What To Do When Your Dog Passes Away at Home? Losing a furry family member is never an easy thing. Having to figure out what to do on the spot makes it all the more difficult. Read on to find out your options when your beloved dog passes away at home.
The first thing you need to do is make sure your dog is actually deceased. This means listening for their breathing and checking for a pulse. Oftentimes, dogs will have shallow breathing and a very slow pulse, meaning the dog is nearing death, but still alive.
Once their breathing has stopped and your dog has passed, allow any other pets you have to smell their body. This ensures your other pets will know what has happened as well. This way they will not wonder where their friend has gone.
Once you’re certain your dog has passed on, there is a decision you need to make quickly: cremation or burial.
If you would like to have your dog cremated, call your local veterinarian’s office. They will be able to tell you if they have a company they work with and can recommend. Many cremation companies will offer to pick up the dog, especially if it is a large dog.
You also will have the option to bring your dog to their office yourself. Once your dog has been cremated, they will call you to pick up your pet’s ashes. From there it is your decision what to do with the ashes. Many owners keep urns or scatter the ashes.
Ashes can also be taken to a pet cemetery where they will keep them or bury them for you.
If you would like to have your dog buried, you have two options. If you would like your pet buried on your own property, you need to call local authorities. They will check the regulations for your land. Some will allow you to bury pets, and some will not.
If you are allowed to, choose a space that is not likely to be dug up again. Make sure that you can dig at least three feet deep as well. You may bury your pet in an environmentally friendly casket such as cardboard or wood.
You may also choose to place a marker to remember where your furry friend was buried.
Your other burial option is a pet cemetery. This is a great option if you are not allowed to bury your pet on your own property. Pet cemeteries will either bury your pet’s body or will even take the ashes of your cremated dog.
If your dog passes at night, there are a couple steps to take if your local vet clinics are closed.
First, you need to wear gloves and wipe down your dog with a clean cloth. Wipe their faces, heads, legs, and overall bodies. Tuck their legs and arms into their body as if they were sleeping. This will provide you with a more peaceful image of your beloved pet.
This also makes it easier to transport their body when the clinics open and you’ve made your decision. Proceed to wrap their body in a blanket and place it in a plastic bag. Be sure to tie up the bag securely.
This will keep their body from decomposing at a quicker rate. You will then have the time you need to get them buried or to a clinic.
If you are unsure of why your dog passed away, you can ask the vet to perform a Necropsy. Similar to an autopsy in a human, the necropsy entails a veterinarian opening up your dog. The veterinarian will look at their tissue and organs to determine the cause of death.
This is not a requirement, but a way to ease your mind and help you cope with your pet’s passing.
Another option if your pet has passed away, whether at home or not, is to seek emotional support. This can be from family members while you bury your pet in the backyard or spread their ashes.
This can also be a form of a pet loss support group that you attend with others. Whichever path you choose, it is important to grieve the loss of your dog.