What to do when your dog dies at home: tonight and in the morning

Your dog has died at home. It may be the middle of the night. You may not know what to do. This page gives the steps in a calm order. You do not need to do all of them now.

This page gives general information. It is not legal or veterinary advice. Your vet can guide you. Local rules differ for burial.

First: you did nothing wrong

Take a few minutes. Sit with your dog. Talk to your dog if you wish. Lap of Love states that the death was not the owner’s fault.

If you are alone, call a friend or family member. You do not have to do this alone.

Step 1: Confirm that your dog has died

Lap of Love lists the signs:

• No breathing or chest movement.
• No heartbeat.
• Fixed, unresponsive pupils.

If you are not sure, call your vet or an emergency clinic now. They can help you check.

The body may look as if it moves. Lap of Love says the body may release the bladder and bowels, as it relaxes. Small movements can come from nerve activity. Air may escape from the body. These are normal and they are not signs of life.

Step 2: Care for the body

Lap of Love gives these steps:

1. Move your dog onto a blanket or towel.
2. Gently lay your dog in a natural, resting position.
3. Close the eyes if you wish. This is optional.
4. Move the body to a cool place in the home.
5. In a warm climate, use a wrapped ice pack, especially if you will wait for aftercare.

The body begins to cool within 1 to 2 hours. Stiffness begins in that time as well. This is normal.

Put a towel or absorbent pad under your dog, in case fluids leak.

How long can the body stay at home?

The ASPCA says: “A well-cooled body can be held for up to 24 hours.” It adds that moving the body sooner is better.

Lap of Love says to bury your dog or move the body for aftercare within 12 to 24 hours. It says the body can stay up to 24 hours in a cool climate, and less in a warm home.

The two sources agree in broad terms. Aim for the morning, and no later than the next day.

If the body is large or you want to keep it cool

The ASPCA gives these options:

• Refrigerator or freezer. Wrap the body and place it inside. Do not freeze it if you want a necropsy (an autopsy to find the cause of death). Refrigeration is fine for a necropsy. The ASPCA says to contact a vet as soon as you can if you want one.
• Body too large for a refrigerator. Place it on a cement floor or slab. Concrete draws heat away best. Do not cover or wrap the body in this case, because that traps heat.
• Last resort. Keep the body in the coldest part of the home, out of the sun, with bags of ice around it. Put it in a plastic bag so it stays dry.

Step 3: Make the calls

You can wait until morning. Many people do. But you can call at night if you wish.

Lap of Love lists who to contact:

• Your own vet. Clinics may have an after-hours line.
• An emergency veterinary clinic, if yours is closed.
• An in-home euthanasia or aftercare service.
• Lap of Love, which lists 24/7 phone support at (855) 933-5683, or live chat, including for aftercare and grief.

Vets and their teams can confirm the death, handle the body with care, take your dog to the clinic and arrange cremation or burial. Ask what they offer, and what it costs.

The ASPCA adds one more option. If you want the body removed and nothing else, ask your local government if the sanitation department collects animal remains.

Step 4: Decide on aftercare, when you are ready

You have a few options. You do not need to choose tonight.

Cremation

The ASPCA says cremation is very common. Lap of Love lists two types:

• Individual (private) cremation. Your dog is cremated alone. Choose this if you want the ashes back. Many providers offer home pickup and delivery.
• Communal cremation. Your dog is cremated with other pets. Cats Protection says you cannot get the ashes back in this case.

Cats Protection says crematoria or vets will usually keep ashes for several weeks until you are ready. It says collecting ashes can be hard, so ask a friend to go with you.

Burial at home

The ASPCA says burial on your own property is allowed in many places, but it depends on local law. It says burial on public land, such as a park, is typically illegal. Call your county or city office.

Lap of Love’s burial page gives these tips:

• Check county rules.
• Call your local utility office so they can mark gas or water lines.
• Dig three to five feet deep. Lap of Love says this is deep enough to stop other animals digging.
• Put at least two feet of soil on top.
• Wrap your dog in a blanket, a T-shirt or a pillowcase. Avoid plastic, which can slow natural breakdown.
• Mark the spot with a stone or a plant. This helps to deter digging.

Cats Protection, in the UK, says to dig at least 1.25 metres deep and about 3 metres from water sources, cables and pipes. Sources differ on exact figures, so follow your local rules.

Lap of Love gives a warning. After a euthanasia drug is given, the body can be deadly to other pets. Dig deep and take care. Ask your vet if your dog was put to sleep.

A pet cemetery

If you have no land, look for a local pet cemetery or memorial park. Cats Protection says costs often include the plot, a yearly fee and sometimes a coffin from the cemetery.

Our guide to how to know when to put your dog down may help if you are planning ahead for an old or ill dog.

Telling children and family

Tell children the truth in short, clear words. Avoid words such as “put to sleep” with young children, as Cornell advises for children and euthanasia. The Dog End-of-Life and Memory Book has a page on grief and children.

Look after yourself

The ASPCA says many forms of grief are normal after losing a pet. It says memorial moments with others who cared for your dog can help. It says friends and family can be a support network. If severe grief lasts, it says to talk to your doctor.

Eat something. Drink water. Sleep if you can. You do not have to do anything else tonight.

Plan ahead, if you can

If your dog is old or ill, a plan made in advance spares you hard choices on the day. Decide who to call. Choose burial or cremation. Write down the number of a 24-hour clinic.

The Dog End-of-Life and Memory Book has pages for aftercare planned ahead, a good and hard days diary, questions for your vet, grief and children, and a memory book. It is a fillable PDF. You can fill it in at your own pace.

Next, read pet cremation vs burial and what to do with your dog’s ashes.

This guide is one step in our complete guide on how to cope with losing a pet: the decision, the day, aftercare and grief, in order.