The only difference is that in the case of euthanasia, these medications are given in overdose amounts and your dog is not going to wake up afterward. Your dog is clinically deceased within a couple of minutes of the the anesthesia solution being given.
It may take a minute or two for the heart to stop. The doctor will listen carefully to your pet's heart to ensure it has stopped before pronouncing him or her gone. After that, there is no danger of your pet waking up. This is a very common fear for pet owners.
As the solution is injected, the animal loses consciousness and within minutes the heart and lungs stop functioning. Since the pet is not conscious, they do not feel anything. Most times, the animal passes away so smoothly, that it is difficult to tell until the veterinarian listens for absence of a heartbeat.
Your vet will administer a pet euthanasia solution, often pentobarbital or – more likely and desirable – an overdose of anaesthetic. Once the solution is injected, a peaceful death will usually result in under 30 seconds.
During euthanasia, dogs react mainly to general anxiety, pain caused by underlying disease, brief injection site pain, and sedatives. They can also involuntarily react to the euthanasia solution.
Occasionally, a dog may give a small cry as the injection is given – as with all anaesthetics, there is a brief feeling of dizziness as the drug takes effect. Unconsciousness follows within seconds, often before the injection is finished. Death occurs within a couple of minutes when the heart stops beating.
Choosing to stay with your pet during euthanasia is best because it alleviates their stress. Having you present reduces the anxiety and fear they may experience at the end of life. The process of dying can trigger anxiety in a pet. Having their loved one near relieves some of their discomfort.
Euthanasia Does Not Negate a Life Well-Lived
Vets want you to know that your pet will know you're there with them as they pass, but that they won't feel anything other than peaceful.
For some people, spending some time with their pet after euthanasia is helpful. The grieving process includes accepting the reality of your loss, accepting that the loss and accompanying feelings are painful, and adjusting to your new life that no longer includes your pet.
Many times, it's best if you sit with your pet so you can comfort them and keep them calm throughout the process. The vet may choose to give your pet a sedative to prevent them from moving around or fighting to get away from you. In some cases, if the pet is very old or sick, however, this may not be necessary.
Give them all the things they enjoy most – their favourite toys, their favourite food. You know what will make your pet feel most at ease in the time that remains. If you become tearful, ask a family member, friend or other trusted person to take care of your pet so you can leave the room and have a cry.
THIS IS NORMAL
It is NORMAL to wish you did more or to wish you made a different decision. Please know that you did what was right at the time and you did it out of love for your pet. All of these things are NORMAL to feel because you love your pet and you still continue to only want the best for them.
People who are traumatized by the euthanasia of a pet sometimes fall into serious depression and even have suicidal thoughts. And this distress goes largely unacknowledged, so that people suffer without social support or professional help.
As euthanasia is also considered as an unnatural death, it has been suggested that euthanasia may induce traumatic grief.
You will get to choose what happens to your euthanized dog's body. You can keep the body to bury personally, have it buried at a pet cemetery, or choose cremation (either individually or with a group of animals, and with or without the ashes returned to you).
They may urinate or defecate. You may see them twitch or take a final breath. This can be startling, but it's a normal part of the process.
People often struggle with overwhelming feelings of grief, loss, and guilt after choosing to put their pets to sleep. These strong feelings that accompany euthanizing a pet come as the result of their roles in our lives and the strong bonds we are capable of developing with animals.
With anesthesia the body becomes ever more relaxed. We may see little quivers of the muscles as they go through cycles of contraction and relaxation. As the muscles of the eyes begin to relax, they can no longer do the work to keep them closed; the eyes usually open and remain so.
Can I feed my pet prior to the euthanasia? Yes. Your pet's final moments should be happy and filled with whatever gives him or her joy- be it a steak dinner or a McDonald's burger. Whatever special treat your pet might like is fine.
A 2002 article in the journal Society & Animals that reviewed multiple studies found that the death of a companion animal can be “just as devastating as the loss of a human significant other,” not quite as severe, “far more intense” or, well, just about the same.
Humans develop a lasting attachment with their pets, which breaks at the loss of the pet. Regardless of the manner of death, a pet owner may perceive the death as traumatic and experience distress or exhibit posttraumatic stress symptoms.
Euthanasia provides a painless, peaceful end for a pet who would otherwise continue to suffer. Your veterinarian has special training to provide your pet with a humane and gentle death. During the procedure, your vet will inject your pet with a sedative followed by a special medication.
The most prominent sign that you will notice is a complete relaxation of the body, your dog will no longer appear tense, rather they will “let go.” You will notice a slimming of the body as the air is expelled from their lungs for the last time and you may notice the lack of life in their eyes if they are still open.
The doctor will check sedation levels and make sure that the pet is not aware or able to feel any pain prior to injecting the euthanasia solution. Once the pet is fully sedated, the euthanasia solution is injected into a vein.