Sigmonkey
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I am always holding them at the end. When I step out afterwards, that is about the only time I cry.

My animals have always been there for me, and as such, I will always be there for them. I had to put my dog down last month and while it was one of the hardest things I’d ever done, there’s no way in hell that I wouldn’t have been right by her side.

We've always been there with them. Pets, friends, & family shouldn't die alone.

Yes, I couldn’t imagine not being there for them.

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
BTDT more times than I care to remember in the last 70 years.

Every time, without fail, I go in with them, pet them, comfort them, tell them what good dogs they are and bawl like a baby when they go.

The only thing that has changed over the years is that I pay the vet to dispose of the remains. Bringing them home to bury them has gotten too hard.

EDIT: While we're on the topic perhaps a vet can chime in and explain something to me: Why are there always two injections? One to sedate them, and then the overdose. Why not just give them the OD right from the get-go and not prolong the misery for both of us? I'm assuming there's a good reason, I just don't have a clue what it might be.

Paul, the euthanasia (pink) injection does stop respiration and eliminate many of the biological functions of the pet, but I've had several over the years who've been able to realize that they weren't able to breathe, and it seemed to (obviously) stress them in their last moments. While the manufacturer says they will be completely unaware, many are not fully relaxed if just given the one injection alone.

We always give them a sedative/dissociative (same one we'd use to sedate a pet for a dental cleaning, for example) prior to the euthanasia injection, to make sure they are unaware of anything during their final moments, and it is universal in my practice(s) to do this. There are unfortunately many vets who do NOT give 2 injections, which I don't care for at all. Hope this makes sense.

@slabsides45 -

Thank you for that explanation. Makes perfect sense and does indeed seem like a blessing.

quote:

Originally posted by SpinZone:

quote:

Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:
Roxy is going to outlive me by decades.

Which brings up the question “will Roxy stay with you when she has you put down?” (Roxy seems to like so I voted yes )

I would truly hope that the medical staff would let her be there so I could tell her goodbye and be a good bird.

I stay with them.

Tears are streaming as I write this.

With their head in my lap. Every single time.

The only one I had a vet do, was already sedated in emergency surgery. We chose to just never bring him back, and I didn't choose to go in the room for the process.

Every other pet I've just done myself in one of their favorite places, and said my goodbyes there.

My circles have always felt it was an owners responsibility to take care of end of life in person, not shop out the job to someone else.

I get that if you live in a city or something things are probably different. How much does it cost to have a vet put your pet down for you? I paid something like $800 for the emergency surgery and I don't believe they charged me for whatever meds they used to end his life. I remember that they needed another $250 for cremation, but I took my dog home and buried him in a favorite spot.

I did this a little over a month ago. He was my constant companion for the last thirteen years. I wanted the last thing he felt to be me holding him; the last thing he heard, my voice telling him he was such a good boy. He didn’t have to go alone, on a hard table with nothing but a stranger for company. It was my absolutely agonizing honor to ease his suffering.

My problem with doing my own euthanasia (and I have done it a few times on farm animals) is that the only way I have to do it is a gun.

I can't bring myself to do it to a pet. I'm scared to death I'd screw it up and cause them more fear, pain and suffering. Plus I know they'd pick up on my nervousness and be jittery themselves.

I'll gladly pay to have a vet do it with an injection and know they suffered as little as possible, if at all.

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:Plus I know they'd pick up on my nervousness and be jittery themselves.

I knew a vet tech that said owner stress is the most stressful thing for the dogs when they are put to sleep. The dogs may not like the vet under normal circumstances, but they certainly don't know that this time is any different. They definitely pick up on our emotions, though.