Last Friday my companion, protector, and happy responsibility of 9 years, Star (American Bulldog), succumbed to heart failure around 1:30 AM.

I think my decisions in her final hours and moments were reasonable, and mostly on time, but things could have gone better at the emergency hospital I took her to when I knew it was the end of the road for her.

I suggest if you have a pet nearing the end, find out if the vet/emergency hospital will allow you to remain with your pet from the beginning to the end of the euthanasia procedure. If you want to be the one to hold/restrain them while the Dr. and techs do what they need to do, talk to them ahead of time. I've managed Star through probably 40+ exams/treatments over the years. Our regular vet trusts me, and Star knew the routine and actually liked going there.

At the 24-hour emergency hospital, however, I had to leave my girl muzzled, in the company of strangers I'm sure she feared, for a few of her last precious minutes, which I'll always regret. In addition to her being alone with them and scared, when the Dr. called me in because her breathing had worsened, I had to tell them to use her back leg to get a PICC line in - they'd been trying on a front leg for 5+ minutes. Had I been there the whole time, it would have been a better for her and me both. I think her lungs collapsed or otherwise failed before they ever got her sedated. No doubt the muzzle and stranger-stress made matters worse. It was not the peaceful passing I had hoped for. (Edit for clarity: they didn't want me there while they put the PICC line in - I should have pushed back.)

Had I contacted the hospital days ahead of time, I think I could have convinced them to let me be there the whole time to manage her. I could have even gotten our regular vet to talk to them. Had they said "no," I might have been inclined to go to our regular vet earlier in the day, when things seemed to be gradually going down hill. I'd of rather ended it 10 hours earlier, but in relative peace.

I'm not beating myself up as much as it may seem. These are regrets more than guilt, if that makes sense. Just thought I'd share an experience that might hopefully help things go more smoothly for someone else here.

Damn.

I am sorry, and in your grief, you do a good deed to others.

My daughter had to put her childhood to adulthood friend down yesterday.

She was fortunate that the vet came out to the car in the parking lot, so that Willa was not stressed (she has never been "OK" in the vets), and that she got to be held by my daughter until the end.

So, "Thank you" for your gracious advice.

Sorry to hear that. Never easy no matter how well prepared. Those are some things you just don't think about ahead of time when you are used to a normal routine. Hang in there and don't beat yourself up too much. Believe you did the best you could under the circumstances.

I am so sorry for your pain. I wish you peace...

I hear you, and I know your pain.

I have a great vet and I have been in the room, petting and comforting each of them as their time came.

He has even given me whatever time I need to compose myself before I leave the room.

I am so very sorry that you not only lost your girl but also had the added trauma surrounded it. My deepest condolences and hugs from afar.


And, SM your daughter has my condolences as well.
These losses are so hard to cope with.

Yeah, sorry to hear that. Don't beat yourself up on it.

I went to one vet, and the first time, my wife and I were with the dogs as they examined them. Then the next year for some shots when I was called, I started to bring my dog in but was stopped. They took them. That was the last time.

I found another vet and I'm with the dogs every time.

We knew Squirt's kidneys were failing so we had a bit of time to plan. There is a wonderful vet in our area that specializes in euthanasia house calls. We went that route and his passing was in comfort with me stroking his head until he was gone.

rusbro, my thoughts and sympathy go out to you for your loss.

Just one week ago "my girl" Lola was with us. This afternoon I brought her ashes home from the Vet.

Our Vet(s) have allowed us to be there, there is no way that they could deny us or I the right to be there. I sat on the pad with Lola, spoke to her, petted her, gave her ear scratches (she loved those) and kissed her several times all along.

Don't feel guilty. Things are sometimes beyond our control and it is not the easiest time to think.

I have my own guilt feelings as my S-I-L and I went out to dinner and to see Deadpool II courtesy of my daughter for an early Father's Day present. I still wish that I had stayed home that night, it would have made no difference to the outcome but still...........I didn't know she was ill until I came home that night.

