Do you think euthanasia is acceptable for pets?

Question

My husband and I took his mom's 15 year old pomeranian to the vet yesterday to be "put to sleep". I always thought that it was the best thing to do for a pet when they were in pain, or didn't have good control of their bladder/bowel functions. This was the case for the dog, and I thought that it would be the best for "spunky".

When the vet began the process of putting spunky to sleep, she first administered a strong sedative that completely relaxed the little dog. Then after a few moments she gave her the medicine that was supposed to stop her heart. She had to give the dog 5 shots of that medicine, which she said was enough for a 40 pound dog.

Now I am wracked with guilt and feel that the little dog wasn't ready to give up and had more years of life in her. I couldn't stop crying yesterday and am on the verge of tears right now. I was overwhelmed with the feeling that we don't have the right to put our pets "to sleep".

I don't know how I'm going to get over this feeling. I'd give anything to be able to undo yesterday and bring her home. My husband buried her in the yard at his mom's house and I can't stop picturing her in the container his mom put her in to be buried. She had no idea that it would be her last day and I wonder if she knew what was going on during the long process it took to stop her strong heart.

I have 4 doggies and I hope that they all outlive me because I could never do this again. I just wondered what everyone else thought about it. It kills me to think she might have known what was going on and was so powerless to stop it. The silence of the whole thing is haunting me.

Answer 1

I definatly think euthanasia is acceptable for animals.  That does seem like a very high dosage for such a small dog though...I would be a little suspicious of that.  The animal should stop breathing almost immediately after the euthasol is injected, not last that long after injection.  

Answer 2

10 minutes of unconcious heart failure is far preferable to months or years of pain if the dog had not been put down.  You didn't mention the exact reason you chose euthanasia, but you did mention pain,and therefore  I'm sure it was a valid reason to end the dog's suffering.  And that's exactly what you did.

The dog didn't feel it.  Believe me.  She was unconcious and her last memory was the loving faces of her family around her.  It was time to let her go.  Don't you think we all should be so lucky as to die so peacefully?  I often wonder if/when saintly humans will be granted the privledge of dying like a dog- with grace, love, and dignity.

You did the right thing.  Mourn as long as you need to.  When the time is right, go to the shelter and browse by those bright eyes and hopefully twitching tails.  Bring home another lucky friend to love and treasure for 15 or more years.  Good luck- we understand- we've all been there.

Answer 3

It's the hardest choice to make. I've never been a big believer in it. I've always thought you should try your hardest to save your pet but a year and a half ago I had to go through it. My beautiful Siamese cat got diagnosed with mammary cancer and she had a drastic surgery which removed all the ducts on one side. Unfortunately the cancer had advanced too much and even with chemotherapy it proved too much for her little body. It spread to her lungs and I had to rush her to the hospital. As much as I wanted them to save her they couldn't do it so they told me the best thing for her was to put her to sleep. Even though my head tells me it was the right thing to do I still feel guilty.

Answer 4

I know this hard process, I had a very dear pet to me put down too. It is very hard to do and even harder to get over. But what you need to remember is that they are no longer in pain, or in this case she will no longer be sad knowing that she is soiling when and where she is not supposed to. Knowing she is doing something she is not supposed to do would be torture for a dog, seeing they only want to please people. You did no wrong, I can say that. Spunky went in the most painless way possible and I am sure she had no idea it was happening due to the sedatives.

You need to be strong for her, for you, and for your other dogs. They need you as their leader and you need to live for the now. I had a hard time coping with the loss of my pet, but I realized that what was done was done, he is not coming back, and he is not in pain anymore, I am being so selfish wishing to bring him back into this world to be in pain just so I wouldn't miss him. And from that day on I didn't cry for him again, I still miss him, but I do not regret my decision. As you shouldn't, beating yourself up for the past is no way to live today.

I hope this helps, and by no means am I saying you are selfish for regreting putting your dog to sleep we all feel that way if we truly loved our pet.

Answer 5

I'm sorry for the little dog, I have had to put many animals to sleep 4 of my cats have been hit by cars, one of my puppies got pneumonia, and a horse who's quality of life was well and truly gone ( I rescued her from an old guy who just left her in the paddock with no attention for 5 years)  All of them very sad   but the alternative was to let them keep suffering, all of them would have died a slow and painful death,  unfortunately we sometimes have to make these decisions.  I only hope that everyone does it for the right reasons,  its a small consolation.

Answer 6

Awh Lynnie~ I am soo sorry for your loss but this animal was suffering. I am sure that your mother in law will miss her little friend but don't you think it is better not having pooping and peeing accidents all the time. Both for your mother in law and the pet. The animal had a long life and when the body starts shutting down like this it is the kindest thing to do... I have had to put several of my pets down and it is hard but I have my memories and tons of pictures. I have a scrapbook of most of my pets and when I had to put my beloved cat down due to feline heartworm disease I was so sad. He was my baby but he was sick and suffering and I couldn't take that either. I was in a no win situation. I made a memorial album for Noah. I was 6 months pregnant when he died but my 7 year old daughter knows all about him now. We still have a picture of him in our family room!

Answer 7

only you know the true reasons to have your dog put down but it sounded like you thought it was the best thing for her. you probably just feel guilty because shes gone now but if you truly did what was best because she was suffering, you did the best you could do for her and that's all that matters. try to remember all the good times you had together and the love she gave you. losing a pet, no matter the situation, is a horrible thing to go through so i wish you the best of luck getting through this time. unfortunately a heart never heals the same when we have to say goodbye.  

Answer 8

Actually, when that much medication must be administered, it usually means that the dog is REALLY sick.

The effectiveness of those medications relies on blood flow to the heart.  If a dog is especially sick, blood flow to the heart can be diminished.  

This is very rare, and a sign of EXTREME illness.  In all likelihood, a dog in that condition won't live more than another week.  And it would be a week of pain and suffering.

I have seen this happen in exactly two dogs.  One dog was suffering from internal bleeding: she was so weak that she could not stand on her own power.  The other dog had cancer spread throughout her internal organs.  

I've also been told that this can occur if the animal has congestive heart failure, though I've never experienced it, because the only animal we had in that condition died of a heart attack.

So, as backwards as it may seem, this isn't something that happens with a 'strong heart' or a 'will to live.'  This is something that happens with a weak heart or a very sick body.

I know that it's hard to accept, but the fact that it required so much of the drug indicates that YOU DID THE RIGHT THING and it really was time for this dog to move on.

Answer 9

Sounds like the vet screwed up.

It also sounds like you were with Spunky until the end.  That was brave of you.  Some people just drop the dog off at the door like a piece of garbage.

They say the last thing to go is the hearing, so be proud that Spunky knew, could hear your concern and that you were there for him until the last.  That comfort is the most we can do for those (two legged or four) that we care about.

I don't like the idea of putting down a creature that is "in the way" but when quality of life is an issue, and the prognosis is unavoidable, then a painless release is the best one can hope for.

You did the right thing and I hope that will carry forward in the future.  

And considering the future, you should consider getting a different vet.

Answer 10

It should have never taken that long. A few months back I had my cat of 13 years put down cuz he had cancer, it took one shot in the vein in the leg and he was gone in about 3-4 secs. I know how you must feel and I am sorry for your pain but there is nothing you can do now, so stop beating yourself up, if the dog was sick then it was best.