When a Dog dies what do you do?

Davidboy

This is a strange and morbid question I know, but my dog is really on her last legs. She is a much loved member of my family and has been treated like, and thinks she is one my daughters.

My biggest nightmare is comming down one morning to find the worst has happened. What do you do, call the vet? She is too big to bury in the garden. Is there someone you can call for help?

Thanks for any advice.

D

GIRLPOWER_2

My lovely boarder collie portia is my first family pet.. always though we were to selfish with holidays and work to have a dog but the kids talked us around.. She is only 2 so we hope for many years with her but my heart goes out to you.. they become one of your children... someone i know had this happen and she telephoned the vet who put her in touch with someone who collects your dog and brings it back to you in ashes in a little box which for a while she had on her fireplace with a photo of her dog by it. It seemed to help her and I think I would go down the same lines..

Savvy_Sue

You can indeed call the vet. We helped support an old lady who lived alone, one Sunday the council helpline phoned to say that she had pressed her alarm to say the dog was dead and could we help? We went round to offer sympathy, praying she would not want the dog buried in the garden (it was a hot and sticky day, and the dog was not small!) Mercifully she agreed that we could call the vet. He asked if we could take the dog to the surgery, which we agreed to do. He then presented us with a bill for 'treatment', it wasn't too large, and we were very happy to pay it. Although we did express the hope that his 'treatments' usually led to a happier outcome!

It might be worth a call in advance to the vet's surgery to establish how they do things, and also I suggest warning your 'other' daughters that dogs don't live as long as people, she is getting old and frail, and they may find that one day she is too tired to wake up. Or even that she will have to go to the vet and be too ill to come home. Of course depending on the ages of the girls, you need to reassure that people as young as them and their parents don't usually get too tired to wake up! (Although we may sometimes feel it!)

stressedoutmum

When my friends pet died the vet collected it and some time later she went back to collect the ashes. There was even a choice of box which you could keep the ashes in. There was also a lovely poem enclosed with it about losing a pet. Also I'm sure the animal charities, RSPCA etc would give you advice so you can at least be a little bit prepared. Our dog is 10 years old and thinks hes a little human! I cant bear to think what we would do.

SnowyOwl_2

Hi Davidboy

Sorry to hear that your dog is coming to the end of her life. At least you can get ready for it, not that that helps much when it does occur.

I've only ever had cats but have faced the same problem twice, though unexpectedly. I had them cremated and had the ashes returned to me. You can choose to not have the ashes back if you so wish. Cremation can be arranged through your vet.

If you have the ashes back then you can scatter them somewhere she liked, bury them in the garden, put them in the soil under a nice new rose bush or similar, or just keep the urn in the house somewhere. As your dog is such a big part of the family then a ceremony of you all together to the ashes in the garden might help you all to say goodbye.

I found it helped enormously to get the ashes back. Having my pets cremated was the last act of responsible ownership I could do for them though I miss both of them so much.

Ember999

I lost Plymouth my baby who was 13 when he contracted the killer virus (FIP) Feline Infectious Peritonitis. I have been distraught since Thursday last week (4th August) when I had to hold him as he was put to sleep to end his pain. This virus kills within days.

I am at this moment waiting for a phone call from the vets to say I may go collect his ashes. I chose to have my boy cremated and requested a little urn with his name on. I intend to bring him home and keep his ashed with me always. It's the only way I can deal with his death. I loved my cat so much and ache to think of the pain you have to come when you lose your beloved dog. I wouldn't wish the pain I have gone through these past 6 days on anyone. I at this point, can't see the pain ending, but I am looking forward to him coming home soon in his little urn.

Best Wishes,

Ember xx

Davidboy

Thanks peoples, I assumed the vet was the best for advice, would be nice to have the ashes.

It is one of those things you don't like to think about, but happens unfortunately. We thought 2 weeks ago this was it, but she seems to have perked up abit, vet says she is not in pain, so while she can get about (slowly) and she is happy then so are we.

Yes she is one of our children, and I know it will break all our hearts. The kids are now 17 & 18, so know whats going to happen, and they both spend quality time with her while they can.

Thank you.

D

Edit: Ember, you sound really upset, I hope you get over your loss soon, not an easy thing I know. Dx

seaniboy

"As difficult as it it maybe, some vets may not collect your beloved, some may but they may charge a fee for this, your vet can arrange for disposal or cremation both will have a cost implication, obviously cremation is a popular choice these days as your pet ashes can be returned in an urn or a scatterbox. A scatterbox is used as a cost effective option if you wish to take the ashes to a loved place by your pet to scatter them. Cremation can cost upwards £100 (size dependant) and can vary vet to vet, region to region so check out costs before hand, it may be preferable to you if the dogs is so poorly to request a vet to come out to help them on thier way instead of a prolonged or painful passing, at home your pet is in thier own enviroment surrounded by the things/people they know and is calmer and less stressful for them than at a vet surgery, clinical & stressful enviroments that they are to animals"

Ted_Hutchinson

Pets to rest Home Burial details

As this is a Moneysaving website and home burial is almost always going to be the cheapest, most enviromentally friendly option and possibly most physchologically satisfactory solution, I encourage you all to consider it.

Digging a pets grave yourself is not beyond the scope of most physically fit individuals, and if you are able to plan ahead a suitable site marking the spot by planting a memorial tree or shrub will ensure your pets memory is not forgotten.

Performing this last rite for your beloved pet is a physical and emotional exerise which allows you and your family to express your grief in a practical way.

spendaholic

I really wouldn't worry about it until it happens, Davidboy. We worried for the exact same reasons as you for 2 years. In the end, I had to take my lovely dog to be put to sleep and they arranged the cremation and everything. But I never had to face waking up in the morning to find that it had happened.

A friend of mine had the vet come out and put her dog to sleep, then they buried her in the garden. I had Roly's ashes and we're going to scatter them somewhere he would have loved to run and jump when he was younger.

Honestly, try not to worry about something you may not have to face and enjoy the time you have left together.

pug_in_a_bed

Ted's post is very true; my dogs are all buried in the garden with their own flowers. I always know they're there and often find myself thinking of them.

Mind you, they were littel russels - if you've a big dog it might be much more difficult. I didn't know you could get your pets cremated, I have always brought the animal home from the vets after they have been put to sleep -its a lovely idea though. Whichever way you go about it, at least you'll have something.