on friday i had my boy rottie put to sleep, he had hip dyplasia and was also blind in one eye and had a lot of behavior problems as well i know i could of done things to help him with all of the problems but with the cost and the commitment i could not do it and due to living with my parent the choice was not all in my hands, we decided to have him put to sleep to stop him sufferng and before u say anythink no rescue center would take him because of his hips not even rottie rescue,
it was the most horrible thing i have ever had to do and would never want to do it again when i got to the vet surgury the vet just straight away put something into his neck and didnt even explain whet was going to happen to him i have never had an animal put down before i fell she should of explained it to me first i was so ditresses about it i didnt say anything, it took 2 more injections before he was even carm he hated the vets as it was. when it was time to go in he still was not dopey enough and the vet wanted him muzzeld
i didnt want my boy muzzeld because he always hated wearing one every tme he would growl the vet would just move away she was so unproffional i knew how to control my dog and i knew he was not in the state to bite it took her 3 atemets to get the needle in his leg and evry time he got more distressed witch made me worse iwas realived for him when he finally when over into the bridge because i know all his stress and worry was gone
it was the most horrible thing i have ever been though im sitting nearly in tears talking about this but i feel i need to talk about it and tell people who understand im glad i stayed with him till the end but i know i will never go back to that vet ever again
im getting his ashes back soon and then i can lay him to rest in the garden his favorite place

im thinking about writeing a letter to somebody about the whole thing complaing about the vet but i dont know who i need to write to if any one knows please let me know

at least i know he is at rainbow bridge now and is never going to be in pain again
thanks for listening
emily xxx

I'm very sorry Emily.  What a sad story. :(  He's at peace now.

Oh Emily how awful I can imagine how horrible it must have been for you :(

At least the poor boy is now at peace

Lucy
xx

What a terrible experience for you :( I am so sorry that you have lost Samson.

Run free boy xx

So sorry Emily, this must have been very distressing for you.  I would suggest you talk to (or write to) the senior vet or the practice manager about the way you feel, but if you are still not satisfied and wish to take it further, you could contact the RCVS http://www.rcvs.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=89655.

I am so very sorry -and what an awful vet, vets need good "bedside manners" at times like these to make a really hard time that little bit easier. :(

I think better communication could have improved what must have been a unhappy occasion for everyone involved :(.  I'm afraid I can't say I blame her wanting to ensure her own safety with a muzzle though.

Oh Emily,

what a tragic and distressing time you've had to cope with.  Sensitivity is so important in these sad situations and it seems neither your nor Samson were treated respectfully at all :(   I think you should wait for a few days or more if necessary until you feel stronger and then write a letter of complaint detailing the failings in communication and empathy.  It may make you feel a little better and prevent others being similarly treated.

Your precious Samson is pain free now and will have many friends in High Up places to meet and greet him ;)  Try and hold on to that thought.

Bless you, Teri xxxx

I'm so sorry to hear of your sad time, having a dog put to sleep is gut wrenching anyway without extra problems.

Sending kind thoughts at this time, think of Samson running free and with no pain :)

Lindsay
xxx

At such a stressful time I would most certainly have expected a more profesional and caring approach from your vet. I have held quite a few dogs in my time to be pts, not always mine but friends who just could not bear to be there, but wanted someone the dog knew to be there. One dog had a serious heart prob, as she was having the injection, she fought it, and it took me and the vet nurse to hold her down, she should have been sedated first IMO. When it was over, I told him what I thought, in no uncertain terms, and did complain to the practice owner, who couldnt be more appologetic, and did have words with the vet in question.

Standing back and reading your post, I can appreciate where the vet was coming from in wanting a muzzle. In pts a dog they have the delicate job of getting the needle in, and keeping it there should the dog try to pull away. If there is any chance of the vet being bitten, this is to be avoided at all costs, and they have to be so careful the dog dosent get away and in so doing, the vet gets stabbed by the needle which could have dire consequencies for them. I feel if this had been quietly explained to you at the time, you would have been more understanding of why the dog needed to be under total control. Some dogs go easy, some don't, I think a vet has a very hard time during this proceedure because not only do they have to do it, they have to be so careful whilst actually doing it, and have the emotions of the owner to think of too.

My heart goes out to you, you made such a difficult decision which I think was the right one, the one thing we as owners of pets can do is relieve our pets from pain and suffering. Its not easy though, and the pain we bear after is awful. Give yourself time to grieve, eventually the good memories will come back, can take a while but they will, believe me. When you feel able, a letter to the senior vet or practice manager would be a good idea, let them know how you felt, and the circumstances, with maybe a recomendation from yourself in how you think they could improve their conduct when performing this proceedure, to make sure this situation does not happen to anyone else.

