Euthanasia gone bad - Page 1

How many people here have had a bad experience with euthanasia?  After what happened with my Boxer almost a year ago, I dread when the time comes to put another of my dogs down.  Hopefully, that won't be for many years yet, but I'm still having nightmares frequently, as well a "flash-backs."  I worked as a vet tech for 12 years, and have seen my share of euths that didn't go perfectly, but only witnessed one other as bad as what happened with my beloved Boxer, Penny.  They couldn't find a vein, and when they finally did, she'd jerk, and the needle would come out of the vein.  My God, the torture that poor dog endured!  I know that part of the solution did enter her system, and it was probably causing her terrible chest pain, since it wasn't enough to stop her heart, yet enough to cause symptoms.  She cried something awful, and I have NEVER heard that dog yelp in her entire life except once, when she ran into the horse's hot wire as a pup.  It went on and on, for about 20 minutes, but felt more like 20 days.  I almost lost it completely.  She looked up at us as if to say, "Why are you letting them hurt me?"  This dog who trusted us completely.  I am having a very difficult time with this, even after almost a year.  It haunts me. 

I know what I should have done - insisted that they sedate her BEFORE giving the final injection so she wouldn't have been as aware or in as much pain.  I can't forgive myself for not doing that, but I had no idea it would turn out so terribly wrong.  I will tell you that I will NEVER, EVER allow anyone to euth a dog of mine again without prior sedation!  There has to be a better way!  To say your final good-byes to a beloved dog is bad enough in and of itself without having something like this happen. Sorry, this is kind of a vent - the wound remains painfully open.

I am so very sorry about your experience!  Shame on the vet who continued to try to euthinize your dog without sedation!  At the clinic I work for we always either place an IV cath. or sedate prior to euthinizing a pet.  The owner is in enough distress without having to watch their beloved pet be repeatedly stuck.  Again, my condolences on a very difficult thing for you to have to go through....

I am so sorry for your pain.  You couldn't have known things would go wrong and I'm certain your dog is at peace now.  Thank you for sharing your story.  Surely you have saved many other owners and their dogs from the same scenario. 

Prayers that you find solace soon.

HUGS

Sue-Ann

Many vets mix a barbiturate anesthesia induction agent in the same syringe with the euthanasia solution. If you are really worried about the needle coming out of the vein or the solution's going peri-vascularly, have the vet place an IV cathether first.

seaecho, if it will ease your mind a bit, I'd say that the  vocalizing done by your dog was more of a reflex action than one caused by pain.

that is absolutely awful and I had never heard of such a thing before now.  I have had to euthanize several dogs over the years and always it was a smooth and gentle process, making a very difficult thing a little easier knowing the dog just "went to sleep".  Now I will know to be more cautious, I never want such a thing to happen to me/my dogs!  Just makes me hurt thinking of it.  So sorry that happened to you and your wonderful dog.

molly

I can't even imagine! Uh how horrible. My vet also does the cath, takes the dog in the back so owner doesn't have to see them stick the dog. When they come back in the room the dog is all ready to go. Vet will ask if you want more time, where you want to be, on floor with dog or table with you standing next. I opted for the ground so my dog cold move around and I could lay with him. Everything went very smooth and it was still the hardest thing I have gone through emotionally.

I so very deeply feel for you. Your post brought back some very painful memories for me because one of our dogs suffered just like your boxer did during the process of euthanasia. First the vet had difficulty finding a vein, then he had to insert the needle twice because it popped out the first time, and as if that wasn't enough, he injected the chemical too fast. Our dog was in enormous distress and moaned awfully.

We didn't have enough sense to sedate him before the vet came. The gullt I feel about our dog's suffering during the last moments of his life is huge. He was a rescue, he learned to trust us and we never did him wrong. But we let him hurt when he died.

Since then I've done a lot of reading about euthanasia, what the drug does to the system and methods of administration. We've learned from this. Never again will we put a dog to sleep without prior sedation, making sure he's deeply asleep before that final injection.

So sorry for what should have been a humane way of letting your friend go.

Perhaps as others mentioned, you'll save someone else the heartache by this thread.

First let me say I'm so sorry for the pain you are still suffering.  I am assuming it is different for cats than it is for dogs??  Last month I had to have my 20 year old cat euthanized and it was so simple compared to what you are describing.  First a sedative shot and he fell right to sleep in my arms.  Next the euthanizing shot and his heart stopped within about 3 seconds.  No pain or suffering.  With a large dog do they always have to use a cath?  I'm sorry but I've never been with any of my dogs when they were euthanized because I was a kid.

Again, my deepest sympathy.  I hope your heart will heal soon.

I am so sorry for your pain. It is my worst nightmare. Although I have not had the experience I credit a lot of it to my vet who will absolutly not euthanize a dog or cat without a sedation first.