Its a hard topic but I think its better to put some thought into this now rather than later when it might be too late.

Most people assume that their Vets will do the right thing when it comes to putting our animals to sleep, but this isn't always the case. Some of you may not be aware of this, but in many areas it is not required that the Vets sedate the animal prior to euthanising it. The results can horrific and cause even more pain for grieving pet owners.

Please have this conversation with your Vet NOW and have your file noted that you REQUIRE SEDATION BEFORE EUTHANSIA. This way there can be no misunderstandings and you will not have to remember this during what will be one of the hardest moments of your life.

I have not heard nor known it was common practice to sedate before euthanasia, but my old spaniel mix went peacefully without complications, without sedation.

I never really thought about it, but I guess if your dog gets anxious at the vet's, and anxious around strangers and close quarter handling, then the prior sedation would make a big difference in the dog just slipping away peacefully vs. fighting against it.

I'm thankful your old spaniel mix was able to go peacefully without sedation, I know others have as well. I also know of the horror that can happen when it doesn't.

Many of you might remember Millie on the other boards and her final moments. I know my beloved Ebony fought euthansia with everything she had for some 7 mins before she gave in. This scene left Anne (her owner) with nightmares for weeks following it.

Even when my dog was euthanized at home, my vet prescribed Ace (which my dog had historically tolerated extremely well), for a pre-euthanasia sedative. When the vet and her tech arrived, Zamboni was soooo relaxed and happy, I'm sure she wasn't even aware of what happened after that.

I have a note in all of my dog's charts (including at specialists' offices) that my dogs must be sedated before euthanasia, unless the situation obviously preempts that. It's a kindness. Things can go wrong during an euthanasia procedure, which makes it more difficult. Our dogs can get stressed simply because we're so stressed. The extra sedative keeps it from being more difficult than it needs to be.

I've had both my dogs sedated, and it was the best thing I've ever done each time. I said goodbye early before the sedatives took hold, then I had enough time to hold them as they just slipped away peacefully.

Where I work we place a catheter prior to euthanasia but do not sedate most animals. If they are very stressed or if we are unable to handle them, then sedation can be used. I've not witnessed any problems with our procedure.
I personally am VERY AGAINST sedation for my pets. While I don't want any complications, it is hard for me to see them sedate. I feel I would not be saying goodbye to my pet, but the body of them. I want them mentally and physically with me til the end. In the best situation, this decision will never need to be made, and they will all pass peacefully in their sleep. (in my dreams anyway)
I do think you have every right to explain your wishes to your veterinarian beforehand, and they will work with you for whatever you are comfortable with.

I have seen it go horribly wrong without sedation so now, I always drug them first.

I've had to euthanize many of my pets over the years, dogs, cats, and others, and have never sedated an animal prior to euthanasia. Every last one has gone peacefully and easily within seconds of the injection. I've never even heard of such a thing. What is the purpose? It seems multiple injections would just prolong the situation, add additional discomfort and stress, and as Dianna said, in those final moments I'd feel my pet was already half gone when I had to say goodbye.

When you have seen fear or confusion in their eyes and you witness an animal fight death with every last living cell in their body, you lean towards sedation first. It might take 2 shots, yes, but the animal only feels the discomfort of the first. I say my goodbyes before sedation and I hold them all the way thru the second shot.

I have the Vet sedate first. While the sedation is taking effect I talk to them I pet them I tell them how very much I love them and that I will be with them. All they need to do is relax.

When we put our horse Pixie down, her leg joints were shot, but her heart and mind where still young. The Vet was very worried that she would fight it, so we had a nice long talk and decided to tranquilize her to the point she was just about ready to go down. This horse never laid down to do any thing but a quick roll, she never stayed laying down and that is what did her leg joints in. So we knew she would fight the laying down.

One of the reason's my Vet was so concerned was the day before a friend asked her to put her dog down, well it went really really bad and it shook my Vet up pretty bad. She had never had one go bad.

