Two Shot Vs. One Shot Euthanasia

[Fessy_s_Mom]

I had to have our wonderful English Bull Terrier put to sleep on Friday due to several health issues. When I was a kid and worked at a vet clinic, we used one shot to put animals to sleep and it was quick and painless. I don’t remember it ever not going that way. Perhaps I was lucky, because for some reason, vets now administer two injections when euthanizing. Why is this?

The reason I ask is that of the three dogs I’ve had put to sleep using this method over the past few years, all three have been horrible - neither quick nor painless. The first was a JRT that after receiving the initial injection which they said was to calm her before the final injection, served to worry her to the point of horrible whining and fighting the medication and she struggled the entire time. It broke my heart because this was NOT the last thing I wanted her to know. The second wasn’t as bad, only because the dog was very ill, but even he wasn’t “relaxed” after the initial shot and seemed very worried and scared until the final injection.

On Friday, once again, they gave Ozzie an injection to tranquilize him, but instead, after TWENTY MINUTES he was wobbly but scared and struggling while I tried to calm him as we sat on the floor and I held him on my lap. The vet was like “huh, he should be asleep by now” gave him some more which still didn’t put him completely out before then placing a catheter (!) to inject the final medication.

I much prefer the method of injecting them with the medicine and they are pretty much gone before they even realize what’s happening. :no:

Those three instances were hardly “quick” or “painless”. So why on earth have they switched to this new procedure and can I request the one shot be done the next time it is necessary? It’s tough enough being in the room when one of your best friends dies, but you stay to make it easier for them, and this just doesn’t seem to do that at all and I feel horrible.

[luvdogz72]

Must of been a rough few days - sorry about your bullie.

I put a Shar Pei mix down a couple weeks ago and he gave her a shot and 10 minutes later gave her another. I couldn’t be around for either so can’t help in that way - sorry. Were all your dogs done at the same vet? surely your pets recognize your distress/maybe next time don’t be there.

[animaldoc]

It seems like the newer euthanasia agents have a higher incidence of side effects, like twitching, agonal breaths, etc. and so to try and prevent these, more vets are sedating prior to giving the euthanasia solution.

The problems with sedating depends on what they use - some work better in sick patients but not healthier ones (and I’m not saying they’re not ready to be euthanized, just that systemically they’re not that “sick”), and others can cause the circulation to slow so much that the euthanasia drugs take a long time to get to the site of action (brain) and then that doesn’t go smoothly…

I don’t generally sedate, but I will sometimes completely anesthetize a patient, or combine something like propofol with the euthanasia solution to make it go smoothly…

So sorry that it didn’t go well…

[Obiwan]

Luvdogz, are you kidding me? Don’t be there while your dog is dying? Let this animal that you took on the obligation to love and care for, and did so for years, to have their last moments even more terrified by being alone in a cold room to die without mild comfort of family? I’d hate to be your dog.

Any who, I’m sorry for you loss. The last dog I had to have put to sleep was very sick at the end, and they gave her 2 shots. One they said to knock her out, and the second to stop her hear. None gave trouble like you said.

[Beckham03]

We give propofol then the euthasol. They go to sleep peacefully. I. Sorry for your loss and experiences.

[maybedog]

Fessy’s Mom I had the same experience with a cat. He was diagnosed with a hemangiosarcoma on his spleen 30 days after being vaccinated. I promised him I would not let him suffer. After one bad night with vomiting I made my decision. The “sedation” injection not only made him groggy but also very sick. He drooled, vomited and wretched in that half hour more than the the entire time after his diagnosis. I held him and just cried because I felt like I had failed him. It still haunts me. On another note, my other cat was diagnosed 6 months later, again 30 days after being vaccinated. Three years later my heart dog was too diagnosed and yes, 30 days after being vaccinated. This was before the 3 year protocol was instituted. I was highly suspect that the vaccines were the culprit and reached out to Cornell and they confirmed my suspicion. For several years I had to stand my ground with vets about not giving yearly vaccines to my animals. I insisted on one shot euthanasia with the 2 others and it was peaceful.

[snowblaze]

Earlier this year I had Tessa, my wonderful oldest whippet, euthanized. She was terrified of the vet office, so I asked if we could do a home euthanasia.

