What to Do If My Dog Dies?

Unfortunately, our beloved dogs have a shorter life expectancy than ours, so at some point in our lives we'll see them pass away, much to our sorrow.

If your dog has passed away, first of all, please accept our sincerest condolences. Here's what you can or should do in this situation.

Talk to Your Vet

Vets offer deceased animal pickup services, taking them to be cremated to prevent them from causing illness or being eaten by other animals.

The cost isn't high, and they'll help you handle this loss in the best possible way. You can also request a private cremation and bring the ashes home, or scatter them at your dog's favorite spot.

Can I Bury My Dog?

This depends a lot on your country. In Spain, for example, it's not possible to bury a dog on your own — it's subject to heavy fines. That said... who's going to find out?

The problem with burying a dog is that other animals might dig it up and possibly eat part of its remains. It can also pose a health and sanitation issue... so our advice is to go with the first option: cremation.

If burying pets without veterinary oversight is allowed in your country, try to make a nice wooden box to place the remains in, and bury it quite deep to prevent other animals from digging it up.

Pet Cemetery

Just as there are cemeteries where we can lay our loved ones' remains to rest in peace, there are also cemeteries for pets, where we can buy or rent a headstone or niche for our beloved dog.

Remember that these kinds of cemeteries are regulated, so they're completely legal and also safe. There you'll find all kinds of pets, from birds to turtles and/or cats and dogs.

What Do I Do If My Dog Died at Home?

It's actually quite normal for them to pass away at home, where they've lived and where they feel safe to leave this life. Just make sure it's actually passed away — check its pulse, temperature, etc.

Some illnesses can make our dog appear dead when it's actually still alive (it's recommended that a vet be the one to certify death).

Wrap your dog in a blanket and take it to a vet so they can handle its remains.