Take care.

Horrible. I completely sympathise, having had both my Lakelands pts within 6 months of each other.

I think you should write to the practice setting out your concerns. The practice would want to know, I am sure, that they are not providing a sympathetic service.

Please bear in mind ( and I was just the same) that we tend to project our grief and anger about what has happened towards the nearest person.

I'm not saying that the vet got it right at all, but you would have been very upset whatever happened.

Don't forget that somewhere, a puppy is always waiting for someone like you. He was, for me.

Take care.

So very sorry for your pain, and the loss of your beloved dog. I wish I could say this is a one off but many vets are very insensitive, they may be good vets, but when it comes to comminicating and bedside manner they don't have it. I have changed vets many times due to the fact I felt uncomfortable and could not talk to my vet.

Console yoursef in the fact that you were there, whatever else he felt, he knew that! and it will have comforted him, try not to dwell on that last day he did not know what was about to happen, remember him with happy thoughts.

Emily I am so sorry to hear about this dreadful experience. Take comfort that Samson is now free of pain.

Run free Samson.

its really sad when one feels that something like this has happened & I sympathise with you. Having had & seen quite a lot of euthanasia, i would however say, that the initial jab "in the neck" would only have been a pre med & would not have been lethal. hope this helps.

Yes, from my own experience, I would say that was a sedative.

I think some vets are nervous about the PTS procedure. When I had to have my pony pts I felt he was delaying the inevitable trying things that weren't going to save her - I knew it, and he knew it. It made me very nervous - and he didn't talk to me whilst he finally administered the lethal injection - and I needed him to talk so I knew what was happening and what was going on.

In future I shall select the vet I want to do it - it needs both sides to be calm for the sake of the animal concerned :(

It certainly does. There is nothing worse than feeling that body you have loved and cared for so much go limp.....no matter what pain or illness you are saving it from.With my own dogs I have always been lucky, vet sedated them first (needle in the neck) then very calmly and kindly put the needle in the leg and spoke to both me and the dog whilst it was happening. In a way I feel a lot of symathy for vets that have to do this job. They have no idea how the owner is going to react when life departs, it is such a shock especially if the first time. Not that it makes other times eaiser, just that you have an idea of what it feels like. Then there is the 'breath' and the muscle reflex afterwards, which could seem the dog is still alive. You need reassurance for that too. Much as i am used to all sorts of animals being pts, when my old girl went 3 years and 3 months ago, I was a mess after. I wouldnt let the vet carry her to the car, wouldnt let him touch her. He was great, told me how to hold and carry a dead dog, opened the doors for me, unlocked my car, helped me cover her. Rubbed my back as I knelt on the ground and howled, wouldnt let me go till Id settled down. Have I got over losing her...have I hell, can hardly see the keys for tears. But, the good times are first and formost in my mind with her now. that comes, eventually. Same as for my first ever dog, I 'lost it' afterwards with him too, hated going in the house coz he wasnt there. Couldnt look at photos coz I wanted to drag him out and have him with me again.

believe me OP, we know what you are going through. Please take care and sending hugs....

I was very upset when I lost both my older ponies. I coped when my friends mare was shot - just about - I had owned her for a while, but went to pieces after. I can't bear to think of Willis - he will live forever I am certain ;)

It must be the pregnancy hormones but I was in tears last night over my favourite horse Josh. I love him to bits and when his time comes I will be inconsolable and I may well give up riding at that stage - such is the strength of feeling I have for him.

It's very hard Carla, but it is the price we pay for loving them and being loved.  I think the value of what that purchases is greater though :)

I understand, they just don't live long enough, do they. But so much love, no matter what, our animals are always there for us.

When my two elderly dogs were put to sleep there was no need for a sedative because we were at home and they were perfectly calm. They went very peacefully within seconds, being stroked and spoken to lovingly, and it wasn't till I knew I was left holding an empty shell and they were off in that sunlit land that I broke down.

It's never easy, but the first time is definitely the worst. :(

I opted for a sedative for my elderly terrier because although she was quite and peaceful and ready to go I feared it would be difficult to get a decent vein as she obviously shutting down and I wanted to spare her the attempts as much as possible.

