Saying Goodbye
The decision of when is the right time to say goodbye is a hard one. It is never easy to make the decision to euthanize a beloved pet. Your rottweiler may be old and feeble, unable to walk without your help, or might be lingering on from a terrible illness. Perhaps a car struck your rottweiler or he somehow became severely injured, and the prognosis looks grim. Whatever the reason, you may have to make the decision whether to euthanize your rottweiler.
Sometimes the decision to euthanize your pet is very clear-cut. Other times, the decision is not so clear. You may be sitting in an emergency room talking with the vet over possible courses of action. Heroic efforts may be required that cost far beyond what you can afford and that give your rottweiler only a very slim chance of recovery. In times like this, talk to someone you can trust — perhaps your own vet — or obtain a second opinion. Other friends who are dog owners may be able to see clearly when you cannot. They may offer you advice untainted by the emotions of the situation.
An End to Suffering
Whatever you decide, do not allow your best friend to suffer in pain needlessly. Your rottweiler deserves better than that. A painless injection will relieve his suffering. You can stay with your rottweiler during the euthanasia or leave. Many pet owners prefer to stay with their pet during their final moments. Your vet will give you the option of taking the body for burial or cremation. Check with zoning ordinances before burying your rottie in the backyard. Another option is burial in a pet cemetery. If you wish to have a cremation, you can request either to have the ashes returned to you for scattering or to place in an urn.
Sometimes the decision to euthanize isn't clear-cut. Ask yourself if your rottie is able to eat, drink, move around, breathe, urinate, and defecate without pain. Is your rottie able to enjoy things, or is he just hanging on? Is he in pain that you can't mitigate? These are all important factors to consider when deciding to euthanize.
Grief
You will grieve. This is normal and natural. Do not talk to people who don't own pets, as they will be the most callous. “It was only a dog,” they may say. “You can get another one.” Or they may say the right things without sincerity. You don't need to hear this at this time. You will go through various stages of grief: anger, denial, depression, and then finally, acceptance. This is natural. Do not deny yourself a period of grieving. Your rottweiler was your friend and in many ways was probably more important to your life than a lot of people you know. It is normal to feel sadness over his death.
Usually the most cost-efficient way of handling your rottie's remains is through a mass cremation. There is nothing wrong with this, and quite often the crematorium scatters the ashes on flowers growing nearby.
Talk to your vet about grief. He or she may be able to refer you to free or low-cost pet-loss counseling. Many veterinary colleges offer free or low-cost pet-loss hot lines. Another resource is the Internet. An excellent site for finding pet-loss support groups, hot lines, and information is www.petloss.com. Take care of yourself during this time. Keep busy and active. Exercise and eat a balanced diet. Avoid being alone and going into depression. You aren't denying that you have grief over the loss; you are helping yourself deal with it.
With time, the pain and anguish of your pet's death will fade. You will start remembering all the good times you had together. Perhaps, in time, you'll be ready to get another rottweiler. Perhaps you will get a puppy to keep you occupied. If you do, remember that no puppy will replace your beloved pet and that no other dog will be like your rottweiler. Your new puppy or dog will have a different personality and different behaviors, so do not expect the same thing out of this puppy. However, in time, you may grow to love this new addition as much as your beloved old pet.
