How to euthanize a dog with Tylenol… and why you don’t….
As a veterinarian, I never thought I’d be writing on a blog on how to euthanize a dog or cat with Tylenol at home…
A few months ago, a fellow veterinarian contacted me about a blog that she saw on Petbloggish.com about how to euthanize a dog at home with Tylenol (which contains the active ingredient acetaminophen – which is more commonly called paracetamol in other countries). How to kill your own pet at home. For real. (Thankfully, they have since removed this blog!)
This is unacceptable.
As a veterinarian, animal lover, and toxicologist, let me tell you that this post had me livid. First, the decision to euthanize a pet is so hard… and you don’t want it to fall you on, right? When in doubt, please talk to your veterinarian about this decision. I’ll say that it was even a hard decision for me – a veterinarian of over 20 years – with my OWN DOG. (You can read about my decision here).
I mean, I get it – it’s such a hard decision. I’ve sadly seen my own sister’s cat have a botched euthanasia, and I’d hate for that to happen to someone else. And ideally, you shouldn’t let your pet die at home. I wrote about this HERE. I also talk about having to euthanize your pet even in the veterinary ER on my radio show with Pet Life Radio, ER VET here.
That said, you should never use any medication at home – Tylenol is used in veterinary medicine in DOGS only – never cats. It’s sometimes used in small doses with codeine for pain support in hospice patients (not routinely, though). That’s because it can cause dry eye at even therapeutic doses in dogs. You can see the published data on that HERE. As for higher doses in dogs? It causes toxicity to the liver within 2 days including signs of:
- lethargy
- not eating
- elevated liver enzymes
- jaundice (yellow skin)
- black tarry stool
- bloody diarrhea
- vomiting (including with blood)
- bruising
- chocolate-colored gums
- difficulty breathing
- seizures
- coma
- death
I previously wrote a blog on Tylenol poisoning in dogs, if you want more detail. Yes, Tylenol can kill a dog or cat – but it’s very slow in killing. The point is, very few poisons kill humane and acutely – it typically takes 24-48 hours before your pet dies, and it’s not a good way to go.
When in doubt, please contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center for advice, and talk to your veterinarian. If you have financial limitations, a veterinarian will work with you when it comes to humane euthanasia. Or the local animal shelter. But can you euthanize your pet at home? No, please do not try to euthanize your dog or cat at home. They are our four-legged family members, and don’t deserve an ending like this.
Comment
I just stumbled across this after learning a writer for Audubon Magazine recommended “humanely” poisoning feral cats to protect birds. I was astounded that they still allow him to write for the magazine but looking further have seen other pet bloggers recommending the same thing to put their “beloved” cats down at home, without advising them to seek other alternatives. This particular website has no contact information but has pet products advertised on it, so some people might think this was legitimate. I advise people to boycott it. https://mycuteanimals.com/how-to-euthanize-a-cat-with-over-the-counter-drugs/
As you mention, many animal control or vet offices will work with someone when this step is necessary.
Comment well no one understands that vets don’t care they just care about the money and I don’t have any other places that helps around Alabama and I’m not GG going to watch my dog suffer for a long period of time.
Comment There is contact info for the article about “doing your pet in” at home. Go to the bottom of the page. They offered am update suggesting not to poison them but why not remove the article?*
$100-$500 is definitely not an option for me, and the one euthanasia I saw didn’t look humane at all. He gave one shot, which I presume stopped her heart, while she was fully conscious, and she died with eyes wide and dilated. It seems one takes their chances either way. At least at home, they aren’t in the hands of some stranger trying to get a yacht.
I for one am not just going to act on the advice of any one blog or website, either. I’m getting multiple opinions, and considering side effects. But I’m not going to let this cat’s tail fall off and guts rot out because I can’t afford a vet, who may not even care.
A local humane society will likely handle this for you.