"Have I got over losing her...have I hell, can hardly see the keys for tears"

Same here. So poignant to read this as it's two years almost to the hour that I had my first experience of this with our beloved Molly.
She'd been left with the vet overnight for an early x-ray. Knowing my Father had died only two weeks previously, the vet had tried to contact my husband first after he saw the x-ray, but he didn't have his mobile number so he phoned me. I had to go and deal with it on my own.
I did manage to stay brave and bright for her until it was over - she'd been sedated for x-ray earlier and was laid on the table, quite calm & happy to see me, and the vet explained everything as it was happening. I laid my head nose to nose with her, talked to her and stroked her. He let me take my time and hugged me afterward.
He was genuinely upset knowing what we'd recently coped with, together with having been her vet for most of her life. He couldn't have been more kind and thoughtful.

I feel for anyone having to do this, no matter how necessary - it's so hard to do. A calm, understanding and compassionate vet is a Godsend at such times.

Interesting. I've never seen a sedative given before euthanasia, but the process has always been quick and kind with no struggling. I very much sympathise with the OP.

Edited to say that like JG I aways have PTS done at home so maybe that's why I've not seen a sedative given

I've heard that the younger and fitter the animal is, the more likely it is to struggle and resist the drug, so it's wise in these cases to use a sedative, especially if it's in unfamiliar surroundings.

The worse time for me was with a 14 year old bitch that was bleeding internally.  Although the decision was easy, I had no choice, the vet could not find a vein in her leg due to the bleeding.  That was just awful it took ages.

The others have been a more difficult decision, but at least it was quick at the end.

i do feel for you at this time x

i was a vet nurse and have had many pts experiences, they dont get easier or less emotional-trust me.
we have used sedation with dogs that have fears of being examined/handled by vets or who dont like things being done to them. it is hard even for a very experienced vet, the most dreaded thing is not finding a vein, this creates doubt in the vets head and makes them nervous.

what i do is comfort the animal and the owner, even if the dog is scared and threatening to bite, i just ease them into settling, i get the owner to cuddle their faces and talk and kiss them, so they are feeling extra loved and also distracted from me squeezing the leg to raise a vein.

its the last act of kindness and devotion you can do for your dog, and its your duty to be with them till the end, its my duty to help you, the dog and the vet, and also provide cuddles and a shoulder to cry on.

i have never forgiven my father who took our dobe age 10 to the vet and left her there without staying with her. i was 13 but remember feeling it was wrong

Men are often afraid of showing emotion over anything, let alone 'just' :( an animal. The vet nurses are surgery assistants are very caring.

My father took our poodle who was 15 and had cancer, then brought him home again as he couldn't do it. I've taken our two collies to be put to sleep as my husband felt he couldn't stay with them, I felt I couldn't leave them.

Always so sad. :(

I was so lucky with my Elka as she was so weak she never even drew breath, and it was all done in seconds.  she didn't even notice the clippers taking a bit off her leg hair to get easy access to the vein as I was chatting brightly to her as my friend had her back to us (wracked with tears, as it brought back the PTS of her own families GSD who she had chosen while still living with parents).

God this thread brings it all back, and am in floods. So sad for OP. My vet is also incredibly compassionate, and I have always had this done at home. Once he 'fielded' me on our drive, as I couldn't bear to see my girl taken away after she had been PTS - and he just caught me in his arms and hugged me. A vet like that in these circumstances is priceless. When my last girl went, I gave her a 1/4 tablet of ACP an hour before the vet was due, because she had had so much blood taken over the previous 8 months, due to kidney problems, she hated the needle in her leg. She barely woke when he came and laid quietly across my lap as she left me. It was the most peaceful event, although I almost felt as though I had lost her twice, as I knew she would never fully wake up again from the ACP. Hope you know what I mean. I would certainly do that again, and it was with the blessing of my vet.
My heart goes out to all who love and lose their friends.
Kat

I'm very sorry to hear about Samson. I can't imagine how difficult this must be for you. Vets have a responsibility toward the animal - to help them go peacefully, and toward the owner - to offer professional sympathy at such a difficult time. It seems that your vet was able to do neither :( ... but as you said, Samson's suffering is over now. You know you gave him a wonderful while you had him, and no dog could wish for better.
I have several recordings of Samson growling and barking at play -- if you would like a copy for your memories, just let me know. I wish I had more to offer at such a terrible time :(.

:( how horrible that vet was im really sorry to hear the way you was treated and the loss of samson least hes at peace now
ive always been fortunate for my pets to go on there own  which is somthing a vet told me was unusual but they have always been at home and gone pretty peacefuly .
Ive been told that my current vet always cries when he puts an animal to sleep .which I though was pretty nice I know from that ... that he really does love animals and I trust him way more then my previous vets who just seemed to be interested in the money :rolleyes:

My beloved Rott " Kass " was put to sleep 4 years ago due to mammary cancer and to this day I hate myself for what the vet did to her to put her down.

