Dog Euthanasia
The methods employed in euthanasia in the past – and, unfortunately, even today in some places – are largely responsible for the fact that so many people simply refused to consider ending a pet’s life. They were shocking, inhumane, and often clumsy. Usually, the animal was shot, gassed, or electrocuted. The drugs that were occasionally used were unsatisfactory: the injection of strychnine was certainly inferior even to shooting; ether and chloroform brought a kinder death but even with these there was considerable distress.
If your local humane society or dog warden is still using the methods of a decade or so ago, you will be doing a service to both the pets and pet owners in your community by talking with the proper authorities about the possibilities of using pentobarbital.
There has been a heated debate over the use of the high altitude chamber for euthanasia and many states have seen fit to eliminate it by law. The animals do pass through at least an apprehensive period before unconsciousness.
Today there are several drugs available that are both quick and painless. When you decide that it is best to terminate your dog’s existence you have every right to insist that drugs of this type be administered. The best of these is sodium pentobarbital. When injected into a vein or directly into the heart, its effects are almost instantaneous. A sudden sleep overcomes the animal and in a matter of seconds, it is completely unconscious. The heartbeat and breathing cease; the end comes quietly and quickly. The lethal dose of sodium pentobarbital is usually considered to be one and a half times the amount required for anesthesia. To eliminate even the possibility of such occurrences, we administer three grains for every five pounds of the animal’s weight. A dose of this size is completely and immediately effective.
Generally, dog owners decide on euthanasia when it becomes the only option for their dear dog to get rid of the pain. Dogs are taken for eternal sleep when they are suffering from a disease that is no longer responding to all possible therapies. The dogs are also subjected to euthanasia if it is found that even if the dog recovers from the ailment he would be terminally ill, invalid, or turn vicious due to nerve damage. Sometimes the dogs become too old and become incapable of taking their basic care, under such circumstances the do0g can be put to eternal sleep.
Before taking your dog to its final destination you may bid your dog a final goodbye. You can accompany your dog to the room where the whole process of euthanasia would be performed and try to stay by his or her side and comfort him. To put the soul of your dear pet to rest you may also arrange for a good burial site. You may also go to the community pet crematory as well. Whether you want to have a private resting place for your dog or not you are advised to make proper arrangements for disposing of the pet’s body before the process of euthanasia.
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