At the vets

[Kirstie]

just before my auntie died of cancer last year, she insisted that she had her cats put to sleep so that 'they would be there with her' when she died. luckily for us the vet came around to her house and helped us catch them, put them in baskets etc and the vet took them away. we didn't have to take them in. seeing them go was absolutely heartbreaking, but those were her wishes. the cats were healthy, but certainly quirky cats. the whole situation was totally grim.

 

[Becs]

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

Animals can be sedated prior to euthanasia but it drops their blood pressure and makes the actual injection harder because the veins don't raise as easily. The sedative injection also stings so the vet has to weigh up the pros and cons for each individual case. For example in a very stressed, wriggling (or even aggressive) animal the benefit of sedation is worth the risk of low blood pressure and potentially taking longer to insert the catheter; whereas in a calm or debilitated animal it is often better for them to go straight ahead and insert the catheter and give the drug (which is itself an anaesthetic). Most vets use catheters nowadays because they stay in the vein better if the animal wriggles and they are currently advised as best practice.

What the OP describes sounds awful, and thankfully doesn't happen often. The problem with euthanasias is that many owners (understandably) want to hold the animal themselves to comfort it, but most are not trained in restraining the animal while raising the vein, or may let go if everything becomes to much for them. Veins can be very tricky, they have valves in unpredictable places (as the phlebotomist found out last time I tried to give blood) and they can be mobile, thick walled, or collapsed. It's always best to have a nurse hold your animal while you stroke and comfort it if you are ever in that sad situation.

 

[fossyant]

I did wonder why they bother with catheters. (now I know why - easier) - had one on my recent op - catheter in, just giving you a sedative...erm why, as the aesthetic followed seconds later. I was out as I was injected - felt a slight sting, gone......

 

[Becs]

I did wonder why they bother with catheters. (now I know why - easier) - had one on my recent op - catheter in, just giving you a sedative...erm why, as the aesthetic followed seconds later. I was out as I was injected - felt a slight sting, gone......

easier and safer - if you need to top up any drugs you have instant access, and if you have a needle in a vein when the animal goes down the tip can rip the vein and the rest of the drug goes under the skin an doesn't work. Handy little things really.

 

[Baggy]

Animals can be sedated prior to euthanasia but it drops their blood pressure and makes the actual injection harder because the veins don't raise as easily. The sedative injection also stings so the vet has to weigh up the pros and cons for each individual case. For example in a very stressed, wriggling (or even aggressive) animal the benefit of sedation is worth the risk of low blood pressure and potentially taking longer to insert the catheter; whereas in a calm or debilitated animal it is often better for them to go straight ahead and insert the catheter and give the drug (which is itself an anaesthetic). Most vets use catheters nowadays because they stay in the vein better if the animal wriggles and they are currently advised as best practice.

Wish I'd known that when we had our very amenable and debilitated elderly cat put to sleep as I'd have asked for them to skip the sedative - it must have made her feel nauseous (lots of frantic lip-smacking going on) and I felt terrible that she felt sick for her last few moments

 

[Becs]

Wish I'd known that when we had our very amenable and debilitated elderly cat put to sleep as I'd have asked for them to skip the sedative - it must have made her feel nauseous (lots of frantic lip-smacking going on) and I felt terrible that she felt sick for her last few moments

I'd always err on the side of sedation if your vet recommends it - I would feel worse if my animal struggled, and cats can be particularly wriggly. If the practice knew your cat then I'm sure they did the best by her.

 

[Baggy]

I'd always err on the side of sedation if your vet recommends it - I would feel worse if my animal struggled, and cats can be particularly wriggly. If the practice knew your cat then I'm sure they did the best by her.

Thanks - the vet was lovely - and you're right - Dinah was a small cat with 20 years of wriggling experience so am sure that's why they went down that route.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Much as I love animals, this is one of the reasons why I could never be a vet or an assistant, especially after hearing the story at the top of the page about putting healthy cats down due to the owner's whims (I'd refuse point blank if asked incidentally, as it isn't fair on the animals).

How the vet does it day in, day out, I don't know.