Comment *I know most of these comments are older but as a vet tech I had to say something. First of all please don’t euthanize your pet at home. It is not humane. To kill an animal with Tylenol is a long slow process. It causes kidney and liver damage to name a few things and this is not a peaceful way to die. Second, you should never have to pay $500 to have an animal euthanized. Now if you are asking for exam, blood work, x-rays or things of that nature to be done in order to decide if it’s time to euthanize then yes this might be an amount you could expect to be charged. If you have a sick, suffering, dying pet and you know it’s time to end that suffering then you can get a euthanasia for $100 or less. I personally work at an emergency clinic and if you bring in your pet and let us know he/she is old, sick, suffering and we can clearly tell that is the situation we will do a $25 surrender fee. We will still allow you to be present while we euthanize. With this option we will not handle body care, you will have to take your pet home for burial I have also done many euthanasia’s free of charge bc the owner had no money and the animal was suffering. As far as euthanasia being peaceful and humane it definitely is. I know to some it may look scary bc their eyes are usually wide open and they will sometimes gasp or take very deep breaths as the medicine is being given. There is no pain involved. This is just the body dying and the heart and other organs stopping. They often urinate and defecate too. Again this is just part of the body shutting down. Where I work we place an iv so the animal is only stuck once, we give medication to totally relax and somewhat sedate the animal. They are almost asleep when we give the euthanasia solution. This is by far the most humane way I can think of to die and if I had to choose how I was going to go this is the method I would want. I don’t know anybody that goes into veterinary medicine for the money bc the bottom line is we don’t make any. Even the doctors I work with drive average cars and live in average homes. They don’t make anywhere near what a human doctor makes unless they are some type of specialist doing lots of orthopedic surgeries or something. Your regular everyday vets aren’t getting paid nearly what they should considering all the education they had to get and all the student loans they spend their whole career paying back. I worked with a vet that lived in a trailer, and while there is nothing wrong with that it’s not where you typically imagine a doctor living. Veterinary medicine is a labor of love. We do it bc we love animals. I understand it’s expensive, but it’s expensive for the providers too. When a doctor owns a clinic they have to pay for all they equipment, medicine, and employees just to name a few of their expenses. Unlike human medicine we don’t get any government help so everything we do is out of pocket. If you compare the cost of human medicine to animal the difference is insane. Something we charge $200 for a human doc charges $2000 or more and a lot of the equipment, meds, and procedures are very similar if not exactly the same. We can’t charge what it’s worth bc without insurance people couldn’t afford to pay it. Therefore we have to just charge for the cost of the equipment needed or meds used, so where does that leave the employee performing the procedure. Making barely anything. I say all this bc I have people tell me all the time that I don’t care about the animal and I’m just in it for the money. Nothing could be farther from the truth. If I was trying to get rich I would’ve been gone bc it’ll never happen in this profession. We do care very much. We discount things and don’t charge for things bc we want to do what’s best for the pet, but at the end of the day it’s a business and if we do everything for free or next to nothing we won’t be around the next time your pet needs care bc we won’t be able to keep supplies or employees to use them with no money. The veterinary field also has the second highest suicide rate of any profession. This is bc we do care so much. We blame ourselves when an animal dies in our care. Even if there is nothing we could’ve done we question every decision we made and wonder what we could’ve done different or better. We blame ourselves for things that aren’t our faults and then to top of us taking home guilt and heartache over our patients, we deal with tons of verbal and sometimes physical abuse from
the people. We get blamed, screamed at and cussed. We are always being told we don’t care about the animal and “it’s all about the money to y’all “. “Your hospital just let my dog die bc I didn’t have enough money” is another thing I’ve been told when in reality the dog passed bc of what happened to him. Had nothing to do with money. It takes its toll on you mentally. So I know I’ve said a lot, but I wish people understood how hard this job is on us and that we love animals and want the best for them. Also most vets are more than willing to help a suffering animal regardless of money. Please ask your vet before trying to euthanize at home. Explain your financial situation and you will find most are willing to help. At least the clinics I’ve worked at are. And please be kind to your vet staff. They do care very much and they go home thinking about your pet and how they can fix whatever their problem might be. I also want to say I live in Birmingham, AL bc I saw a comment that vets in Alabama won’t help you without money and that’s just not true. Maybe some vets are like that, but I know for a fact I’ve helped people for next to nothing. You might just have to look around to find one willing to assist, but trust me there are places willing to work with you to keep your pet from suffering or being euthanized at home and dying a horrible death.
