Here is a website that should be helpful:

spiritsintransition.com/

I went to a workshop by them and it was very powerful and educational.

We are not exposed to natural death much anymore, so it can be frightening. We feel so unsure and worry that the animal is suffering.

It's normal for appetite to go near death - the body doesn't need food anymore, it is preparing to shut down. Dogs can go many days without food before death, and it's good to honor their wishes on this as to whether they eat or not, and how much. Always have water available to them as they may continue to want it well after they start eating.

It's important to watch and respect their needs, and understand that death is a process, the body isn't needed anymore so it starts to give way. Try not to panic (very hard not too!), and try to just offer gentle comfort and support, follow the lead of the animal.

Hope this brief response is a little helpful. Encourage your friend to contact the folks at Spirits in Transition.
Take care, Margarat

My friend let her cat die at home and she said she could never do that again. He was in agony when he passed on. Which made her feel awful.

A lot of times vets will make house calls for home euthanasia. I would ask the vet.

Im glad that you will be there. You need to be strong for your friend.

I also recommend at-home euthanasia. It sounds like your friend's dog is ready to go on to the next life and would probably appreciate an end to her suffering.

I put my dog down in January. She wasn't in agony, but she was tired, unable to use her hind legs and was basically unable to do any of the things that used to make her happy. I still struggle with my conscience sometimes, but overall I believe I did the right thing. A very compassionate vet came to my house where Cookie could be as comfortable as possible, and my other animals got to say goodbye. I would definitely do it at home if/when I have to make the choice again.

This woman I work with recently had one of her dogs die. He had been in pain and uncomfortable for awhile. He had an enlarged heart and it made him have seizures and not be able to breathe very well. She struggled for a long time with the decision of whether or not to put him down. On the one hand, a lot of the time he was suffering, but on the other hand, there were times when he seemed like his old self and was fine. So she really couldn't decide what to do. She asked me and another girl in our office what to do and we gave two opposite responses.

Anyway, eventually the dog died on its own. Although I was very sorry to hear that he died, I was also glad that she didn't have to make the decision to put him down because I knew it was/would be really hard on her.

My point is that I think dogs know when it is time for them to go. She should really try to figure out what her dog is trying to communicate. If he is no longer eating, that could be a sign that it's time for him to go on to doggy heaven where he won't be suffering anymore, and she maybe should help him along. On the other hand, if there are times when he seems like he could still live and be happy for awhile longer, then maybe it's not time.

It's a hard decision. So far I have not personally had to make such a decision and I dread the day that I do have to (in the meantime, I'll keep believing that my dogs are immortal). But I think if she loves the dog and tries to "listen" to him, so to speak, she'll know the right thing to do.

And I agree with everyone else about the at-home euthanasia. I would hate for my doggy to be brought into a cold, medical room when she or he is about to die. I think it's much better for the dog to be in a familiar place surrounded by those who love him.

I've had to have several pets put down, and with all of them, it's been clear that it's the kindest thing to do at the time- I've felt bad that they were dead, but never did I feel regrets at having made that decision, and if you have to die, it's really gentle and I wish I could get the same treatment. But all of them had been suffering from one disease or other, and it was always a definite point in the course of the disease when it happened.

My old girl is 17 now, and is mostly deaf, has arthritis, cataracts, and dementia. She is in a slow steady decline, but doesn't appear to be miserable. She likes eating, sleeps a lot, seems to like being petted briefly but not the long ear scratches she used to like, wanders around the house getting stuck in corners like the last shot of Blair Witch because she forgets she can turn around or shift into reverse. It's really hard to figure out whether to do it yet, and I just hope there's a clear point for me to know. When the time comes, I think I'm going to opt for a house call, although my vet has a nice room off to the side of the practice that's like a little living room where you can sit with the animal and they can just do it while it's in your lap- that's what he did with my last cat- it wasn't cold or traumatic at all. But she was already in the hospital, so there wasn't the scary car trip or waiting room to deal with.