I have two dogs and unfortunately one will be euthanized soon. I have
heard it is best to allow the living dog see the euthanized one so he
won't wonder what happened to him. Just wondering if anyone had any
insight into this.

wrote in message
oups.com...
I have two dogs and unfortunately one will be euthanized soon. I have
heard it is best to allow the living dog see the euthanized one so he
won't wonder what happened to him. Just wondering if anyone had any
insight into this.

I think different people will have different things to say depending on what
they've witnessed with their dogs. Having done rescue and had foster dogs
live with me for anywhere from 2-8 months before being adopted I've seen one
of my dogs display odd behavior and another that didn't bat an eyelash. The
one would often go off food for a day or two, continually want to go outside
and look around and would become a bit clingy. The other seemed not to
care.

I recently had to have the dog who didn't seem to care euthanized and I
chose to bring her home for burial and allow the other dog to see/sniff her
dead body. She acted curious about the dead dog then walked off and laid
down to watch us dig a hole. She still went off food (longer than normal
but then this was her long-time housemate) and displayed separation
anxiety-like behavior afterwards. This is a needy dog who doesn't like
change. The other dog seemed immune to change and likely wouldn't have
reacted similarly had the roles been reversed. It really just depends on
the dog IMO.

--
Tara

said in rec.pets.dogs.behavior:

I have two dogs and unfortunately one will be euthanized
soon. I have heard it is best to allow the living dog see
the euthanized one so he won't wonder what happened to him.
Just wondering if anyone had any insight into this.

I chose to have my old girl of 14 put down in my home for a few
reasons, one of which was so that the other dogs could have
closure (I don't like that word, but it fits) if they needed it.
Friday had only been here for 8 months, but Rocky had known
Murphy for 5 years and it was she who had taught him dog stuff
when he was a puppy, so they were pretty closely bonded.

Anyway, Murphy was put down and then I bought the other dogs in.
Friday took a sniff and then went to say hello to the vet.
Well-bonded (heh) Rocky ate the treat that Murphy didn't finish
and then went to say hello to the vet. Not even a glance at
her.

I think the procedure worked, though. Weeks later, I asked
"Where's Murphy? Where's Murphy?!" and both dogs looked at me
like I was nuts.

--
--Matt. Rocky's a Dog.

On Mon, 2 May 2005 23:46:31 -0400, "Tee"
wrote:

It really just depends on the dog IMO.

i agree. i was surprised at how my dogs acted when echo-cat died. she
died in the night, curled up against elliott's underside. i could tell
she was dead, so i let the dogs out before making *sure* and hunting for
something to bury her in. i let the dogs back inside before i wrapped
her up. harriet, who is generally quite tweaky, didn't show any sign of
being upset. elliott, who is Mr. Unflappable, approached echo, took a
sniff, and jumped out of his skin. he seemed really freaked out by her,
even though ten minutes previously he'd been curled up asleep around
her. my guess is that he didn't notice that she'd died in the night.
i'd really like to know what went through his head when he realized she
was dead.

--
shelly
http://home.bluemarble.net/~scouvrette || http://cat-sidh.blogspot.com

During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a
revolutionary act.
-- George Orwell

Tee wrote:

The
one would often go off food for a day or two, continually want to go outside
and look around and would become a bit clingy. The other seemed not to
care.

That sounds like Pan and Khan. She's the sensitive kind, and he's a big
lummox. I think that she would take Khan's absence quite hard, and
while she goes to great pains to put on a macho act, you can tell that
she is often quite lost without him.

If I can help it, both dogs will be euthanized at home. Despite my best
efforts, both of them get stressed out at the vet, and I'd really rather
they be made as comfortable as possible. This way, everyone will get to
say their goodbyes before the vet takes the body back for cremation.

This has been an awfully difficult post to write.

Suja

Suja wrote:

If I can help it, both dogs will be euthanized at home. Despite my best
efforts, both of them get stressed out at the vet, and I'd really rather
they be made as comfortable as possible.

Finn's vet was willing to come over and euthanize him at home. This was
such a blessing and made the process so much easier on him. It still
helps to know how relaxed and calm he was for his last moments. He had
his favoritist people feeding him hot dogs and cheese, he got to lay on
his comfy bed and give Mommy kisses. He got to see Dr Bonnie without the
stress of being frightened of what procedure he was going to have to go
through next.

My cats turned their backs on the whole procedure. But that in itself
was a clue that they understood something important was going on as they
are usually friendly with people that visit, and that one time they were
both huddled up and facing the wall. They only checked out the scene
once Finn's body was gone. That, and a few days of being subdued was
their only real outward adjustment.

This way, everyone will get to
say their goodbyes before the vet takes the body back for cremation.

This helped me AND the boycats a lot, I think. I was too emotionally
overloaded before and during the process to feel like I had really said
my good-byes. It took awhile for the cremation people to come pick him
up, so I made a lot of my peace with it after he was gone.

This has been an awfully difficult post to write.

Yeah. I'm not even sure mine made any sense.

I still miss him so much some days. And while BenCat has lasted longer
than anyone thought after his cancer was diagnosed, the thought of
losing him too gives me a worried knot in my chest.

Tara

Thanks for all the responses as they've been very helpful. I just spoke
to our vet and asked the same question and she was against bringing in
my other dog afterwards. Her reasoning was that it would make the other
dog even more stressed about coming to the vet in the future which I
guess makes sense especially since they both dread going to the vet as
it is. If I had my way it would be done in the home but that's not an
option as everyone else here is opposed to it. I'm still not sure what
to do, but once again I appreciate the posts.

wrote:

Her reasoning was that it would make the other
dog even more stressed about coming to the vet in the future which I
guess makes sense especially since they both dread going to the vet as
it is.

Are you bringing the other dog's body home, or having the vet dispose of
it? I've always brought my dogs and cats home & let the other pets see them
before burial.

The vet will dispose of it. Not the way I want it, but I'm being
overruled in the family.