your vet to perform euthanasia. This should cost you around $50 to $100. But if for some reason you asked another vet (who hasn’t seen your dog) to perform the service, then you should expect the vet to charge additional fees for an exam. This exam is to establish a vet client/ patient relationship which is required by law before he/she can perform euthanasia on your dog. In some instances, vets may charge you for additional IV catheters and disposal of needles.
Some vets also offer euthanasia and aftercare packages to dog owners. Basic packages include euthanasia, transporting a dog’s remains to a cremation facility, cremation, and return of ashes in an urn. This will cost between $400 and $800 dollars depending on a dog owner’s choices.
In-Home Euthanasia
The best place to put down a dog to sleep is where it is most comfortable, at home. In this kind of setup, you can decide what kind of environment your dog’s passing should have. The cost of in-home dog euthanasia is more expensive since you have to factor in how far your vet has to travel to your location. Vets usually charge an additional $20 for travel costs if you are located within a 20mile radius and additional fees if you live farther. That is aside from the service itself which is around $200 – $500. Note that this doesn’t include aftercare services.
Nonprofit Organization
Dog euthanasia is undeniably expensive so it is understandable if some dog owners can’t afford it. Some organizations and humane societies offer euthanasia services at discounted rates for as low as $35. For dog owners who really don’t have the means to pay for dog euthanasia services, there are organizations that will cover the full cost while some will offer flexible payment schemes.
4. Final Thoughts
As a loving dog owner, it is your responsibility to decide on the welfare of your beloved dog. Sadly, this includes helping your fur baby cross over the rainbow bridge peacefully. Not all people around you will agree about putting your dog down to sleep. But if your dog’s life has been a series of unending pain and is no longer worth living for them, wouldn’t you want to end your dog’s misery and allow him to die without pain?
When the time comes to make a tough decision, you will need a lot of help from your vet. Your vet will guide you in determining when the right time is and they can provide your dog medications that can make the transition easy and peaceful.
You might not be emotionally ready for letting go of your best friend but you also need to prepare yourself financially. Knowing how much it is to put a dog down and planning ahead for the aftercare will give you more time to focus on the most important thing, spending quality time with your beloved dog.
Lastly, never feel guilty about deciding to end your fur baby’s misery. You should take comfort in knowing that you gave your dog a compassionate and loving death.