That worked out very well for her. Although she was having trouble standing, she was delighted when our two guests arrived (the vet and her daughter) and even happier when we put a blanket on her dog bed and I had her lay down and started feeding her fajita beef.

She paid no attention as the needle went in her back leg, eyes on the beef, and the vet warned me it would be fast. As I stroked her head and showed her the treats, her head dropped and she was just gone. The vet brought her away, to drop her off to be cremated.

It sure makes me cry to think about it, but it was one shot, and Tessa never knew what hit her. No time for fear, stress or worry.

Home euthanasia is something to consider, because even with two shots, your dog will probably be more relaxed.

[jetsmom]

[QUOTE=Obiwan;8797853]
Luvdogz, are you kidding me? Don’t be there while your dog is dying? Let this animal that you took on the obligation to love and care for, and did so for years, to have their last moments even more terrified by being alone in a cold room to die without mild comfort of family? I’d hate to be your dog.

Any who, I’m sorry for you loss. The last dog I had to have put to sleep was very sick at the end, and they gave her 2 shots. One they said to knock her out, and the second to stop her hear. None gave trouble like you said.[/QUOTE]

I understand your initial reaction, but there are people who just CAN’T be there with their pet. It’s not fair to judge them for that. If they were a mess and falling apart, it might upset the pet even more. It’s much better to appreciate the depth of a pet owner’s love, that they would give them the gift of a humane passing, even if they can’t be there for it.
My mom gives her pets a wonderful life. But she just cannot handle being there. I’m ok with that. I know how much she loves them. And how hard the decision to euth is. I’d much rather someone get a pet euthed, to avoid suffering, even if they can’t be there, than the people that won’t euth, because they "love the pet too much and it would really upset them to have to have it done. So they let the pet suffer and die a horrible natural death.
I’ve been with all of my animals, but my dh has been at one, and said never again. But I don’t fault him for it. Some people just cannot handle it.
Fm, I’m so sorry for your loss. I’ve had numerous pets euthed, since I tend to get old dogs, and care for the feral dumped barn cats. All were sedated first. But one vet used something that didn’t really make them sleep first. Now I use a vet that does make them sleep first, then injects the euth solution. They’ve all gone very peacefully. But it does make a difference what they use.

[Pancakes]

I give propofol, then euthasol. I euthanize very sick animals, usually, as I work primarily in emergency medicine. They go quickly and painlessly, I assure you; the propofol sees to that. Those that have compromised circulatory systems sometimes go a little slower, but I give extra saline flush between medications to ensure it gets where it needs to go. All of the animals we euthanize in presence of their family get IV catheters, as well – that ensures there is always a patent vein. The ones that are not present get a butterfly catheter/needle, also ensuring a good vein. I never euthanize off a syringe/needle because you can lose the vein easily and it can be ugly, not to mention painful.

Probably more than you wanted to know…

I’m sorry for the bad experiences some have had. I chalk it up to use of something other than propofol for the first injection, or lack of knowledge in how to administer them for euthanasia purpose. Many tranquilizers and sedatives can have unpredictable and, often, paradoxical effects in sick patients, which is why I don’t like to use them. It is hard to ensure the animal will be relaxed and lose consciousness quickly as opposed to being disoriented and sedate.

Choosing to be present for a euthanasia or not is a private, personal decision. There is no right or wrong choice.

Euthanasia means “good death” and it is a true skill to do it properly. I watched my dad die in hospice care and it was the worst thing in my whole life. I have devoted a special part of my veterinary career to making sure no one else has to experience what I did. They should be able to live with the knowledge their friend had a peaceful end.

[Beethoven]

We place catheters and then give propofol then euth solution. They fall peaceful asleep on propofol then I give the last injection. Very peaceful, no sedation so no wobblyness, etc…

[Engage]

[QUOTE=jetsmom;8797974]
I understand your initial reaction, but there are people who just CAN’T be there with their pet. It’s not fair to judge them for that. If they were a mess and falling apart, it might upset the pet even more. It’s much better to appreciate the depth of a pet owner’s love, that they would give them the gift of a humane passing, even if they can’t be there for it.
My mom gives her pets a wonderful life. But she just cannot handle being there. I’m ok with that. I know how much she loves them. And how hard the decision to euth is. I’d much rather someone get a pet euthed, to avoid suffering, even if they can’t be there, than the people that won’t euth, because they "love the pet too much and it would really upset them to have to have it done. So they let the pet suffer and die a horrible natural death.
I’ve been with all of my animals, but my dh has been at one, and said never again. But I don’t fault him for it. Some people just cannot handle it.
Fm, I’m so sorry for your loss. I’ve had numerous pets euthed, since I tend to get old dogs, and care for the feral dumped barn cats. All were sedated first. But one vet used something that didn’t really make them sleep first. Now I use a vet that does make them sleep first, then injects the euth solution. They’ve all gone very peacefully. But it does make a difference what they use.[/QUOTE]

