At the vets

[bobg]

I was in the waiting room of the local vets yesterday,where there seemed to be a virus affecting old labradors, cos it was crammed with 'em, all looking soft like old labs do. The old chap in front had an aged spaniel and he was the first in. Within minutes there was doggy shrieking, howling, and growling the old bloke came running out in tears and the vet was yelling for the receptionist to help. Then it went quiet.
I discovered later that the poor old dog was being destroyed and he was wasn't making it easy.
Now maybe it was my over active imagination, but if dogs can show shock and distress and terror then these certainly did. Call me soft, but it really upset me I can't get it out of my mind.

 

[fossyant]

They must have cocked it up. Shouldn't happen like that. They just 'go'..... very quick and painless. Crikey...

 

[Paulus]

Agree, something went wrong, maybe the dog didn't like having an I V catheta inserted so the vet could administer the dose. It isn't just an injection these days.

 

[TheBoyBilly]

Oh dear, when my beloved Gizmo was put down I couldn't do it......my ex had to take her in. Now it's just me and my (nearly) 12 year-old Staffie so I will have to go in with her 'when the time comes'. I can fully understand why Julian Clary wanted the lifespan of dogs put in Room 101.
That poor dog and it's owner.

Bill

 

[asterix]

They can anaesthetise before the fatal dose, no? That's what they did to our cat - we had no choice as he was suffering. However the vet took him away once he was asleep so I don't know the next bit.

 

[Salad Dodger]

When we took our dog for his last trip to the vets, the dog was already very weak, diagnosed with heart and lung problems.

We lifted him up onto the table and the vet carefully shaved a small patch of his front leg. Even sterilised it with a swab, which seemed a bit ironic in the circumstances.

The dog gave one tiny yelp as the injection went in, and in a few seconds he was unconscious. After a few more seconds the vet said that it was all over.

It was all very efficient, and the dog did not seem at undue stress at any time. Mind you, by the time of that trip to the vets, the dog was just about plain worn out....

 

[Fnaar]

No death involved in my story, but coincidence. I took my dog to the vet. There was me and another guy there with our dogs, no other 'punters'. The vet came out and called the dog's name. We both stood up. Both dogs had the same (not really THAT usual) name.

 

[Deb13b]

I always get upset if someones having their pet put to sleep when I'm at the vets. I'm soft as muck. But so far when I've had to take my old dogs and cats for that reason it has been quick and quiet. Bloody awful thing to have to do tho.

 

[coffeejo]

My old JRT used to howl like a banshee whenever she had a jab. I'll never forget walking back into the reception area, carrying a fuming dog, my ears ringing, and seeing the look of horror on everyone's faces.

But no, that look on someone's face when they come back, carrying a lead or an empty basket. My heart breaks, both for their pain, the memory of my previous dogs, and the knowledge that even at 4, my Lab is rapidly using up her allotted years

 

[gbb]

I guess the Spaniel frieked out just because some dogs do at the vet.
Certainly my last two dogs to be put down went very quietly, it really is a quiet painless experience for them, far harder for us.
I remember taking my first to put put down, i walked the streets outside, couldnt do it...i nearly lost it
Since that one went eventually, and the next one some years later, i had friends who's doberman had cancer, they couldnt bring themselves to do it...i took him to the vets bless him, told his owners i'd make sure he was comfortable and he had a friendly face with him. Taking his collar back afterwards was hard for everyone though.

 

[quassleberry]

I knew I shouldn't have read past the 1st post, I'm sitting tears streaming for all our dogs past and all other owners and our friends who are facing this with one of theirs.
All went quietly as they should except our last one Quasi, we had to go to an out of hours vet (didn'twant the PDSA after all we'd heard about them) the vet took ages to get the needle right and made Quasi bleed profusely so it wasn't as if she couldn't get a vein.
He wasn't struggling he was tired and as usual with trips to the vet just led on the table, once she'd got the needle right she didn't get the dose right, then they sent his ashes to the wrong place.

His brother a few months previously went to our normal vets with no problem at all, Riv being Riv always used to leave enough wee for the walk home and at the vets was no different. After he'd gone and his body was left, all the nights drink flowed out all over their floor.

They still let us back with the other dogs.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

My old JRT used to howl like a banshee whenever she had a jab. I'll never forget walking back into the reception area, carrying a fuming dog, my ears ringing, and seeing the look of horror on everyone's faces.

I guess the Spaniel frieked out just because some dogs do at the vet.

Yes that is probably what happened (unless there genuinely was a mistake of course). From what I have seen, the needle with the anasthetic is quite large, so if a dog doesn't like the vets very much to start with sees THAT coming, then, what do you expect?

i'd make sure he was comfortable and he had a friendly face with him. Taking his collar back afterwards was hard for everyone though.

His brother a few months previously went to our normal vets with no problem at all, Riv being Riv always used to leave enough wee for the walk home and at the vets was no different. After he'd gone and his body was left, all the nights drink flowed out all over their floor.
They still let us back with the other dogs.

We have only had to put down one of our dogs, Bruno so far, and the vet came out to do it at home (she had dealt with him since we got him, so she was a familiar face). There he was, in his favourite place in the house, with us all there stroking him. He didn't complain and was away quietly.
As if making his last statement , a small bit of poo came out and left a mark on the carpet.

We buried his ashes in the garden where he also liked to be.

 

[TheDoctor]

I've been there twice now.
It's very hard walking your dog into the vets, knowing that they won't be walking back out.
Hang on, I must have something in my eye...
*sniffles*

 

[Noodley]

I took our dear old Charlie to the vet last October, in the early hours of a Sunday morning...we were all alone apart from the vet and it was very peaceful and dignified.

 

[newbiebiker]

They can anaesthetise before the fatal dose, no?

That's fairly normal procedure I'd have thought.