Sedation

[Barb E]

When I had Caramel (Cat) euthanized they took her back and put in a catheter. They brought her back to me and used that line for both the sedation and the euth drug.

[WiscTiger]

Barb E, my Vet didn't put a Catheter in as we had the Vet come to our home.

[kasbn]

Bear had a catheter in a front leg, it was wrapped in a bandage.

The vet (when told I was ready), first gave him the shot of sedation. I could feel him go limp and that's when I laid his head on the pillow. Then again the vet (when told I was ready) gave him the other shot (I have no idea what that is called).

The sedation was good for Bear and me.

[LadyHawk]

Originally Posted By: JenM66Rosa, where I work it is standard procedure. It is easier (if anything about saying good bye to your friend can be considered easy) for the dog and the owner if the dog is relaxed. I think it's great to plan ahead. Many of our clients have their wishes noted in their charts. When the time comes, you are rarely thinking clearly.

Same here- when I was a VT we ALWAYS catheterized..... and sedated first- it's just a softer, more peaceful way. IMO

[kshort]

Just one more point. If the dog's blood pressure is very low, then after the sedation the veins can start to collapse. It's then very hard to get the second needle into a vein. However, the dog is so sedated at that point that they are not aware of anything. Even with that potential problem, I would still choose to do the sedation first.

[maggs30]

I will never sedate before euthanasia again. I did with two of mine and both of them had a reaction. Their tongues flopped out and dried up and they looked to be gasping for the final breathes. Both of them. I will never go through that again. I had to watch as they looked up not understanding why their mouth felt so funny, and I don't even know how the rest of their body reacted to it. The same thing has happened to my moms dogs in the past.

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

When people read this information, they definitely need to know both sides, but also need to talk to their vet and others they trust about what steps to take.

I just re-read this thread and wouldn't have thought to ask about a catheter but didn't have to. I did ask specifically for the sedation shot.

I saw a dog once after sedation (for a surgery) and its tongue was out and mouth open and I am not sure that is unusual, or that they even know it is happening. I would talk to a vet about it before I ruled out sedation. I don't know if it depends on the type of sedative used either, how long between the two shots, the condition of the dog prior to euthanasia, etc. Because it seems like when they are sedated, they are asleep.

[catht1977]

When we had Jake euthanised a couple of weeks ago, the vet didnt sedate first and he didnt pass peacefully. He started making this awful screaming/groaning noise which sounded like he was in major pain. It only lasted a few seconds, but felt like forever. The vet nurse is my best friend and said she's never seen a reaction like that in 5 years of practicing. The vet later said that his heart had already stopped at this point and it was just air escaping past his vocal cords but it sounded horrible and was so upsetting. I dont know if sedation would have stopped it but in the future, I am always going to request sedation first

[Strongheart]

ALWAYS PRE-TRANQ!!

I have held for so many animals being euthanized (at shelters, vet offices, etc.) and if you don't notice them having any appearance of struggle if they haven't been sedated first it is only because you cannot observe it! That doesn't mean it isn't happening!!

Euthanasia is basically an induced heart attack from overdose of phenobarbital.

IT HURTS!!! Just because they may go 'plop' doesn't mean inside they're not in intense agony.

As an animal communicator, one of my own animals told me afterward that even though he was pre-tranq'ed (pre-tranquilized), he felt like he had been bludgeoned in the head over and over - this was a parrot and there is no good way to euthanize a parrot, they struggle A LOT.

Some vets don't pre-tranq strictly out of economic considerations, it costs a little more, more time spent in the room with the patient, etc. And keep in mind a lot of vets are unsympathetic to pain management at all and these are the ones who don't pre-tranq.

I've held my hands on the chest of an animal being euth:ed and you can FEEL THE HEART ATTACK.

The reason some dogs seem to 'handle' it well is because they totally trust you and don't think you're injecting them lethally and then surprise! They have a heart attack and drop dead.

Don't shatter their trust at the end when they need it the most.

Don't listen to anyone who says it's not necessary to pre-tranq!

[K9Drover]

This is something that I had never even thought of but I think I will do it if and when our times come.