Dog needs put down. We would rather let him go peacefully at home.

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

I have to strongly disagree with the people that say shooting is a good way to go. I have watched five dogs shot in the head at point blank range, the dogs were shot where the brain is and they were the most humane shots that could have been done. Still..the dogs thrashed around, even made noises, I won't go any further in my description -- but believe me it was awful. I'll never forget it. I would never, ever shoot a dog as a means of euthanizing unless they were hurt and I had to put them down on the spot. For an elderly sick dog its worth the drive to find a Vet that can do it the normal way....its much less traumatic.

 

[Katy]

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Any vet who didn't let me be with my animal would see my backside leaving his/her office. I've had to do it with several animals over the years and they always ask if I want to be there or not....of course I stayed.

I did let my last cat go at home. She had chronic kidney failure and was slipping away, was not in pain and spent her time cuddled up with her "siblings".

edited because I can't spell.

 

[sourland]

I'm with Katy on this. I want my dogs to know that I am there and receive that comfort. I'd find another vet also. I've worked in veterinary clinics, and there is no reason an owner should not be present. Unless that is the vet is incapable of hitting a vein, and I want to know that because the unpleasant alternative is injection into the heart which is unacceptable.

 

[redhen]

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I take it back then...

I personally wouldnt do it either... always a vet for me...

 

[ParadiseFoundFarm]

Dear Jeeper1540
Sorry for your loss. My 19year old Dalmation dog went peacefully laying in the front seat of the car ( always a treat ) with her loved humans around her talking to her and petting her. 1 Freind came from over 40 miles away to bid her goodbye. Our vet came out to the car and gave her the injection in any vein he could find without moving her. She hardly flinched. Then, after she left, we continued talking to her and petting her for a good half hour - just incase.
That was 3 years ago and I still cry.
It was a beautiful send off for a family member who couldn't go on.
That is what I reccomend.

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

There are vets here that will come to your house and do it for you and it's VERY affordable.



I used to work in a vet so I've seen a lot of euthanizations... we have ALWAYS let the parent be with the animals in their last moments, if that vet would not, find a different one, there are plenty!



Sorry for your loss, I know how hard it is, I would cry during each and every one I had to help with.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

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That is a pretty normal response for any sort of death, even veterinary euthanasia. Many dogs brought into the vet clinic would not go down with the normal dose, and some would thrash around after the intitial dose. Some would even jerk their legs or have agonal gasps after we put them in bags for storage and cremation. It definitely spooked me the first few times I saw it happen. When it comes down to it, it's often more difficult for the human to watch the death of a loved animal by any means, than it is for the animal.

...ETA, I certainly don't mean any of this to gross or freak anyone out. It happens in people too, even after they are clinically dead. Death is just difficult for most humans!

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

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That is a pretty normal response for any sort of death, even veterinary euthanasia. Many dogs brought into the vet clinic would not go down with the normal dose, and some would thrash around after the intitial dose. Some would even jerk their legs or have agonal gasps after we put them in bags for storage and cremation. It definitely spooked me the first few times I saw it happen. When it comes down to it, it's often more difficult for the human to watch the death of a loved animal by any means, than it is for the animal.

...ETA, I certainly don't mean any of this to gross or freak anyone out. It happens in people too, even after they are clinically dead. Death is just difficult for most humans!

Yes I have been with many animals being PTS with Euth solution. I cry every time, worked years in Vet hospitals, plus my own animals being PTS. Agonal breaths and reaction to the Euth solution is to be expected a lot of the time. Even when putting a animal under for surgery there's a period during them "going down" when they will be very active to a degree. But what I am talking about with the shooting the dogs wasn't this at all. This was..horrific to be honest. Ick.

Something about watching them slip away with normal Euthanasia, but putting a gun to a dogs head and pulling the trigger -- having to look into their eyes and knowing they aren't slipping away-- its nothing short of violent, even in the best of circumstances. I just can't imagine taking one of my dogs outside to the woods and shooting it.

 

[EweSheep]

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As long you know where you can shoot it. Not an easy way to do it for me but my dog went down quickly and very little stiffness and it was all over. It was that quick. Learned it from vet class. Any reflective motions from any animal is normal, when considering the brain has been severed.

Even putting the animal down with lethal injections, they do similar motions like shooting. Normal response when the body just react to the chemicals of the drug.

 

[mypicklebird]

That is lame, I would never go to a vet that has a policy like that. Not everyone wants to be with the pet, but if they want to be- they should be allowed. The only exceptions I can think of would be with certain small exotics (mice/hamsters/finch ect) that might need gas anesthesia prior to the injection. Gas anesthesia tends to be in areas of the hospitals that clients are not encouraged to go. Those guys might be brought to a treatment room to be anesthetized and brought back to an owner deeply sedated or deceased. Or maybe a extremely fractious/feral cat that needed the same thing. The average dog/cat pet- there is no reason the owner should not be present for a euthanasia, unless the client is so emotional that it really is stressing out the pet. IMO...


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