What Happens to Dogs After They Die?

he death of the family dog is a traumatic event for all family members and it may take a long time for them to recover from the situation. The dog becomes a part of the family and its loss is felt on a daily basis. Young children may question what happens to dogs after they die and the adults in the family should be prepared to respond in a reassuring manner.

The truth is that just as we are not certain about what happens to humans when they die, we are also not sure about what happens to dogs. The answer depends primarily on the spiritual beliefs of the individual. When an adult replies to a child's question regarding this topic, the reply should be consistent with this belief system.

Some people believe that dogs go to heaven just as humans do, where they wait to greet their owners again someday. Others believe that the dog is reincarnated to live another life in the future. There are also those who believe that though the dog's body is physically gone, its soul remains to stay beside its owners.

Though there is no certain answer about what happens to a deceased dog, there are medical facts about the process of euthanasia. Euthanizing a dog involves giving it an overdose of the anesthetic Phenobarbital. This process is relatively painless for the animal and the drug is injected through a small needle placed in a vein. The dog becomes unconscious within several seconds and then the heart stops and brain activity ceases after about ten seconds. The dog then falls into a state of silence, ceases to breathe, and goes limp.

The dog's body may continue to experience electrical activity even after the animal is deceased. This is evidenced by the twitching of facial nerves and the legs. A gasp may escape the lungs, but this is a reflexive response and after about ten minutes this and other activity should cease. The owners will then need to decide whether to bury or cremate the animal. Some veterinarian clinics provide the choice of either individual or mass cremation services.

The thoughts regarding what happens to dogs after they die will vary depending on the spiritual beliefs of the humans in its life. It is comforting to know that the dog will not experience any pain while it is being euthanized. The owners will be left with fond memories of their favorite family pet.