by Danielle Friedl

Created on: January 18, 2009

You've raised your dog from fumbling, adorable puppy to loyal, loving companion. From the small ball of fluff that you painstakingly taught where their bathroom was to the beautful dog who would sooner rupture their bladder than soil your carpet. The one constant who was there when you bought your first house, brought home that insolent crying thing that somehow got away with pooping in the house, and held your hand when you put that same creature on a big yellow roaring bus for the first time. Maybe even the one that taught you what it was to be a parent before you even were one. Your dog is the one who has seen you up and probably most importantly, seen you at your worst, yet continued to lick your face and crawl up in your lap.

Putting your dog to sleep is never easy, regardless of the circumstances. Knowing when to do it is even harder. Perhaps he's been sick for a long time or was involved in some sort of accident. Maybe he's just seen so much of life that it's simply getting hard to live it anymore. Whatever the reason behind making a decision to euthanize it's important to know a few things about the process itself.

Euthanasia is a relatively quick and simple process in which a veterinarian injects a solution into your dog's vein. The solution slows down the body systems until they stop and the dog has passed away. It takes a matter of second for the dog to be asleep, however the actual time of death can be a few minutes later. Rest assured that your dog is at peace and can no longer feel anything after those initial seconds. His lungs may still be sucking in air but in essence your pet has ceased to be. Having done many pet euthanasias as a veterinary technician I can assure you that it is the most peaceful death possible and quite possibly the greatest gift you can give to your ailing pet.

So how do you know when it's time? Many people have different rulers in measuring when their dog is ready to go. Usually the biggest key is quality of life and the prospect of gaining that quality back. Here are some things to look for in a dog who is probably ready for euthanasia:

1. Uninterested or unwilling to play, even for a few minutes a day. Dogs as old as 12 have been known to chase the ball around the yard, even if it is for a few minutes before needing a break.

2. Does not enjoy the things he used to. If you had a ritual of walking around the neighborhood after dinner and he refuses to go it may be a sign that he's just in too much pain to join you.

3. Health

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