One way pet-owners can euthanize their dog at home is by administering Benadryl.
If you’re considering doing that to your dying dog, here’s a guide on how to euthanize a dog at home with Benadryl.
What Is It About Benadryl?
Benadryl is essentially the chemical compound diphenhydramine, which is part of the antihistamine drug class. It is usually used to treat insomnia, allergies, nausea, the common cold, and other illnesses.
Often, the amount of Benadryl acceptable for dogs’ consumption is 1mg for every pound of their weight. You’ll have to multiply that quantity by 3 for it to euthanize your pet.
However, you must understand that this is just a rough estimate of how much Benadryl you’ll need to euthanize your dog.
If you’re planning on euthanizing your dog, don’t make this decision alone. Always consult your vet and ask them what options your dog has. Be sure to ask them for the exact amount of Benadryl your dog will need to euthanize them.
Don’t make this process any harder on your dog or yourself by not doing enough research on how to euthanize a dog at home with Benadryl. Familiarize yourself with the subject before you make the decision.
Your dog will most likely go into a coma 30 minutes after they have the excess Benadryl. Soon after, their internal organs will begin to shut down, and they will be in rest forever.
Benadryl is just one drug that you can use to euthanize your dog. That said, it is a good option because it is readily available and inexpensive. Therefore, euthanizing your dog with Benadryl is an affordable way to put your dog to sleep.
How to Decide to Euthanize a Dog With Benadryl?
It’s never easy to come to terms with euthanizing a pet you have loved and been with for so long. However, if your dog is struggling to live, it’s a kindness to put them to sleep peacefully.
You’ll notice the signs when your dog gets old or if they have a chronic illness. If they are losing the will to live, they will stop eating and drinking, and they’ll spend a lot of their time just lying down.
Take your dog to the vet if they continuously avoid their food and water. Let them inspect your dog’s health and advise you on what steps you should take next. Consider euthanasia if that is the best option for your dog.
When a dog is close to their end, they stay in an uncomfortable state for days or weeks. During this time, they struggle to eat or do anything. In this case, euthanizing your dog will save them that suffering and will give the peace they deserve.
Decide on a date when you decide to euthanize your dog. It’s good to give your dog a week for its health to improve – if your dog doesn’t get better at that time, then you can euthanize your dog.
Try and spend as much time as you can with your beloved pet at that time. Shower your dog with love and take them to their favorite places. Take them to places you never got the chance to before, and create new memories that will stay with you long after they’re gone.
How to Euthanize Your Dog With Benadryl At Your Home?
The following is a step by step guide on euthanizing your dog at your home with Benadryl.
Know the Correct Dosage of Benadryl
Don’t do anything this serious without first consulting your vet. You need to know precisely what you’re doing, and you must do what is best for your dog. The amount of Benadryl you’ll need to put your dog to sleep depends on the size and breed of your dog. Some dogs may have a higher tolerance, which means that they’ll need more Benadryl to be put to sleep.
Ask your vet how much Benadryl you’ll need to euthanize your dog. You don’t want to administer less than the required amount and not have it work. This will be uncomfortable for your dog, and you’ll have to deal with the emotional weight of doing this process twice. Once it is difficult enough, so be well-prepared to get it right the first time.
Pick a Proper Spot
It’s never easy to let go of a loved one. However, if you’re forced to make this hard choice, then you must choose a spot that’s comfortable for you and your pet. This will be your last moments with a companion that has been by your side for years. It’s good to spend these final moments in a spot significant to you.
The room should be very familiar to your dog. You want them to go to sleep, feeling relaxed, not anxious. Therefore, choose a quiet place. Dogs have highly sensitive hearing, so any kind of loud sounds can agitate them or make them anxious. You don’t want them to experience that during those moments.
Do whatever you can to make this whole process easier for your pup and you. Turn the lights down, hold them when they lie down and stay with them till the very end.
Restrain Your Dog Properly
Your dog may react aggressively to receiving an injection, especially if they haven’t received many during their lifetime. Therefore, you must keep them in control when euthanizing them. This will prevent any harmful accidents from occurring.
