My dog died at home what do i do

Written by Dr. Lianna

If you are unsure if your pet has died:
Contact your veterinarian. You can bring your pet into your local veterinary clinic to ensure that he/she has died. Your vet can also make arrangements for aftercare services on your behalf.

If you are unable to bring your pet into the vet, to ensure your pet has died you can look for these signs:
Check to see if the breathing has stopped; Place your hand gently on your pet’s chest to ensure that the breathing has stopped. If you feel your pet’s chest rise and fall, even in the slightest, that indicates that your pet is still breathing.

Check for a heartbeat; If your pet is laying on its side place your hand under your pet’s chest near the armpit. If the heart is still beating you should feel it on your fingertips.

Check for a corneal reflex; After a pet has died the eyes often remain open, the pupils dilate and the eyes lose their “glossy” appearance. There should be no response if you touch the eyeball itself.

Handling the body:
Place disposable training pads under your pet as bodily fluids are often released after death. If nothing is released during or just after death often fluids will empty out when your pet is moved. If you do not have disposable training pads, a towel or other absorbent fabric would work well to ensure your pet stays clean and dignified after death.

Be aware that your pet will feel differently after death. The body is usually very limp and relaxed until rigor mortis has set in. Be sure to support your pets head and body when moving the body.

Wrap your pet in a towel or blanket in the position you would like him/her to be in as rigor mortis usually takes affect within the first few hours after death.

It is important to keep your pet in a dry cool place and out of direct sunlight. If possible, refrigeration or freezer storage is ideal if your pet’s aftercare is not arranged within the first 24 hours.

Aftercare:
If you wish to bury your pet at home and weather permits, check with your local bylaw to ensure you are permitted to do so. You can also contact your local crematory or pet cemetery to see if they provide home pick up to collect your pet’s body and provide aftercare.

It is permissible to bury your pet within the Ottawa/Gatineau area as long as your own the property or have permission from the property owner. Please see our Home Burial Instructions Sheet for guidelines on preparing your pet and the burial site.

If you are not planning a home burial there are pet aftercare companies who can help you with cremation or burial. You can contact your local veterinarian for this information or if you have a company that you would like to work with you can contact them directly. Most pet crematories offer a home pick up service.

The crematory that we normally work directly with is Eternal Companions. They service the Ottawa/Gatineau area and can be reached at 1-866-302-0500 or you can visit their website at compagnonseternels.ca/en/

Losing a long-loved pet is always a difficult and sad time for pet owners. If your pet passes away at a veterinarian, they will likely handle the remains for you.  If you lose your pet at home, simply place a call to your local pet crematorium or cemetery as soon as possible, they should be well-equipped to organise a burial or cremation, depending on your personal choice.  

If your pet was elderly or unwell, then you may have some end-of-life plans in place. Planning ahead can sometimes help ease the grief and avoid any panic in the immediate aftermath. However, if not, you still have plenty of options. In this article, we’ve put together a quick guide on how to handle the passing of a dog at home. 

What to expect?

When your dog first passes, it may be difficult to handle their remains and you may want your pet to be collected immediately. Alternatively, you may want to stay with your pet for a while. It’s normal to experience a range of feelings and everyone’s experience of grief will be different.

Expect that your dog may still show signs of ‘life’ like twitching, expelling air, and release of bodily fluids and gas, these are just natural bodily functions that may continue after a dog dies naturally. Being prepared for these responses will help, as this can be difficult to navigate. 

Drop off or collection

Whether you choose the burial or cremation option, you can choose to take the pet’s body directly to the crematorium yourself or they might be able to arrange to collect your pet with their own transport. Once you’ve made your choice, the next step is to contact your local pet crematorium or cemetery to arrange collection or drop off and let them know whether you want to stay with your pet for while or if you’d prefer for your pet to be collected immediately. 

If you chose to remain with your pet for some time, your pet should be left in a cool room for no longer than 24 hours. You should also be aware that rigor mortis – the stiffening of joints after death – can begin to set in from anywhere from 10 minutes to 3-4 hours after death.

On the other hand, if you choose to take your pet to the crematorium yourself, it is important to ensure that you line your car seat or boot with a protective material. Be sure to always wear gloves and thoroughly clean the area.

What are your options?

Even where the loss is unexpected, you still have the option to choose between cremation and burial. You also have the option of individual cremation, where your pet will be cremated alone within a clean, enclosed chamber or communal contraception, where a small number of pets will be cremated together. With communal cremations, we do not pass on cremains out of respect to all individual owners.  Individual pet cremation means you are guaranteed that the cremains you receive will be all and only those of your beloved pet. You can also choose to have plaques, plinths and memorial stones to commemorate your dog’s life; or personalised jewellery to carry the memory of your pet with you. 

Grieving your dog

It’s natural to experience grief when losing your beloved companion. Grieving is always difficult, but there are many support groups and organisations to reach out to during this time. We have put together some excellent options and resources for help and support. 

If you need help with the cremation of your beloved pet, please give us a call on 01604 740864 or email [email protected].

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