Pet loss

lellymine · January 2014

Tonight my family decided that we need to put our family dog down. I know it's for the best, he's 15 and had a stroke a few days ago but since I don't know what to expect when we take him in I'm having an extra hard time. Has anyone had to do this with a pet? Did they let you stay in with them? Did they go fast and painless? It's happening tomorrow night so I'm trying to prepare myself as best as I can.

nicolemcm · January 2014

I'm so very sorry to hear.
Yes, it's painless and they just go to sleep. Any place I know of encourages you to stay with your loved one if you wish.

Hairstylist16 · January 2014

I'm so sorry for you guys loss. I had my German shorthair pointer put down after she got cancer and wouldn't eat and our vet was great. He let me take her into one of the rooms and be with her for a couple minutes and then came in and they give them something to sleep and then the final drug. Very quick and painless for them. Just ask to stay with her if that's what you'd like.

bebemac · January 2014

I am so sorry you are in this position, but do know that you are doing the best for the pet, a true selfless act of love.

I have done this before and they let me hold my cat the whole time. I don't recall how long it took, but I believe it was just a few minutes. After they left me alone with her for a bit and I just cuddled her for a while. I opted for cremation and I kept the ashes, which they returned to me a few days later. They also gave me a heart shaped plaque that had my sweet kitty's paw print in it.

I know this is a hard decision you had to make. I'll keep you in my thoughts. Hugs to you.

ETA: Hugs to your sweet pup, too.

hubbs173 · January 2014

I've been through it before plus I was a vet tech for 5 yrs. It's not an easy decision but it's best for your pet when there is no longer a good quality of life. I drove 7 hrs to be with my family dog when we put her down as I was living out of state at the time. I stayed in the room the whole time and she went peacefully with her head in my lap. Usually they will put in an iv catheter for vein access and sometimes give a little sedation to help them relax. It is painless and peaceful. I encourage you to stay with your dog, I've seen the look on a dog's face when her owners left her with me and the vet to be put to sleep. It broke my heart, she looked so sad and confused that her owners left her!!!! The way I see it is your pet has been loyal to you your whole life and when they need you most, don't turn your back on them! Be there for them until the end!!

Hope this helps!! Sending thoughts and prayer to you and your family!!!!

ahopkins0419 · January 2014

Im sorry you have to go through this

Unknown · January 2014

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lellymine · January 2014

That makes me feel much better knowing that we can stay with him and that he'll go quickly. We want to take him home after and bury him. Do they take care of him after, like get him all ready in a box or do we need to bring one and we'll have to put him in it?

ETA: can he eat before we take him in?

hubbs173 · January 2014

Most vets will wrap them up for you in a blanket to take home. They may even put a bag around their rear end cuz sometimes they can lose control of their urine or bowels after they're put to sleep.

And I don't see why you couldn't feed him. I gave my dog chocolate and cupcakes before we took her in.

JNYLP · January 2014

I'm so sorry you have to go through this.

My T&P are with you!

roundthree24 · January 2014

I'm so sorry. Losing a pet is so very difficult.

I fostered dogs and puppies and was once in a situation where two of the puppies I had were diagnosed with distemper. Long story short, we fought the disease for 6 weeks but eventually it became clear that they would not survive and were suffering. I took each one to a different vet because they reached their low point several weeks apart...the first vet was an emergency vet, the second was a regular...and they each had different policies on if they let you hold or touch the pet. I would call ahead just to be sure about their policies so you can find another place if it doesn't suit you.

Again, I'm so sorry

Luna C · January 2014

I'm so sorry -- losing a pet is so hard.

It will be totally painless and easy for your dog. The vet will likely let you choose if you want to be there or if you want to leave. (It's hard to stay, but I recommend it. You will probably regret it if you don't stay.)

You can hold him or pet him while he drifts off. Usually the vet will give you a few minutes alone to compose yourself. Sadly, they deal with this all the time, so they're pretty compassionate and empathetic.

I'm sorry you have to do this -- but if he's in pain you're doing the right thing. Hugs.

Puka99 · January 2014

Many hugs and prayers. We both stayed with our Kit Kat (our cat before we got pregnant with DS1.) super painless for them but terribly heartbreaking for us.

Many hugs and prayers.

kbellizio3 · January 2014

Oh no

I'm so sorry. The only time I was present was for our first dog, she went quickly and it's painless. The vet explained to my sister and I (her first time being in the room also) what would happen, we held her and pet her and then the vet let us be with her for a while after. I'm a super emotional person when it comes to animals (I'm actually tearing up writing this) and the vet was very compassionate.

lest12 · January 2014

I'm so sorry to hear this.

mrs_drc_rn · January 2014

I'm so sorry, sending lots of t&p to you. I know how hard it is losing a pet, my dog had to be put down when she was 15 years old. I was away at college so I wasn't able to be there, but they allowed my mom to stay with her. My mom said it was fairly quick and painless, she just went to sleep. I hope you get some comfort from knowing he will be comfortable and at peace.

lellymine · January 2014

Thanks for all the replies. I think it'll be a little easier now that I know what to expect. Its so nice to have people understand how hard this is. He's not just a dog but a family member.

Shineoncrazy · January 2014

I'm so very sorry you have to make this decision; pets truly are family. I don't have any advice, you are definitely in my thoughts & prayers both tonight and tomorrow.

