Pet Loss: Can I Euthanize My Dog On My Own?

[Reviewed and updated August 11, 2018]

Asking for others' guidance helps you to see what you may not be able to see.  ~ Ken Blanchard

A reader writes: I want to release my dog's spirit in a wilderness area he so loves and belongs to be laid to rest in. All the vets I talk to will only kill him in their office or for another pile of cash come to my home. I am also told for .25 I can kill him with a bullet (not possible). I need to know how to euthanize my dog on my own without violence, how to overdose him on dog or human Rx's or whatever it takes to give him a peaceful passage to the other side. Please help me or direct me to a resource that can. I want both my dog and myself to have this done with dignity and not deal with the mercenary mindset of vets who have lost their heart to care for animals and only want $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.  Thank you for whatever, if anything, you can do.

Coping with Pet Loss, July 13 - July 19, 2014

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

When is it okay to euthanize a pet? 'Enough Can Be Enough,' http://j.mp/1oRYcSX « Ezine Articles

Learning goodbye: Veterinarians fill a void by focusing on end of life care, http://j.mp/1yBRVSv « DVM 360

9 Questions to Consider When Planning Your Pet's End-of-Life Care, http://j.mp/1tWDFVs « Veterinary Wisdom Professionals

Coping with Pet Loss, July 6 - July 12, 2014

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Euthanasia From the Veterinarian’s Perspective, http://j.mp/TZsVVx « Dr. Ryan Llera, DVM

Pet Loss: Keeping the Secret of a Cremation Mistake, http://j.mp/1n00ii8 « Grief Healing Blog

Waiting: In grief, facing yet another loss, http://j.mp/1rDzkEt « Personal Growth and Grief Support Center

Coping with Pet Loss, March 3 - March 9, 2013

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Grief commemorates the lives of pets who pass away, http://j.mp/WHzkQO

Comforting a child after a pet’s death, http://j.mp/10bwbyV

Vet to share how pets can be helped by animal hospice, http://j.mp/10iUIi5 via @SolariHospice

A song for healing pet loss, http://j.mp/OGi3Dt « Healing Pet Loss

Memorializing Pets We Have Lost, http://j.mp/1649Pjw « Grief Healing Blog

Memorializing Pets We Have Lost

[Reviewed and updated on January 12, 2025]

A colleague writes: I am a veterinarian and would like to memorialize the pets we have lost in the past year. Does this seem appropriate, and do you have any specific suggestions which could be helpful? I plan to plant a tree and maybe provide garden stone marker engraving with the lost pet's name, but beyond that I'm open to suggestion.

My response: I think your idea of memorializing lost pets is most appropriate, and I applaud you for your sensitivity and caring. I'd like to offer some suggestions and point you to some resources that might be helpful to you as you develop this wonderful plan, and if I can be of any further assistance, please let me know.

Coping with Pet Loss, May 1 - May 7

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

• "If I become terminally ill, please call my Veterinarian!" http://tinyurl.com/2b9raez by @MeredithGould via @hospice4animals 

• Why is it so hard when a pet dies? http://is.gd/2xIE7 by @jmedvm

• The very definition of presence, http://twitvid.com/BUVJ7 @hospice4animals

• Cremation service gives animal lovers some peace, http://bit.ly/iq7TFP via @MATWCremation 

• Helping children through petloss, http://wp.me/p1kwLo-fL via @GreenRanchMom @drlisanelson

Coping with Pet Loss, March 20 - March 26

Best selection from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

• Comments on "Loving Pets, and Losing Them: A Vet's Perspective," http://bit.ly/gNcgNV

Coping with Pet Loss, November 21 - November 27

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

• Loving final goodbye letter from veterinarian to her dog, http://bit.ly/aBJh4W via @georgiaslegacy

• Re: "Afghan stray: What is it that makes us grieve although they aren't ours? http://ow.ly/3d7JI @PetDecisions," see http://bit.ly/djz9rp 

Coping with Pet Loss - June 13 - June 19

From Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:: 

• @Selfhealingexpr: Veterinarian Seeks Ideas for Memorializing Pets, http://bit.ly/dx6Y7X
  

• Great review of a great book ! RT @SidKorpi: See http://bit.ly/b4vnys
  

• @georgiaslegacy: Great new book on coping with loss of a pet from author Laurie Kaplan, Foreword by Marty Tousley @GriefHealing, http://bit.ly/at0ntq

• @peternity: Thinking of planting a memorial garden for your pet? Here are some great examples http://tinyurl.com/lracwj

• @NomdeB: For anyone grieving (or someone you know), very helpful info: @GriefHealing Articles on Pet Loss, http://bit.ly/9lfSRK

• @Echostone: What Not to Say to Someone Who Is Grieving The Loss of a Pet | The Conscious Cat: http://bit.ly/d7d83i