What to bring with you the day you take your dog to the vet

If you've come this far looking for what to do on that day, you've probably already made a decision or are about to.

I'm not going to tell you what the right decision is, nor that you'll know when the time has come. Every dog, every family, and every situation is different.

But there are some practical things worth knowing before you go. Because on that day, you probably won't be in a state to remember them.

Call the clinic before you go

There's no need to prepare a huge list. There are some questions that can greatly change what that moment will be like.

Can I be with him throughout the entire process?

Ask if you can accompany him during sedation and stay by his side during euthanasia. Most clinics allow the family to be present, but protocols may vary.

Can we have a quiet and private room?

If possible, ask not to have to wait long in a crowded waiting room. Some clinics can prepare a consultation room for you or give you a little more privacy.

What exactly is going to happen?

Asking about the procedure can remove some uncertainty. The vet can explain what medication they will use, what you can expect, and how much time you will have to say goodbye.

And if there's anything you want to do — give him his favorite food, play music for him, take photos, or simply be alone with him — say so before you go.

You don't have to improvise everything on that day.

What to bring

You don't need to bring many things. But some can make that moment a little more his.

His blanket or his bed.

Something that smells like home and is familiar to him. If the clinic allows, he can lie on it instead of directly on an unfamiliar surface.

His favorite toy.

If he has one he always carries with him, you can bring it.

Something he likes to eat.

If his condition and the vet's instructions allow, you can bring a small amount of his favorite food or treat. It can be a last thing to share together.

Someone to accompany you.

If you can, don't go alone. And especially, try to have someone who can drive afterward.

Not because you can't. Simply because you might not want to have to.

His health record or passport.

The clinic may need his details to manage the procedure and subsequent paperwork.

A tissue.

No explanation needed.

If you want to keep his paw print, say so beforehand

If you want to have a paw print of your dog as a keepsake, don't wait until you're there to think about it.

When you call the clinic, you can ask if they can take a paw print and if they have the necessary materials. Some clinics offer this keepsake to families, others don't.

If you want a specific paw print — for example, from a particular paw — say so.

You can also ask if they can make more than one. Having some backup prints can be useful if you later want to preserve it in different ways.

And if you prefer to do it yourself, you can ask the vet what the best time and most appropriate way to get it is. Not all situations are the same, and it's best for them to tell you how to do it in that specific case.

The important thing is one thing:

if you think you might want his paw print one day, ask about it beforehand.

That day may be too difficult to remember.

Decide beforehand what you want to do afterward

There are decisions the clinic will need to ask you about that are much easier to make before you get there.

Options may vary depending on the clinic and where you live, but you will usually find alternatives such as:

Communal cremation.

Your dog is cremated along with other animals, and the ashes are not returned individually.

Individual cremation.

The cremation is carried out individually, and you can later receive his ashes.

Burial.

The possibilities and conditions depend on the regulations of your place of residence. Do not assume that you can bury him anywhere: if you are considering this option, find out beforehand about what local regulations permit.

Also ask the clinic how long it will take to return the ashes if you choose individual cremation, and what options there are for preserving them.

You don't need to decide how you're going to preserve them forever.

You just need to know what you want to happen to them.

What you don't have to deal with that day

Don't try to sort out all your administrative life while you're saying goodbye to your dog.

There will be procedures related to the microchip, registration, insurance, or certain services that you will have to manage later, and the deadlines may vary depending on where you live.

If the clinic can guide you on which ones are necessary and when you need to do them, perfect.

If not, jot down what you need to inquire about and do it when you can think a little more clearly.

You don't have to do everything that day.

Afterward

You may come home with his collar, his blanket, his toy, or some of his things.

And opening the door and not finding him may be one of the hardest parts of the entire day.

You don't have to decide what to do with his things immediately.

You don't have to keep everything.

Nor do you have to throw it away.

You can leave it exactly where it is for a few days, weeks, or as long as you need.

If you have received his paw print, ashes, a lock of hair, or any other keepsake, store it in a safe place. You can decide later what you want to do with it.

And if you have photographs or videos that you particularly want to keep, make a copy elsewhere besides your phone.

Everything else can wait.

There's no right way to say goodbye

You can stay by his side until the very last moment.

You can talk to him.

You can cry.

You can not know what to say.

You can want to leave earlier.

You can want to stay a few minutes afterward.

There is no right way to do this.

There is only yours.

And perhaps the most important thing you can take away that day is not any of the items on this list.

It's the time you can still spend together.