Comment *give me a damned break. If it wasn’t for the money people put in you wouldn’t have a job. I’ve seen vets be so money hungry many strays we take in literally have to die because they’re charging 500000 just to say hello. Don’t give anyone a speech. There is a reason why we have so many dying animals in streets and vets are in mansions. Stop giving speeches for these crooks. It’s disgusting. We have to send animals to Mexico to fix them to help with the population out of pocket. We csnt find a vet today to euthanize a stray. The more budget places are hours wait and we might not get in. Open your mouth with compassion or get out of these comments trying to guilt these people looking for options. Bets should be regulated. They’re filthy rich and it’s annoying alresdy. Get a life.
Im not going to do anything but keep praying over mine but I am so broken hearted rn that I can’t find any place to euthanize my dog. We’ve been up since 2:30 am this morning, holding her and watching her suffer. I fully agree with the veterinarians opinion here but they’re missing a big part THEY PLAY. We’d pay whatever they want to come to our home and humanely put her down but I’ve called the entire three towns around me looking for a vet. They have services that come to your home as well BUT no one is open or available until Monday. It’s 9 am Saturday morning rn!
Hello veterinarians, just a word here, if you’re truly compassionate than understand dogs need help on Saturday and Sunday as life would have it!
So devastating..
Im not going to do anything but keep praying over mine but I am so broken hearted rn that I can’t find any place to euthanize my dog. We’ve been up since 2:30 am this morning, holding her and watching her suffer. I fully agree with the veterinarians opinion here but they’re missing a big part THEY PLAY. We’d pay whatever they want to come to our home and humanely put her down but I’ve called the entire three towns around me looking for a vet. They have services that come to your home as well BUT no one is open or available until Monday. It’s 9 am Saturday morning rn!
Hello veterinarians, just a word here, if you’re truly compassionate than understand dogs need help on Saturday and Sunday as life would have it!
So devastating..
Comment *I absolutely agree with this article. BUT. I live out in the country, 45 minutes from any animal urgent care or emergency vet center. We have had many beloved pets lovingly euthanized professionally and one cat and one dog who had very difficult at home deaths that we didn’t realize what was happening in time. The dog had a vicious seizure that went on for 10 minutes at home as we grabbed what we needed to get him in the car. He seized all the way to the emergency clinic. Ever since I’ve wished I could have done something at home immediately to ease his suffering. I’m not a gun believer nor do I have the guts to do anything else barbaric. But. I do wish there was something one could do at home for such moments of tragedy. Would love to know what others think.
Maybe vets shouldn’t charge so much to put a dog down, and people wouldn’t have to do it themselves. That’s really messed up.
I completely understand and sympathize with families that can’t afford vet visits. I have been in tough situations myself. Unfortunately, life isn’t free. I just put my beloved furbaby down yesterday. It was my first experience and it was tough. It was painless and it was fast. I stumbled across this article this morning and I am shocked that people would do this. Please DO NOT euthanize your pet this way. I called my local Humane Society and they offer free services or sliding scale for families that need help. There are also charity groups everywhere that can assist you.
Life isn’t free but death can be. I sure hope when. My time comes someone has the decency to put a bullet in my head…matter fact, put two. If they didn’t charge ridiculous prices then suddenly these families that can’t afford it would be able to. It’s not like it’s the families fault the problem lies with the fact that people are greedy and want to charge way more than they should be. Which goes for basically everything these days…
CommentPeople wouldn’t have to put down their pets themselves if vets didn’t charge so much. That is a terrible situation.
Sometimes local shelters will help you out for nominal fee or no charge. Not ideal but at least humane and you can bring favorite toys and blankets.
Sometimes local shelters will help you out for nominal fee or no charge. Not ideal but at least humane and you can bring favorite toys and blankets.
