A question for vets; putting an animal to sleep

[yello]

Sadly, we had to get the vet to put our dog to sleep (10 year old border collie, he had cancer - an intestinal tumour). I'm over the heartbreak of it now, thinking you did the 'right thing' is some help... some.

Anyways, what surprised me is that 2 injections where needed. Last time experience I had (20 odd years ago in the UK) was that it was only 1. I googled around and it seems 2 is indeed the norm; the 1st an IV anaesthetic and then the 2nd lethal jab.

There was some reaction to the anaesthetic (at least, that's what the vet said it was). I thought our dog had gone but then he gave 3 gasps - he looked in discomfort and I instantly thought 'my god, what have I done?'. The vet assured me there was no pain and then gave the 2nd injection directly into the heart.

Is the above 'normal' procedure? With the one injection experience, our then dog just 'went to sleep' with no visible signs of distress.

 

[Becs]

The first injection is usually a strong sedative, followed by a lethal overdose of an anaesthetic (pentobarbital - often blue or pink in colour). It is very common for agonal gasping to occur after the animal is gone - it's just brainstem reflexes and can happen some minutes after death (I always warn owners about it when I put horses down - sometimes the whole horse can appear to move during the gasp which can be v distressing if you're not expecting it). Injecting into the heart is a standard procedure for when injecting into a vein is not possible (the initial sedative can cause a big drop in blood pressure making it v hard to inject into a vein). If I understand correctly it's possible your dog reacted very strongly to the sedative (quite common in sick animals) and therefore needed the second injection into the heart rather than the vein, he definitely wouldn't have known anything about any of it. You definitely did the right thing. Sometimes with the one injection approach there can be an excitement phase before the animal passes, and if the drug gets outside the vein (e.g. if the animal is struggling) it really hurts - so for that reason a lot of vets have moved to a sedate, then inject approach. Some still prefer to use 1 injection, especially on quiet animals where the risk of putting the drug outside the vein is lower. Hope that helps

 

[yello]

Thanks Becs, it does help.

Yes, our dog reacted to the 1st injection, the sedative. There was no reaction to the 2nd one (well, other than death obviously!) Both injections were pinkish in colour btw.

I wish I was aware beforehand that the gasps would occur. I really thought he'd gone (thinking there was only 1injection) and then he gasped, as if reanimated. It was upsetting and I couldn't help but think I'd caused him further discomfort, despite the vet's assurances to the contrary.

 

[snapper_37]

Sympathy Yello, you definitately did the right thing.

And thanks for that informative reply Becs.

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

Strangely enough, when I took my dog, Sam, a springer spaniel, who was at the end after 15 years, I seem to recall it just being the one.

Still probably the most difficult thing I have ever done, taking him, it broke my heart and I still miss him now after over 4 years, but the best thing for him, I just pray that when I get too old, the law in this country has changed so that I can be put to sleep in the same dignity that he was.

 

[yello]

I just pray that when I get too old, the law in this country has changed so that I can be put to sleep in the same dignity that he was.

My wife remarked the same. Not that she wanted you put to sleep, she doesn't know you... does she???... ah, you know what I mean.

Yes, it is hard isn't it. A horrible choice. You know that really you have to, just to end the suffering, but that doesn't make it an easy decision. In our case, our dog wasn't in pain but clearly in discomfort. It would have become pain. He wasn't eating and the tumour meant he couldn't defecate, despite trying. His was tired and his eyes told me it was time.

I did feel a sense of relief when he was gone though. I loved him too much to see him so visibly in discomfort. Gone but not forgotten, as they say. No, never forgotten.

 

[asterix]

Was 2 with our cat. The anaesthetic which put him to sleep (and out of the pain) the 2nd which the vet recommended he did alone.

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

My wife remarked the same. Not that she wanted you put to sleep, she doesn't know you... does she???... ah, you know what I mean.