You can keep a small dog in your lap and administer the drug in that position. You won’t be able to do this with a large dog. You can have them lay on the ground while someone close to your dog keeps them calm. You can sit on the ground and inject your dog with the drug while your friend or family member gently holds your dog. This will prevent your dog from moving much.
If it is difficult to get the right angle while your dog is on the ground, you can place them on a table. In that case, get a chair or stand and perform the procedure. Remember: the goal is to maximize your dog’s comfort and complete the task effectively.
Decide on How to Administer the Drug
There is more than one way you can administer the drug. It’s best if you consult your vet about which option you should use. The vet will judge the most effective method for your dog. Some ways work well with some dogs, but it may not for others. The size and breed of dog may be a determining factor in this case.
We will discuss two ways on how to euthanize a dog at home with Benadryl using a syringe. Therefore, here’s a list of supplies you’ll need for both methods.
- Syringe and needle with Benadryl
- alcohol pads
- bandages
- gauze
- a puncture-resistant container to dispose of the syringe and needles after use
The two ways you can administer Benadryl with a syringe are intramuscularly and intravenously. Here are a few details about each method. You will be able to understand what to do best for your dog if you know what your options are.
Administer Benadryl By Intramuscular or Intravenous Injection
There are two routes of drug administration for dogs, one being intramuscular and the other is intravenous. Let us discuss both routes of administration in detail.
A. Intramuscular Injection
One effective method to administer the drug is intramuscular. In this method, you inject the drug directly into the muscle of the recipient. Injecting the medication deep into the muscle allows it to be absorbed into the bloodstream much quicker than it would if it was taken orally. If you are going to use this method, then here are a few things you’ll need to know.
Wash your hands before you start the process of putting your dog to sleep. You don’t want any other contaminants to get into the syringe. Keep things clean and comfortable for your dog.
Ask your vet how to use the syringe correctly and which muscle to inject it in. Most likely, they will recommend that you administer the drug at the back of the shoulder; nevertheless, it’s best to consult your vet for everything. They will know what is best for your dog.
Clean the injection site with an alcohol swab. This will kill any harmful germs in that area and make it safe for the injection. You don’t want any other contaminants into your dog’s bloodstream. They deserve to be as comfortable as possible in their last moments.
Keep the angle of the syringe anywhere between 45 to 90 degrees to your pet’s skin. You may not be able to get deep enough into the muscle if you angle it more than that. If it doesn’t get deep into the muscle, it won’t reach the bloodstream easily and quickly. This may cause the drug to be ineffective, and you’ll be forced to go through this uncomfortable situation again at another time.
Once the needle is in, plunge the syringe and empty the drug into your beloved pet’s muscle tissue. Take the needle out in the same path that you entered their skin after the contents of the syringe are empty. If you notice any blood at the point of injection, take a cotton ball and apply pressure on the wound. Hold it there for about a minute or two – the bleeding should stop by then.
B. Intravenous Injection
A second effective method to administer Benadryl to your dog is intravenous therapy. In this method, you will need a syringe to inject the drug into your dog’s vein. This way, the drug will enter the bloodstream directly. As a result, the effects are felt a lot faster.
Administering Benadryl intravenously is a little more complicated than doing it intramuscularly. This is because you’ll have to spot the vein and then inject the drug in that. You have a smaller surface area to work with, meaning that you’ll have to be more accurate. This will be more of a problem if your dog is generally a bit fidgety.
If it moves while you’re injecting it, there’s a chance that you might miss the vein. An accident like that can injure your dog, and make its last moments slightly uncomfortable. However, if you have experience with using syringes on patients, then this method will suit you well.
It’s best to administer Benadryl intramuscularly or intravenously because of them ensure that the drug works quickly. However, if you are uncertain about using a syringe to inject, you can also consider feeding your dog Benadryl pills.