He was miserable and cold hearted from the moment he told me to do it that day to end her suffering.  He made me muzzle her and he then pinned her to the floor, one knee on her neck as she was wriggling around. I was hysterically crying and she looked so scared.
It was the nurse that measured out the liquid and injected it into Kass' leg. My poor girl screamed , gulped for air and thrashed about for over 4 minutes and the vet came into administer more that finally killed my dog.

Having never had a dog put down before I thought this all part of the process, if not a little harsh.  It was horrid and I still feel sick about what happened. I complained to the BVA and they took no interest. My vet was incompetent and cruel, thats him all over.

Yes, ive change vets and they have been so good when my other dogs were PTS.

I prey nobody sees what I saw again.

This is a very sad emotive thread...   Losing a dog is heartwrenching, its not just a dog, its a dear friend and companion.  I have two beagles and I am dotty about them and they do not want for anything and are very much loved.

I lost a beagle bitch who was only four due to the callousness of my father.  My mother had died when I was forteen and it was tragic and sudden.  My dad seemed almost relieved and had soon met a new girlfriend and moved her in and she was a dog hater (and child hater but thats another story) .  We had a beautiful girl beagle called Mandy at the time.  I did my best to look after her and walked and fed her and cared for her but being at school was restricted to what I could do.  My dads girlfriend did'nt want her and moaned about the dog all the time, I said to my dad perhaps we should rehome her as girlfriend hated her and it was'nt fair on the dog.  He did'nt reply.

It came to an end when I came home from school one day and called the dog and there was this deadly silence, she did'nt come, I looked round for her but she was was'nt there and I KNEW what my dad had done.

He came down stairs and hi face said it all, I said "Wheres Mandy"  and he replied "Oh shes being put dowm"
I shouted at him what the hell was the vet doing putting down a healthy dog and my dad had spun the vet a line that the dog was his late wifes dog and was pining for her so the vet agreed to pts.

It absolutely gutted me after loosing my mum so soon, I dont have any relationship with my father to this day, I am ashamed to be related to him.

I was just so angry that the vet was hoodwinked into putting her to sleep.  I was only 14 and powerless, he could have rehomed her as Mandy was a lovely dog.

Just makes me so sad, even these days, a waste of a beautiful caring little hound...

Awful situation BB, my heart goes out to you. Just try to hold on to the memories of the lovely life your Mum and you gave her. xx

I'm really sorry :(.  That must have been such a terrible experience, especially after losing your Mum.   

Reply to danny That sounds horendous Cant understand why the BVA didnt take some action.....I didnt even think the vet nurse did this, I thought it was always the vet with the nurse assisting :( I have held onto one that fought, it was not mine but that was not the point, it was dreadful and to be honest if one of mine had been treated that way I would have had a hard job keeping my hands off his throat.) Like it or not, these posts show that whilst the majority of vets are positivly fantastic and caring, there is always the odd incompetent hard faced vet and I would think you are more than correct in leaving that surgery. In any occupation there is the 'one' that gives a bad slur for others in that occupation, and this vet is the one here.

I really couldn't bear to go through a situation like this and whilst I appreciate that vets have to protect themselves from injury with some dogs, surely there has to be a better way than this - maybe the vet suggesting the animal is pts at home so that the owner can give sedatives before hand and the animal is in its own familiar surroundings and less likely to panic?  Sounds like the nurse was giving a sedative injection calmstorm as it says the vet gave the final injection.

Kass had already had a sedative on arrival. The NURSE was instructed to give the overdose of the anesthetic ( that kills the animal ), but she had misjudged the amount and the vet injected more into the dog. They got it wrong, simple as !!

Sounds dreadful altogether danny, so sorry. :(

Absolutly disgusting state of affairs Danny.

This thread is so sad and brings all the memories back.When my old girl was put to sleep, the vet came to my house. I was dithering so much, I asked him if I was doing the right thing. Its like everything is in slow motion and unreal. I knew I was but just couldnt face life without her. He was a young vet and turned to me and said ' Youve had 15 wonderful years with her, let her go'.
He was wonderful and helped me to go ahead with it.
When my pony was put to sleep, it was awful, the injection wouldnt work, and it took 3 attempts. I still re-live that nightmare. However the vets were wonderful.
At such a traumatic time if they cant show empathy they shouldnt be doing the job.

thank you all for your words and support

emily
xx