Sigh...Has Anyone Euthanized Their Pet at Home?

We're not there yet but I'm just thinking about different things. The oncologist decided the best idea was to take Pookie off of chemo for the time being because the g@damn congesitve heart failure is going to "get her" before the cancer will.

I know there are vets out there who will come to your home. I don't know if our practice does.

I am a wreck as you guys know but I think the thing that makes me lose it the most is the thought of putting her in the carrier, taking her in the car (both which she hates) and bringing her there - knowing we're not leaving with her and her having all thiose other animal smells and noises.
So much extra anxiety for her (and us.) I know she would be more comfortable at home in her surroundings with her familiar things and smells.


Just wanted some feedback if anyone has done this.

Thank you.

Re: Sigh...Has Anyone Euthanized Their Pet at Home?

I wasn't there for it but we have a vet that makes house calls. She came and allowed my DH and his family to be there with his dog and ease her through in her favorite place. It was Halloween and after we buried her, we placed a special plaque at the site in the yard. I'm crying right now for you because this is such a difficult thing to do and I really feel for you.

Re: Sigh...Has Anyone Euthanized Their Pet at Home?

Thanks so much I just wish I would wake up from this nightmare. We had a scare with her on Friday morning...ugh - I just don't know how much of this she (or I) can take.
I think what kills me so much is DH is always very blase about medical stuff - with humans and with pets - maybe because he's in the field and has seen it all - that's how he's always been. No matter what's wrong with anyone - they're "fine." So yesterday morning we were petting her on the bed - meanwhile - we fight at night who gets to fall asleep while holding her and I asked him if he thought she was ok and he said I don't know I have never ever heard him say that about anyone/thing.

Re: Sigh...Has Anyone Euthanized Their Pet at Home?

I don't have experience with it, since my cat passed on her own at the vet's office before I even had to make that choice. (not sure which is worse to be honest)
But IMO if I was in your situation I would totally want it done at home. I would NOT be able to bring the cat somewhere knowing it was the final journey. I am way too much of an emotional basket case to handle something like that.
I know there are vets that do it at home- I would just do a search or look in the yellow pages for your area.
I think that would be less traumatic for everyone involved- you guys AND the cat.

Again I want to say how sorry I am that you even have to think about this.
I know the horror of having a very sick animal-I only had to deal with it for a few days and it was horrendous- I can't imagine going through it for as long as you are. It was truly one of the most emotionally draining, stressful things I had to go through thus far...

Hang in there..

Message edited 10/6/2009 9:42:54 AM.

Re: Sigh...Has Anyone Euthanized Their Pet at Home?

Thank you so much - your words really do mean a lot. I wish no one ever had to go through this pain ever, but at the same time, it's comforting that other's understand. DH was up with her a few times last night so another night of no sleep - guess it's getting me ready for the baby

Re: Sigh...Has Anyone Euthanized Their Pet at Home?

We just put one of our baby boys to sleep on Thursday, it was very unexpected. Had I had the time to plan this out I would want to have had it done at home as well. I will ask around, I believe there is a vet out of Selden Animal Hospital that will make house calls including euthanasia.

Im so sorry that you have to think about this, I truly know how hard and devastating it is.

Re: Sigh...Has Anyone Euthanized Their Pet at Home?

Thanks, Kristin. I'm actually down in Florida so I am going to have to look for someone down here. I'm so sorry for the loss of your little baby

Re: Sigh...Has Anyone Euthanized Their Pet at Home?

I am so sorry

Re: Sigh...Has Anyone Euthanized Their Pet at Home?

Posted by mrswask

Thanks, Kristin. I'm actually down in Florida so I am going to have to look for someone down here. I'm so sorry for the loss of your little baby

Re: Sigh...Has Anyone Euthanized Their Pet at Home?

I think it is a nice idea to do it at home. When I put my dog down we did it at the vet's, the place he hated most. I don't know if he realized at that point where he was because he was kind of out of it. But I do think it would have been nicer to not be at the vet's office. I couldn't deal with the body myself though, there is no way. We had him cremated. If I ever decided to do it at home in the future I would want the vet to take the body.

Re: Sigh...Has Anyone Euthanized Their Pet at Home?

