A question of the heart: When should you put a dog down?

Your dog has hardly eaten for three days, moves only with difficulty from the basket to the door and its look appears dull. You ask yourself whether it is time to say goodbye or whether you are giving up too early.

How do I recognise that my dog is suffering?

A suffering dog shows it subtly. Panting without exertion, refusing favourite food or avoiding touch are clear signals. If your dog withdraws, even though they used to enjoy being with you, that speaks volumes.

Particularly telling: how do they react to things that used to bring them joy? A dog that no longer even lifts its head when you fetch the leash communicates their condition more clearly than any diagnosis.

An immediate vet visit is necessary for: persistent gagging without vomiting, a pale tongue, shortness of breath at rest or collapse. These symptoms signal acute danger to life.

How do I objectively assess my dog’s quality of life?

The HHHHHMM scale helps with objective assessment. Rate each point from 1 (very poor) to 10 (excellent): Hurt (pain), Hunger (appetite), Hydration (fluid intake), Hygiene (can they clean themselves?), Happiness (joy), Mobility (mobility), More good days than bad (do good days outweigh bad ones?).

A total score below 35 out of 70 possible points indicates severely restricted quality of life. Carry out this assessment over several days; snapshots can be misleading.

Document daily: food and water intake, faeces and urine output, sleep behaviour and moments of joy. These records are enormously helpful during the vet consultation.

Which warning signs indicate that it might be time?

Several consecutive bad days without improvement are a clear signal. If your dog can no longer independently meet their basic needs – eating, drinking, excretion, movement – the limit is often reached.

It becomes critical when pain medication no longer works or the side effects place an additional burden on life. A dog that must be permanently sedated with medication to live tolerably is no longer living with dignity.

Particularly hard to recognise: chronic nausea. Dogs show this by drooling, yawning without tiredness or constantly licking their lips. This silent suffering is often overlooked.

What does my vet say and how do I prepare for the conversation?

Book a consultation appointment without your dog. Bring your daily records and formulate specific questions: “How long can they live without pain?” or “Which signs show me that it is becoming too much?”

Ask for honest prognoses, even if they are painful. Ask explicitly: “What would you do in my place?” Experienced vets usually give you a very realistic assessment.

Enquire about palliative options; sometimes the last few weeks can be made significantly easier, even if a cure is ruled out.

How do I deal with my own emotions?

Your grief and fear of loss are normal, but must not dominate the decision. If you notice that you are still hoping out of self-interest, even though your dog is already suffering, honesty with yourself is required.

The question “Am I keeping them alive for me or for them?” is helpful. You usually know the answer intuitively, even if you do not want to hear it.

Seek support from other dog owners or a therapist. Making the decision alone does not make it better, but lonelier.

How does euthanasia take place and what can I do?

Euthanasia is carried out by administering an overdose of anaesthetic into the vein. Your dog will become unconscious within seconds and die peacefully. You can be present; your presence calms them.

Talk to them, stroke them, just be there. Many dogs visibly relax when the pain finally subsides. This is not a sign that you acted too early, but that you made the decision in time.

Enquire about burial options beforehand. Making this decision during acute grief is an additional burden.

Frequently asked questions about dog euthanasia

Is it normal for me to have doubts?

Doubts show that you take the decision seriously. Almost all dog owners go through this uncertainty; it is part of the farewell process.

Can my dog be euthanised at home?

Many vets offer home visits. Your dog dies in a familiar environment without the stress of a trip to the practice.

Does my dog feel anything during euthanasia?

No. The anaesthetic works so quickly that conscious experience is ruled out. It is like a very deep sleep.

What do I do if I regret it?

Guilt after euthanasia is normal. You decided out of love, even if it feels wrong.

Should I have other pets present?

Other dogs or cats can be present. They often understand what is happening and can thus say goodbye better.