I come home from work today (a Friday) to a 13 year old dog that won’t or can’t get up won’t drink or eat and then start vomiting liquid feces, I live in the middle of nowhere the nearest vet won’t be open again till Monday, so I guess I should just let my dog die a slow and agonizing death from a bowel obstruction just I am not a licensed veterinarian.
Comment * Once a vet gave me a medicine to take home and give my cat saying to give at bedtime and she’d die by morning. She died in her sleep right next to me. That was the best. Ive since been told its illegal. Why cant a vet help a pet owner thats wants there baby to die peacefully next to their side?
Comment *What medication did they give you? I have a 200lb dog that needs to be euthanized. I love this dog so much that it hurts to see him in pain. I’ve called every vet around us and no one is willing to come to my home and do it. They give excuses, covid, out of area, understaffed, etc. I can’t pick him up and carry him in, he outweighs me by 80 lbs.
Please call a MOBILE vet – this is different than a normal brick-and-mortar clinic. Try Lap of Love in your area.
Comment *lap of love charges $500 in my area, this is not a solution for someone that can’t afford to have their pet put down by their regular vet
I’m so sorry to hear this. I would recommend contacting your local humane society as they can likely help you!
Thinking of you.
It makes me sick to think that there are laws for improper disposal of pets and animals. Whoever is the owner should never be questioned on their choice no further than “You do understand options available.” If I choose to put my suffering animal down for whatever reason, and humanely, it is none of your, the states, the worlds business. If I am asked to respect everyone else’s choice, I should not be prosecuted because of the way I decide mine. People try to hyper focus on critical details which is,I’ll repeat, none of their business.
My jaw dropped when I saw this Web page come up on my Google search which was me just being curious about herbs that are calming for dogs. Dear God, what thoughts go through people’s heads. PS God humans are disaster I don’t want to be here anymore.😒
Comment *I live in a remote fly in community with no vet service. My dog’s health is rapidly deteriorating and I called distance vets about humane euthanasia at home. They told me to either fly my dog to their clinic for euthanasia or to shoot him. That’s why people look for these solutions. All the vets and animal lover bleeding hearts need to be aware that clinics are not an option for many people. Vets are selfishly guarding at-home solutions so they can charge $1000 plus travel fees.
Comment *Really, no s**t. They stop buy your house for a half hour and walk away with $400? That’s insane. Seriously.. I’m also looking for an alternative. I want to humanly put my animals down, at home, peacifully. But I cannot pay $400-500 dollars.
I would recommend that go to a veterinary CLINIC then.
Comment *What a bunch of blowhards who don’t get it. “Gooooo to the vet.” Nope. We are going to what we want.
ye rasrta paharo na
I don’t believe it is always the cost that causes people to do this. The whole idea of having a person come on a definitive day to kill your pet is a heavy burden to bear. I hate the thought of knowing that my best friend is going to go the following day. Ideally, animals would depart on their own in a natural way. Euthanasia, as we traditionally know it, is very unnatural. This sort of poisoning with pharmaceuticals seems to be more of a natural passing than euthanasia, albeit in a less humane way.
I wish there were some sort of medicine that would only speed up the natural dying process as opposed to a a drug that immediately put them down.
Comment *after reading all these articles I’ve decided to put $10 a month away so when my for baby gets to be too old I’ll have the money stashed away to have a peacefully put to sleep at home next to me like I’d like to be done for myself….. I feel bad for the people that live in rural areas it breaks my heart that they’re going through this I’m so sorry for your loss….. I couldn’t imagine watching my dog suffer I’m not going to owner either but to watch my for baby suffer would be the worst thing in the world I couldn’t imagine what you’re going through God bless you and I hope it worked out for the best
The problem with ” take your dog to the Vet, take your dog to the Vet” and not giving any real information on how to humanly put your dog to sleep is that Vets are not open 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Sure I can call my Vet on a Sat or Sun day as long as I pay $500 up front before they will even connect the call, this is the same for all the Vets in my area. So what are your supposed to do with your dog that is dying and in pain and your do not hove $500 to throw at the Vet? are you just supposed to sit and hold your dog as it slowly die’s in pain, please tell my how THAT is the human thing to do.