Euthanasia of the dog, what does it feel? Unfortunately, this is a topic that many dog owners, family members and veterinarians can come across during their lifetime. Although the world of veterinary medicine has made great strides and is alive with continuous developments and updates, it is not always able to solve Fido’s clinical problems.
There are pathological conditions so serious and complex that sometimes the best solution is represented by an immense gesture of courage by the owner: that is, to have his dog killed. Let’s find out together how to put a dog to sleep avoiding that it continues to suffer by giving it the peace it deserves.
How to kill a dog: the last gesture of love for Fido
What does the dog feel with euthanasia and why is it recommended to do it? In reality there is no mention of advice, there are no guidelines and no one who is not the owner can establish it! All this must be related to the clinical condition of the dog which, on medical opinion, will have life expectancy or not. Let’s talk about dog euthanasia, what it feels like and when this decision needs to be made.
When a dog is dying it is legally possible to resort toeuthanasia dal greco euthanasia, composto da eu-, bene, e death, morte.
Euthanasia literally means “good death caused, not natural”.
It must be specified that this is a veterinary medical practice and that it has sometimes dramatic implications and places any pet owner in front of a difficult dilemma, the solution of which always involves a demanding and responsible choice.
When to kill a dog with severe cancer or disease
What does Fido feel with dog euthanasia? In fact, nothing at all, as the actual euthanasia process precedes a profound induction that dissociates the patient beforeissue.
While it is impossible to give advice on when to part with your four-legged friend forever, there are gods clinical signs not to be underestimated and that the veterinarian will be able to show us as irreversible. In the course of serious diseases such as:
our vet will be able to issue a nefarious diagnosis by informing us that Fido will not make it.
What dogs do before they die: ante mortem symptoms
During the euthanasia of the dog what Fido feels we are not given to know, but it can be useful to understand what they are irreversible symptoms that precede such a difficult decision. The serious clinical pictures that lead to a diagnosis of prompt death are many and different, depending on the pathology or trauma that causes them.
Below is a generic list:
- Fame d’aria: the subject breathes open-mouthed with proven effort;
- Faint heartbeat and hollow pulse: the cardiovascular situation suggests the sudden onset of death;
- sensory depression: the dog will appear lethargic and unresponsive to external stimuli;
- Coma: inability to respond to any stimulus with vital but precarious functions;
- Hypothermia: the patient has a lower body temperature than normal and can be managed thanks to the use of heat lamps;
- Tremors e fasciculations.
In these cases the question to ask is not what Fido feels with euthanasia of the dog, but how can we relieve these sufferings!
How to put a dog to sleep: hospitalization and management of a serious condition
A veterinarian’s job is to stabilize a dog in serious condition. Subsequently it will be necessary to carry out a sincere and objective conversation with the owners of the animal. The legislation in force in Italy on the subject of animal welfare prohibits deletion except in cases of specific and objective gravity.
This means that a dog owner cannot decide lightly or senselessly to have their dog killed. On the other hand, the veterinarian is not required to kill a dog at the request of the owner on the basis of futile reasons. The latter has, in fact, a crucial role in ensuring that the protection and welfare of animals is respected. Let’s find out the legislative side that regulates this complex area.
Euthanasia of the dog, current legislation
Euthanasia of the dog, what does Fido feel and how should everything be managed in compliance with the law?
Let’s start from Add n. 189/04legislation that has included crimes against the sentiment of animals in the penal code, which punishes any killing caused by cruelty or in absence of necessity.
In which cases is euthanasia illegal?
In the absence of necessity, as in the case of an incurable disease, the killing of the animal becomes not only illegitimate but also illegal and susceptible of deontological consequences for the veterinarian who proceeds in the absence of the legal requirements, but also penalties for all those involved.
Anyone who were to kill an animal, as executor or principal, in fact, would commit the crime provided for by art. 544 bis of the Criminal Code, “Killing of animals”, punished with imprisonment from four months to two years.
What does the law on euthanasia of stray dogs say?
How should non-patron dogs be handled? In this regard it is necessary to refer to Law n. 281/91, “Framework law on pets and the prevention of stray animals”, which, in art. 2, prohibits the killing of stray animals and provides that dogs present in kennels and shelters they can be suppressed only if seriously ill, incurable or of proven dangerousness.
Well, the danger to which we refer is that which can be linked to articles 86, 87 and 91 of the Veterinary Police Regulations, approved with Presidential Decree 320/1954, and refers to animals that have contracted an infectious disease, such as a rabies infection, or that they have been bitten by these. Such animals must in any case be kept under observation and must not be killed if their preservation can be assured without danger.
How is euthanasia carried out and how much does it cost?
What does our four-legged friend feel during the euthanasia of the dog? The regulation states:
“The killing is carried out by veterinarians, with euthanasia methods that do not cause suffering to the animal, preceded by suitable anesthetic treatment. Each facility keeps a register of the animals killed in which the diagnosis and the reason for the killing are specified ”.
Specifically, the subject is induced under anesthesia and, once the state of unconsciousness has been ascertained, the drug is injected Tanach which contains embutramide / mebezonium iodide / tetracaine hydrochloride as active ingredients. The drug will be inoculated intrapulmonary or intracardiac causing the subject to death within a few seconds causing narcosis and paralysis of the striated skeletal and respiratory muscles thus preventing oxygenation of the blood.
Euthanasia has a cost that goes roughly from 100 you have 200 Euros: attending euthanasia does not involve additional costs.
Say goodbye to your friend
Separating from your 4-legged life partner is a bereavement that requires time and a lot of willpower to be metabolized. Being able to say goodbye to our friend and be present at the precise moment he will go away forever is of vital importance for some people. In our country in fact it is allowed to witness the euthanasia of one’s dog, during which it will be possible to hold his paw accompanying him on his last journey. Others choose not to do so for fear of not knowing how to manage their emotions. Obviously there is no right or wrong way, everyone has their own way of processing such a big loss.
The important thing is to know that you have done everything possible to guarantee him a happy life, and that you have made this decision to put an end to his suffering and therefore to do his good. Evaluate the possibility of psychological counseling: they will be an important help in dealing with the loss of your pet.