Will most vets use the "two step method"? (chemically immobilize your pet with a mixture of Ketamine/Xylazine before using Sodium Pentobarbital to euthanize)
Do any vets still use Potassium Chloride?
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You would need to discuss this with your vet. Most vets I know use the two step method but it would depend on your vet.
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My vet only used one injection, and it wasnt very nice.
Julie
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Julie, I am sorry your experience wasn't "nice" for a lack of a better word. I know it was a hard decision to make and to have it turned out that way just made it harder for you. I am sorry. Your memorial though did it help get over that not nice feeling? If I remember correctly you had a beautiful place to place Jess's ashes.
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My Vet just used one shot and it wasnt very nice either. I will live with that the rest of my life. Even though I know I did the right thing-it hurt to hear him cry.
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hi All and hi kimc
Jess's casket is on top of out fireplace with his collar and flowers and a fame with his pictures.... its nice that in a sense he's still here.
The crematorium was wonderful, im so sure that jess was treated with the utmost repsect.
The injection he was given i was rather shocked by, i had read that the dog would pass peacefully away, i didnt know about these two shot injections you can get done. Whether its because im in the UK, i think alot of people on here are in the US and they have different methods.
The vet put the injection into jess's leg, and for a few seconds jess just looked straight at me, then he threw his head back and his eyes went funny, i could tell it caused him a certain amont of pain.
I just try to think that if we hadnt had this done, the pain he wouldve been in would have ended up far worse than that injection.
but i will say, if anyone is having thier dog put to sleep, then have this relaxant (sedative) injection first... it could save you alot of heartache.
Julie.
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julie, that is the proper method of delivery - in the leg vein. It only takes a matter of seconds & they are brain dead. That is not to say you won't see some involuntary muscle spasms, which is what I believe you saw when the threw his head back.
Sometimes the heart will continue beating for several minutes however they are brain dead & as such feel no pain.
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Thankyou Sue, I really hope it was muscle spasm and not some searing pain that he felt.
The vet did warn us about that, but i was assuming he meant just twitching etc, which he did do a couple of times.
I can still see his head going back now, it really was awful, I felt so many feelings in those 10 seconds, guilt, anger, sorrow.
I kept asking myself why it wasnt the sweet peaceful end we'd hoped for.
Im going to try and believe that it was just a reflex thing, and that his spirit had already left.
Thanks for your reply.
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Just like Sue said, what you are seeing is involuntary muscle spasms. The drug used for euthanasia is basically like a large overdose of anesthetic. The only pain they feel is the needle stick.
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The first time I saw an animal euthanized, it really freaked me out. I was not expecting the muscles to contract either.... but they do.....the vet explained it to me afterwards and they do NOT feel anything at all.... If you have ever had surgery, you will understand, you are getting anesthetic and your mind shuts down and you don't feel anything at all..... it is the same...Trust me on this one...a human going under anesthetic will twitch and move a lot too... however, you can always ask for a sedative in the future if it helps you feel more comfortable for the one leaving.... It may have not been the "peaceful" end you thought however for him it was....it was the end of all pain...and that was peace...to not feel pain ever again would be peace beyond belief.......
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depending on the tranq drugs used, the dog may seize as well & I mean gran mal seizures. However, again they are un conscious & unaware.
Sometimes you can anticipate some of the muscle spasms, sometimes not, but be assured that by the time any of that happens, they are out.
This is why some vets will not allow clients attend when they put a dog down. I personally think that is just plain wrong on many levels.
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When Rascal was euthanized, I was prepared for the muscle spasms, but it didn't happen. He flinched when he was given the needle, then he just went to sleep. It was very peaceful.
Rascal's mom
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My dog had two injections. The first hurt her terribly and she screamed out in pain. I will never forget it. It was horrible and upsetting. Then she fell unconscious in my lap. At that point they gave her the "real" stuff that put her to sleep. I know I did the right thing by putting her to sleep but it was horrible.
It is funny but we do tend to think of dying as a calm, peaceful experience. Sometimes it is but often it is not -- for human and canine family members.
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Sue... what do you mean it's wrong on many levels? Letting the client stay with the pet or not allowing so? I'm curious what your take is.
I've seen many a dog euthanized and honestly more times than not, they just fall asleep. It was very rare for me to observe any seizures. Sometimes spasms. Generally the thing that would upset a client the most was when they let go of their urine and stool. As a tech, when I was preparing the euth drugs for the doc, I would talk to the owners and prepare them for any possible spasms, seizures and prepare them for the fact that the dog will more than likely let go of their urine and stool. I think that explaining those things to the client that was staying for the procedure really helped. They were more comfortable with the knowledge that their dog isn't experiencing any pain. I would also explain that the dog's eyes wouldn't close. I've seen that upset many clients so I always made it a point of telling them. I would always ask first though.... I'd say "Would you like me to explain the process to you so you know what to expect? I wouldn't want you to be caught off guard." If they said no, then I'd tell them to remember that the only pain their dog is going to feel is the needle stick. The Vets I worked for never used tranqs.
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I think it is wrong when vets won't allow the owner to be there. Many just can't bring themselves to be there, but when they want to, they should be permitted to.
Using a tranq is always a good idea when the owner is there IMO. I have seen so many times the vet gets nervous & botches the shot when owners are there. the dog jumps, the vein collapses or he is so far down finding a vien is almost impossible & I just think it is worth the extra couple minutes