Mich, again I'm so so sorry you are going through this. I really have no advice on a home vet although I imagine that some must do this.
This reminds me of one of my furbabies that passed... She was a carrier of leukemia(also passed it on to her litter of 4) and she did give us 10 wonderful years, but when her time was up and we were on our way to the vet, she literally passed on her own one block away from the vet- as if she knew where we were taking her

Hang in there friend....vent anytime

Re: Sigh...Has Anyone Euthanized Their Pet at Home?

I am so sorry you're going through this .
I have no experience with this but just wondered if it would bother you after the fact that it was done in your home?
Would you be ok going in that room?
I am in no way saying the vet's office would be better.
It's heart wrenching no matter what .

Re: Sigh...Has Anyone Euthanized Their Pet at Home?

Oh Mich... I am so sorry you have to think about this

Re: Sigh...Has Anyone Euthanized Their Pet at Home?

Posted by woozshle

I am so sorry you're going through this .
I have no experience with this but just wondered if it would bother you after the fact that it was done in your home?
Would you be ok going in that room?
I am in no way saying the vet's office would be better.
It's heart wrenching no matter what .

Re: Sigh...Has Anyone Euthanized Their Pet at Home?

Posted by woozshle

I am so sorry you're going through this .
I have no experience with this but just wondered if it would bother you after the fact that it was done in your home?
Would you be ok going in that room?
I am in no way saying the vet's office would be better.
It's heart wrenching no matter what .

Re: Sigh...Has Anyone Euthanized Their Pet at Home?

Posted by Myrockette

Mich, again I'm so so sorry you are going through this. I really have no advice on a home vet although I imagine that some must do this.
This reminds me of one of my furbabies that passed... She was a carrier of leukemia(also passed it on to her litter of 4) and she did give us 10 wonderful years, but when her time was up and we were on our way to the vet, she literally passed on her own one block away from the vet- as if she knew where we were taking her

Hang in there friend....vent anytime

Re: Sigh...Has Anyone Euthanized Their Pet at Home?

Hey

We couldn't find a vet that would make a housecall--but if you can find someone that would do that, I think that would be the best thing ever. As others have said, when I think back on having to put my baby to sleep, I think the worst part was having to snuggle her on that cold metal table, when I know what she would have REALLY wanted was to be curled up on my bed If you can find someone to do it at your home, that would be great. And then everyone involved is more comfortable.

I'm so sorry you have to go through this...it's one of the worst things in the world.

Re: Sigh...Has Anyone Euthanized Their Pet at Home?

Re: Sigh...Has Anyone Euthanized Their Pet at Home?

I feel for ya! I am sorry you have to go through this. About a year ago my lovely cat came down with kidney failure and the outlook was very bleak. We had her put down, and for us, it was better not to be there...we said our goodbyes while she was still alive and we let the vet take care of the rest of the details. For us it took a lot of the pain of her death away, it was still awful, and I could cry writing this now, but I didn't want to have a vision of her dying in my head for the rest of my life, and I am glad we made the choice not to be there.

You have to do whats right for you, but for us, this was a good option.

Re: Sigh...Has Anyone Euthanized Their Pet at Home?

I really appreciate everyone's input and love, ladies. I really don't know WHAT the right decision is! We had a bad scare on Tuesday night and I thought that was it. She went to dr yesterday and they tweaked her meds and she seemed much better after that and this morning before I went to work I just don't know what to do.

Re: Sigh...Has Anyone Euthanized Their Pet at Home?

i am so sorry for what you are going through,

my dh did this with his dog, the dog could no longer get up on his back legs so he really couldnt walk, he was a lab/shepherd mix not that easy to carry,

i will say that it was not easy but it was the best thing for the dog, he did not think of it as the place the dog was euthanized but rather always remembered the good times and his favorite spots in the house.
the worst part was that dh was responsible for removing the dogs body from the house and bringing it to the vet to be creamated and that was very hard
so i would look into that aspect of it, that was the hardest part of it all

whatever you do good luck, i look at it as you want to make the dog as comfortable as possible in his final days/moments, and its never easy no matter where you do it
you always need to remember the good times you had with your dog