Yes, it is hard isn't it. A horrible choice. You know that really you have to, just to end the suffering, but that doesn't make it an easy decision. In our case, our dog wasn't in pain but clearly in discomfort. It would have become pain. He wasn't eating and the tumour meant he couldn't defecate, despite trying. His was tired and his eyes told me it was time.

I did feel a sense of relief when he was gone though. I loved him too much to see him so visibly in discomfort. Gone but not forgotten, as they say. No, never forgotten.

LOL !

Have you got a new dog?

We talk about it, but we have not yet,

 

[yello]

No, not yet. It's still too soon. We'll probably give it a couple of months before deciding.

We have another dog but it is weird just having the one. There's definitely a void.

 

[Headgardener]

Bugger wish I hadn't read this thread now. Had to have Pennie (our collie/lab cross) put sleep at the beginning of November. After she suddenly lost her energy on fireworks night owing to the stress causing an internal bleed which slowly weakened her. Vet only gave her one injection and she now lies in a little pot by the front gate which was one of her favourite spots, she would stand for ages looking out across the green hoping to spot a fox or cat she could chase.

 

[yello]

We got another rescue dog last week, another border collie. In truth, I feel it was a bit too soon but that's our mistake and we'll not blame the pooch for it!

He's 10 and overweight (how can people do that to a dog?) at around 24kg. He probably needs to loose around 4kg, which may not sound like a lot in kilos but when you consider it as a percentage of his body weight then you get the picture!

And, for the first time ever, we've changed a dog's name. He was called Tristan, which I really could not get my head around! Dogs' names are better, imho, for being short, one-syllable names. There was another border collie at the refuge and his name is Hiralgo which I thought was an excellent name! Sadly, he was 13 and very sickly - too much work for us.

You have to have emotions of steel to visit refuges, otherwise you could come home with a car load of animals!

 

[CopperBrompton]

You have to have emotions of steel to visit refuges, otherwise you could come home with a car load of animals!

Tell me about it ...

http://www.benlovejoy.com/cats/intro/

 

[Headgardener]

You have to have emotions of steel to visit refuges, otherwise you could come home with a car load of animals!

Very true.

 

[oldfatfool]

The last hound we lost about 30 months ago was a single injection, also cancer. The joy and the pain of owning being owned by a dog eh?

We got another rescue dog last week, another border collie. In truth, I feel it was a bit too soon but that's our mistake and we'll not blame the pooch for it!

Good for you. Never two soon.

You have to have emotions of steel to visit refuges, otherwise you could come home with a car load of animals!

I am weak, currently on 3 death row greys, would be more but swmbo objects to the lack of sofa/ bed space as it is

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Nice to hear that you have another dog in your life - hope it works out for the two of you.

We lost our boy last May (my avatar) and he is missed dreadfully.

He was a big fit boy and we had many wonderful days in the mountains together. On his 12th birthday (23rd May) he was as right as rain. He impatiently sat whilst we sang him happy birthday and gave him his steak pie birthday pressie and all was well. 2 weeks before he had done a 15 miler in the high mountains.

Literally the day after his birthday during a short walk around our village he stopped 200m from our house and just did not want to walk any further. I coaxed him back to the house. Within a few days he was walking into walls and a soon after he could not get off of his bed. The vet came out to us every day during the week - she thought it was a slipped disc and was giving him strong PK's.

On the 31st May he went to hospital for tests, they put him under by GA and at 11.30 we had the terrible call. He had a large inoperable tumour halfway down his spine, nothing could be done. We made the heart rending decision to leave him under as it were.

Worst day of my life bar none. His ashes now lay on Scout Scar at Kendal - a favourite spot of his.

I had a rough childhood (alcoholic abusive father) and I cried a lot then.

I did not cry again until I was 32 when my Mum died.

22 years went by without crying until my boy died - it's been nearly 8 months now and every day i have shed tears at some point.

We talk of 'another dog' but right now we are not ready. We hope the day will come eventually as we miss the presence of a dog in our lives.