The downside of using tablets is that it takes time to work. This means that you’ll have to wait for the drugs to kick in anxiously. This can be an uncomfortable situation to be in. Hence, it’s best that inject the drug with a syringe. Ask your vet to show you how it’s done, and you should be okay.
Watch the video on what to expect when euthanizing a dog.
Other Drugs You Can Use to Euthanize Your Dog At Home
There are other drugs you can use to euthanize your dog other than Benadryl. Here are two other drugs you can use to euthanize your dog at home.
Tylenol PM
Like Benadryl, Tylenol PM is also an antihistamine. Therefore, it is used to treat similar illnesses as Benadryl. Also, this means that it can work as a euthanizing agent if it is taken in excess. Consult your vet on which medication to use for euthanizing your dog and how much of it you’ll need for it to work for that purpose.
Sleeping Pills
Sleeping pills, if taken in excess, can put your dog to sleep for good. Consult your vet if this is a good option for your dog. Also, make sure that they tell you the dosage you should use for euthanizing your dog.
There is nothing easy about putting your dog to sleep for good. It can be an emotionally traumatic experience, so you must give yourself time and space to heal from it. It helps to remember that euthanizing your dog is a kindness to it. It spares your dog from the suffering it would have faced in its last few days or weeks.
How to Prepare for Dog Euthanasia Experience?
The following is a step by step guide on euthanizing your dog at your home with Benadryl.
Prepare Yourself for the Emotional Aftermath
It is not an easy choice to euthanize a pet you’ve loved dearly for years. It’s one thing to lose them, and it’s an entirely different and harder thing to be the one to put them to sleep.
You must know beforehand that you will feel deeply sad about it; however, you must also keep in mind that you’re doing this for your dog. Their struggle is too great for them to bear, and euthanasia is a humane way of putting that to rest.
It is a hard thing to accept, even if you acknowledge that euthanasia is in the best interest of your dog. Therefore, give yourself time to move on from this loss. Spend time with your loved ones and comfort them if they were a part of your pet’s family too.
It’s helpful to deal with loss together instead of alone. Everyone in that group will be feeling almost the same thing, so each of you can help each other process the loss.
Involve You and Your Dog’s Family in the Decision
Decide to euthanize your dog with your family members, especially if it affects them as much as it does you. This will also give them the chance to spend as much time as they can with your dog in their final week.
If you have kids who are close to the dog, ask them if they would be comfortable to witness the euthanasia.
People react and deal with loss in different ways, and some people prefer to be present during their loved ones’ final moments. It’s essential to give everyone a choice to opt for whatever is comfortable for them.
Stay With Your Dog Till the End
Losing a beloved pet is difficult, and it is normal for some people to want to stay away from the area where their pet is being put to sleep. That said, we encourage you to be by your pet’s side as they go. It’s good that they get affection from you or any other family member in the moments they go to sleep. Your presence will make the process a lot more comfortable for them.
Another important reason for you to be by their side is that your pet may involuntarily poop or urinate as their internal organs begin to shut down. If you’re there, you can clean up after it to avoid any kind of mess.
Dealing with the loss of your pet is enough; getting stains and odor out of your carpet will just make this harder. Also, you can take some precautionary steps beforehand. Place some napkins around the area so that it can soak up the waste while your pet goes into deep sleep.
Watch this video below to prepare yourself and family for in home dog euthanasia.
Final Thoughts on How to Euthanize Your Dog With Benadryl
A dog is a loyal and loving companion to have in any home. This is why it’s so tricky for pet owners to say goodbye to their pet when the time is right. It is hard for most people to accept the last moments of the pet they’ve loved for so long.
That said, many pet owners prefer to say goodbye to their dogs on their terms. That is why it’s common for people to euthanize their dogs when their pets reach the end of their lives.
Daniel Bloom is the mind behind the Dog Pages blog. He created this blog for the love his dog, Augustine. He manages his team of contributors who love dogs as much as he does. When he is not blogging, he spends his time cooking and reading. He never misses his daily walks with his dog and loves to play Frisbee with Augustine whenever he gets a chance.
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