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I am in so much pain emotionally that I had to share my experience with others to help prevent this from happening to anyone else, especially their pet. I read a post on here from a couple of years ago where the needle slipped and the dog got just enough solution to be in pain, but not put her down. It was suggested that anytime a pet is euthanized, the vet should sedate the pet so they can just go to sleep. That is exactly what my vet said she would do with our dog, Buzz. It's always a hard decision to euthanize, but I was finally at peace with it because I knew he would no longer be suffering. How wrong I was!!! My husband and 7 year old daughter took Buzz to the vet to be put down. I only agreed she could go because I was told he would go to sleep first and after they left, be euthanized. I figured it might be good for her to see that he would only go to sleep. And she really wanted to be with him to make him comfortable. My husband said they gave him a sedative needle that they were told would make him go to sleep in 5 - 10 minutes. (He weighed 70 lbs. and they said they gave it for a dog over 100 lbs.) However, he didn't fall asleep at all. Instead, he moaned and groaned, and my husband said he seemed to be writhing in pain eventually, even seeming to have convulsions. The vet was not in the room to witness any of this. When they checked in on them after about 10 minutes, he wasn't asleep, but not seeming that bad yet. After a half hour, though, my husband and daughter could take no more. My husband had to come out of the room to get someone because they never came back in. He couldn't handle it anymore and my daughter was hysterical. He had to leave and tell them to just put him down. I am now in so much pain knowing how upset he must've been that they took him there and watched him helplessly suffer like that. And I don't even want to think of what it was like after my husband left him. I feel horrible that he didn't go to sleep and that both my husband and daughter had to see him like that. My husband called the vet, furious, after he got home, about the way it was handled. The vet had all kinds of excuses like she was overseeing a surgery in the next room and that some dogs react thay way to the sedative (NEVER mentioned before it was given!!!!) and that he wouldn't have closed his eyes and gone to sleep anyway (even though that's whay we were told would happen!). I am just feeling so horrible that it turned out that way and am grieving so much more because of it. My husband is not handling it well, either. My daughter, fortunately, is doing ok, but will always have that horrible memory of how "Buzz wouldn't stop fighting the medicine" as she put it. I don't know what the vet should've done, but I'm sure she could've made him comfortable somehow, if she had just come in the room and taken more time with us. I realize that want to allow people to grieve, but they could knock on the door to see if they need anything. We paid almost $200 for euthasia and cremation. Euthanasia means good death and our dog deserved that, but he didn't get it. It can't be fixed now, but I wanted to warn others out there of what can happen.
I am so sorry that this happened, particularly to be witnessed by your daughter. ¶Contact the veterinary board in your state and file a formal report and complaint. There may also be a county veterinary association you can contact, but the licensing board/authority would be the most effective for a complaint.
I am so very, very sorry. Both on the loss of your dear Buzz, and on the horrible experience. What an awful thing.
Yes, I do know that it's possible for animals to have that reaction to sedatives and/or euthanasia. If it's any consolation at all to you, know that it's certainly possible that although it "appeared" he was in pain and moaned and groaned, he himself may have been under enough that he wasn't experiencing pain himself although his body was reacting in those ways.
No excuse to leave you alone for 30 minutes without checking on you. I'm thinking they thought he was out and you wanted the privacy of being alone with him and they were specifically not intruding - my vet does that. They leave you alone to say your goodbyes. Some people want to be alone for minutes, but for some a half hour is not too much. But they certainly should have made clear to you to please come out and get them if things didn't seem right.
Again, my deepest sympathy on your loss. And thank you for the alert to the rest of us so we can be prepared. Buzz will have helped other dogs, I am sure.
The vet or tech should have been present the entire time. The only time any vet I have associated with, has left the animal alone with the owner is after he is confirmed dead - then the owner is left alone to say the final goodbyes. But during the process, vet and/or tech should be there 100% of the time. There is no excuse for anything less.
molly
I am SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS! Time will make it a little better. Talk to several vets before you chose to do this again. I have done it twice in the past 10 years and this is the way it worked for me. Both of my dogs were VERY large. My vet gave two shots. One that made my dog go to sleep and then the other that ended his life. The second shot did make him convulse, but he was out well before that shot went in. He did say for big dogs he has to go through the vein and it takes longer to get to the the heart. The best way is to give the second shot directly to the heart. It is very quick that way. The trick is to give that first happy drug that makes them feel loopy then knocks them out completely before you give the other. The best we can do is love them and be there for them.
Again, I am so sorry for the loss of your friend and pet.
W
Sedation doesn't always put them right out before a euthanasia. Some doctors give enough to knock them out, and some give just enough to relax them. How do you know he was moaning in pain and not just because he didn't know what was going on? Where I work, the doctor will go in and speak to the owner, then will bring the animal into the treatment area to sedate them and put in a catheter. The dog then goes back into the room with the owner for as long as they need. The IV catheter ensures the solution doesn't go SQ. The doctor and the assistant then go into the room and the euthanasia is done.
Mom,
As bad as it was it is done, now you must let it go.
Only time will heal your pain, it will get better as time goes by.
But only if you are able to let go.
I'm very sorry for your pain, I have a feeling it looked worst than it really was for Buzz.
As with any loss of a loved one it helps to remember the best of times and move on.
Not to dwell on one moment but a life time.
Best wishes,
Moons.
Get another vet for sure; someone more passionate and competent. Sorry for your loss but moons is right, think of the good times and it will be easier to move on.
Very sorry for your loss but even the ones that go somewhat smoothly are awful; my only saving grace is that I know the animal is no longer suffering or in any pain. That is comforting. Nan
As others have stated, our old vet would take the dog to the treatment area to insert a catheter and give a mild sedative. They usually brought out a blanket that we could sit on with the dog, and when we were ready they gave the injection. The vet did not leave the room until the dog was confirmed dead, but we were allowed to stay as long as we wanted.
We recently moved, and had to put down our elderly GSD before we found a new vet here. The one we went to wasn't nearly as compassionate. Since then, I have gotten good recommendations by posting on craigslist and following up with phone calls to the clinics.
I am so sorry for your loss, and I hope that your good memories help to heal your pain. I did find a great kids' book called "Dog Heaven" - our oldest was 7 and the youngest was 2 when we had to put Remy down, and this book was helpful. Of course, I couldn't read it out loud without breaking into tears. My favorite part is "In dog heaven, all dogs are good dogs."
Opal
Buzzmommy,
I'm deeply saddened to hear of your loss and the way it happened. This was totally unexceptable.
I just laid my Ando to rest last Sept. The Tech. took him to the back and inserted an IV as if for surgery. They brought Ando into the room with me. The Vet. came in when I was ready to let him go. He gave Ando a sedative through the IV. Ando went to sleep, like for surgery. When I was ready, the Vet. then gave Ando the final overdose to lay him to his final rest. Ando never suffered from this process. It eased his pain and took him to a better land where the cancer left his body. I'm telling you this story, though breaking my heart to relive it, but in hopes if you have to endure this again, you'll know how it is suppose to be done.
RIP Buzz. May you be in no pain ever again.
Brandi and Dugan v. Eichenluft
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