ElTrain5 · January 2014

I'm so sorry for your loss. I used to work the from desk at a vet hospital, and from what I saw it's very quick and peaceful, they just drift off to sleep. Not that it makes it any easier to deal with, but they aren't in any pain

sometimes people would bring the dog bed or a favorite blanket so they were comfortable too. Again I'm so sorry

fferreiralynn · January 2014

We had a scare with my cat a few weeks ago. She's fine now, but we were told that she may not make it. It was heartbreaking. I'm so sorry you have to go through this.

GolfWidow001 · January 2014

That decision is never easy. You are in my thoughts. We have had two dogs, both of which were put down when they were very old and sick. It never gets easier. So sorry.

lscal20 · January 2014

I'm so sorry. I'm a vet tech in an emergency hospital so I deal with this everyday. The way we do it is give the pet a sedative and let the owner visit alone for a bit if they wish. When you're ready, the vet will come in and administer the final medication and it will appear as if your dog is going to sleep. At this point the pet is gone. Just a warning (because not all vets will warn you) some pets will take a harsh final breath or two...this is normal, it doesn't mean the drugs didn't work, it's the body releasing and relaxing all muscles. It can be startling to see if you aren't prepared.

I know it's hard, but remember that you gave him the best life you could and that this will be painless for him.

abastian00 · January 2014

I'm so sorry for your loss! I know losing my first-born (e.g., our dog, Emma), would be (and will) be one of the hardest days in my life. What a lucky life he's had for 15 years in such a wonderful family!

babygabe614 · January 2014

I'm so sorry. I have not had to do this, but I am keeping you in my thoughts as I know this has to be an incredibly difficult thing to do. Hugs!!

Kinipela7 · January 2014

((hugs))

lellymine · January 2014

Thanks guys. This has been one of the worst weeks of my life. I just can't handle all the sadness that is seeming to fill the world the past few days.

MissBHaven1024 · January 2014

I have no experience with this, but I wanted to say that I am very sorry that you are in this position. Prayers to your pup for a smooth transition, and that you all find peace.

lellymine · January 2014

lizardbreath14 said:

lellymine said:

Tonight my family decided that we need to put our family dog down. I know it's for the best, he's 15 and had a stroke a few days ago but since I don't know what to expect when we take him in I'm having an extra hard time. Has anyone had to do this with a pet? Did they let you stay in with them? Did they go fast and painless? It's happening tomorrow night so I'm trying to prepare myself as best as I can.

I'm so sorry, sweetie. I know you've already got two pages worth of answers here, but I have been through it and I just want you to know that it is painless and pretty damn fast. I've had to do this to two dogs in my life -- the first was when I was 18, the second I was about 30. The first one, my mom, sister and I were too sad and stressed to go in with her. We regretted it for YEARS. She was our good girl, and we should've been there with her. So, my mom and I went in with her little man when I was 30, and my aunt came along because she knew we'd be too sad to drive. The three of us were invited in with the vet, I stared at our little dog's eyes and pet his head and my mom was petting him next to him, and the vet just injected him and talked softly and calming to him, and he just closed his eyes and drifted off. It makes me cry just writing this, but I"m telling you -- I definitely don't regret being there for him to see him off. We felt like we never got closure with our first dog... it just didn't settle because we weren't in there. If you can, be there with your doggy and see him off. HUGS!

Thank you very much. If they'll let us we're going to stay with him through it all.

roadspeckle · January 2014

@lellymine - I didn't post about this, but last Monday I brought my beloved cat to the vet because I thought he had a bladder infection. It turns out that he had urine crystals and was blocking his urethra. Unblocking was a very expensive procedure and not guaranteed that we wouldn't be back in the same position, so I decided to have him euthanized. It was a terrible experience for me, and he had an adverse reaction to the sedative so they had to give him more. I was devastated and cried before, during, after. My heart stills hurts, but knowing he isn't in pain anymore helps a little bit.
My thoughts are with you, there's no easy way of doing this. Hugs, bumpy friend.

dragonfly711 · January 2014

I have had to do this with over 10 of my own animals including my horse.

I am a vet tech so have also been with a lot of client animals whom I became close too.

It is painless. All the animal feels in the prick of the needle going into the vein. They give an overdose of an anesthetic so they go peacefully to sleep.
Some animals will take breaths or go to the bathroom after or twinges. All this is normal. Just everything relaxing. Do not get upset sometimes vets do not tell this. Also their eyes do stay open. That usually is the worst for people.

You can stay with them or you so not have too all depends on what you can handle. I am always with mine.

Some vets now with sedate them before hand. All depends on the vet. Just to relax them more.

I am so sorry you have to go through this. Please feel free to pm me if you have any questions.

You are doing the right thing. Usually your gut will tell you. Thinking of you.

hollyfp · January 2014

It's always hard!

Oliviasmom2008 · January 2014

I am so sorry about your dog. I had to put my 6.5 year old cat to sleep in December, because she started having seizures and I didn't want her to suffer. I didn't stay with her while they have her the drugs because I simply couldn't. I think I would have lost it even more if I had stayed with her. A couple weeks after she passed away, I received a card in the mail from both the Vet who put her to sleep and our regular vet and that made me feel like she actually mattered and that they understood how much I loved her and will miss her.