Rusbro - a very tough position to be in. Been there. Two thoughts for others to consider - you don’t have to go to your regular vet if their ideas don’t match yours. Call several and explain the situation.

My vet was very agreeable, came out to my truck in the parking lot and let me hold Lady when he put her down. I also took her home to bury her there.

Check too with the vet if a particular time of day is best. Mine would only do it at the end of their work day, because of close ties between pets and staff.

quote:

Originally posted by doublesharp:
We knew Squirt's kidneys were failing so we had a bit of time to plan. There is a wonderful vet in our area that specializes in euthanasia house calls. We went that route and his passing was in comfort with me stroking his head until he was gone.

We had the honor of doing the same for our second lab.

We had two brothers who went about a year apart...11 and 12 years.

The first was in an office, and we will always regret it. Thats why we did the home type for the second guy.

We will ALWAYS do the home thing if possible...

To the OP, I feel your pain. Please know your fur kid is in a better place...and will wait for you in the ever after. Someday, you will meet again!

I have to be totally honest after putting a bunch of my guys down I don’t know if it’s better if I sent them via a .45acp than some vet.

Thank you all for the support and condolences.

A bit of clarification: The problem was a result of the fact that I didn't determine until about 12:30 AM that it was time to take her, so we had to go a 24-hour emergency hospital we'd only been to twice in 9 years. If it had been during business hours, I'd of taken her to our regular vet, who's only 5 mins. from my house. Star liked going there because she always got lots of treats. The doctors and staff are all great and would have never separated me from her at that time. They've always allowed me to handle and control her anytime she was conscious, regardless of the procedure.

So my point is not only to suggest anyone caring for a declining pet discuss/negotiate the euthanasia procedure with your business-hours vet, but also with whatever emergency facility you might have to go to after hours, in the event you need to end the suffering after hours.

quote:

Originally posted by spunk639:
I have to be totally honest after putting a bunch of my guys down I don’t know if it’s better if I sent them via a .45acp than some vet.

I adopted an old cat once upon a time. Or he adopted me, I'm not sure which. But the old guy got me through a lot over the years.
He ran out to meet me one day and I didn't see him, and ran over his back end. I kept him in for a couple days but when it was apparent that there was no improvement, I took him outside in the sunshine and petted him and then put a .22 through the back of his skull. That was the hardest thing I ever had to do, and I'm tearing up right now just thinking about it. But he died outside, in the sunshine that he loved so much and not in some sterile vets office.

If there is such a thing as being 'lucky' when putting a pet down, I have been. In every case when the time came my vet always wanted us in the room to hold and comfort our dog in the last minutes of life.

As hard as it is to watch, I know in my heart my dogs felt better being in daddy's lap knowing they were loved to the last. Our vet also does in home visits for a small fee however I've never done that but it would be better on my guys to at least be at home in familiar surroundings.

My condolences, it is never easy letting a friend go.

My current vet feels it is an owner's duty to be with their pet during the process, but he won't try to convince someone to stay who doesn't want to.

Sorry for your loss. And good advice also.

We are fortunate we have a great local vet. The first pet we took to cross the rainbow bridge they started to take my dog away. I asked where they were taking him and they told me most owners did not want to be involved in the process. I proceeded to tell the tech that my animals were family members and that I would be with them until the end. She seemed surprised but accommodated me. I wept uncontrollably when they put him down. A couple weeks later we received a paw print we had not requested and a heart felt letter about the loss of our pet and the love we must have had for him given our actions.

That was about 20 years ago and since then we have lost a couple dogs and a few cats. They don't ask anymore, they just setup for family to be with them. I got a call from a shelter we were considering adopting from. They had called my vet to ask for a recommendation on whether or not a puppy would be well taken care of. They told me the response they got was overwhelmingly positive. They basically said if they want to adopt, that pet will have a wonderful life PERIOD. After that phone call I got a little misty-eyed over the conversation