Did I do something wrong?

I keep blaming myself for choosing euthanasia

Many owners keep blaming themselves after choosing euthanasia. One study found guilt was about as common whether a dog was euthanized or died naturally.

For: The first week, The first month　2 owners asked about this

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A real example

UK vet Robin Hargreaves, BVA president in 2013-2014, wrote on the BVA website that he spends much of his time helping owners separate sadness from guilt. He says a careful decision made for the animal's welfare is not a reason for guilt.

Organisation, British Veterinary Association (BVA), 4 Jun 2015Read the original

What others said

「I had my dog put to sleep today. It feels unreal, and I regret not treating them better.」

Shared online (reworded)　English-speaking, Oct 2026

「My rescue dog of 14 years was put to sleep yesterday, and I blame myself for not managing her ear infections in her last years.」

Shared online (reworded)　Reddit, English-speaking, Oct 2026

What people do in different places

Tell owners that euthanasia ends suffering and is not letting the dog downUK, from RSPCA guidance for owners

Tell owners that second-guessing the decision is normalUS, from the Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center

The vet, the dog's condition and the owner decide togetherTaiwan, a veterinary oncologist says it is not the owner's burden alone

Ask the vet to explain the diagnosis and options clearlyItaly, a study found owners without clear information felt more guilt

Sources

BVA: Separating sadness from guiltOrganisation, British Veterinary Association (BVA), 4 Jun 2015

Texas A&M University: Dog Aging Project studies on how owners experience pet lossResearch, Texas A&M University, 25 Mar 2026

The Ohio State University: Coping with grief after the loss of a petOrganisation, The Ohio State University, 29 Jun 2022

Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center: How Will I Know? Assessing quality of lifeOrganisation, The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center, Honoring the Bond Program

RSPCA: What to expect when saying goodbye to your petOrganisation, RSPCA

TVBS Health 2.0: A vet explains how a euthanasia decision is madeNews, TVBS 健康2.0, 30 Nov 2023

University of Padova: Research abstract on pet grief and euthanasiaResearch, Università degli Studi di Padova

2 posts from owners online: reworded and anonymised, showing only the platform, region and month. We keep the original links privately.

Updated 25 Oct 2026. This page updates daily from owners’ posts.

A real example

What others said

What people do in different places

Sources

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