I will do any thing and every thing I can to prevent my animals from leaving this world in a fighting fear. The sedation shot doesn't cost much.

Val

Interesting. I don't think I have ever before heard of a euthanasia going badly. Animals being stressed under the circumstances and a sedative being a good idea for that reason I can certainly see, but the idea of the actual euthanasia backfiring is new to me.

My SIL had the same experience with her Bonnie.
She was very upset that her dog had to leave with fear. And that was the lasting impression she had when Bonnie went to the bridge, fear and confusion in her eyes, instead of peaceful relaxation of a sedative...And she fought it, took a very long time to take her last breath.

Chris it can happen an is more frequent than we think.

I think part of the problem is with very old or very sick dogs the veins just aren't that good. So with the sedation shot the vet will be able to tell how quickly it works. Veins can blow if the final shot is pushed to fast, but if the circulation is so poor that it just slowly trickles to the heart there are problems there also.

I think everyone needs to do what is comfortable for them.

I also think people need to be informed on the procedure and what happens if there is a problem. If the dog is old or sick or a combination of the two and the procedure goes bad there is only one solution that will help the poor animal go and that is the "Heart Stick". There will be a whole debate starting about this statement, but when every thing is going wrong the dog needs to be let go as quickly as possible.

Val

Re: the heart stick...
To get certified for euthanasia, I had to do intravenous, intracardiac, and intraperitoneal injections.

agreed

(tried to add that to my last post but for some reason, I am slow tonight!)

I think it is up to a persons own comfort level with the procedure, the pets state of mind at the time, and a persons ability to accept natural ways of passing.
I have witnessed more euthanasia's that I would like to count, including my own dear friends.
As a tech, I choose not to sedate. This can cause blood pressure to drop dramatically, making it harder for the vet to find a usable vein. Because of the decrease in blood pressure, it takes longer for the solution to do what it needs to do, and I get a creepy feeling when that happens.
This is my own personal feeling.
I am used to agonal breathing. I loose sick patients sometimes. When they are at that stage, Their soul has already flown. We can work hard until the last breath, but what we work on is a shell.
I can see how this could cause upset in someone who doesn't expect it.
Before we start with a euthanasia, we try to explain that even when we pronounce the pet as passed, owners may see gasps of breath. This is the physical body shutting down.
Because the solution is actually an overdose of anesthesia (pentobarbital) some pets can go through an "excitement" stage. Pentobarbital isn't used often anymore in anesthesia, but it was known to cause agitation before the animal was sedate. The thrashing that resulted was an unconscious animal who's nerves were triggered by the action of pento. There are some euthanasia solutions out there that seem to cause this reaction, but I haven't seen them used here (in Ct) in a few years.
My own dog wouldn't go quickly. I attribute it more to her personality, and it is a precious memory. I was glad to be holding her when she let go of the pain that Lupus had caused her.
At the last moment she wagged her tail, licked my arm, and was the girl that I loved.

The euthanasia solution that stops the heart, causes a heart attack, is very hard on an unsedated animal. I have heard of euthanasia going very badly. I will always chose sedation, there is no need for the animal to suffer.

I always thought, it was one iv line that included the drug to make them sleep and then the drug to stop the heart, am I wrong?
This is a hard thing to think about but good to be discussed.

Euthanasia solution in animals is one drug. It causes unconsciousness, then respiratory failure, then it stops the heart. This generally happens very quickly.
Again, there are different solutions available, and some can cause an excited stage in the animal.
It is horrible to watch. (My own went this way.) Animals are generally unaware that they are passing through this stage however.
(During a surgery of my own, I also expirenced this stage first hand.) I woke up to the most horrendous screaming, and I wished that the nurses would go and sedate the person next to me. In a VERY detached thought process, I realized that I was screaming, but I couldn't stop. I felt no panic or uncomfort at the time, but I did wonder why I was screaming. )

thanks for the explanation.
this made me cry Quote: At the last moment she wagged her tail, licked my arm, and was the girl that I loved

that quote brought tears to my eyes as well