Must agree with jetsmom. I was not able to be with one of our cats when he was euth’ed. It broke my heart to not be there, but he had been at the vet’s office overnight for tests and started having seizures in the morning. I was in an unavoidable meeting and the office was a good 30 minutes away. When the vet called and said that there was nothing they could do, and he was getting worse as time passed, I told them to let him go. I would have rather been there, and I have been with every other pet, but the end of his pain was more important than me being there. Don’t judge before you know the situation.

[dressagetraks]

My vet has done two shot method for the last several animals, but both needles were there ready, and it was one, wait a few seconds (like 30 - none of this “20 minutes later” stuff), then the other. The vet has warned me ahead that sometimes it can take longer, in which case she’d put in a catheter, but she’s never had to. Maybe I’m just lucky, but from her attitude and the way things went, I cannot imagine her and the staff standing around 20 minutes with a wobbly, frightened animal waiting for the first shot to kick in.

Now my gelding had a very bad reaction to ketamine at his gelding. I thought he had suffered a seizure or something at first, that convulsive leap and delayed collapse. The vet was very quick to say right then that some animals react like that and he would be okay, but I wasn’t expecting it. I appreciate that the small animal vet tells you there may be side effects ahead of time, even though I haven’t seen them in the last several animals.

[pezk]

[QUOTE=Fessy’s Mom;8797769]
I had to have our wonderful English Bull Terrier put to sleep on Friday due to several health issues. When I was a kid and worked at a vet clinic, we used one shot to put animals to sleep and it was quick and painless. I don’t remember it ever not going that way. Perhaps I was lucky, because for some reason, vets now administer two injections when euthanizing. Why is this?

The reason I ask is that of the three dogs I’ve had put to sleep using this method over the past few years, all three have been horrible - neither quick nor painless. The first was a JRT that after receiving the initial injection which they said was to calm her before the final injection, served to worry her to the point of horrible whining and fighting the medication and she struggled the entire time. It broke my heart because this was NOT the last thing I wanted her to know. The second wasn’t as bad, only because the dog was very ill, but even he wasn’t “relaxed” after the initial shot and seemed very worried and scared until the final injection.

On Friday, once again, they gave Ozzie an injection to tranquilize him, but instead, after TWENTY MINUTES he was wobbly but scared and struggling while I tried to calm him as we sat on the floor and I held him on my lap. The vet was like “huh, he should be asleep by now” gave him some more which still didn’t put him completely out before then placing a catheter (!) to inject the final medication.

I much prefer the method of injecting them with the medicine and they are pretty much gone before they even realize what’s happening. :no:

Those three instances were hardly “quick” or “painless”. So why on earth have they switched to this new procedure and can I request the one shot be done the next time it is necessary? It’s tough enough being in the room when one of your best friends dies, but you stay to make it easier for them, and this just doesn’t seem to do that at all and I feel horrible. [/QUOTE]
I PTS one of my dogs in Feb. just like the JRT you described. It was horrible. There was no peace about it. The dog was terrified, she fought the vets and the drugs. Her will to live was strong even in her condition. I failed her, the vets failed her. I will never forget. No more dogs for me. Ive had animals of all kinds thru my life. But no more.

[Laurierace]

[QUOTE=Obiwan;8797853]
Luvdogz, are you kidding me? Don’t be there while your dog is dying? Let this animal that you took on the obligation to love and care for, and did so for years, to have their last moments even more terrified by being alone in a cold room to die without mild comfort of family? I’d hate to be your dog.

Any who, I’m sorry for you loss. The last dog I had to have put to sleep was very sick at the end, and they gave her 2 shots. One they said to knock her out, and the second to stop her hear. None gave trouble like you said.[/QUOTE]

That is ridiculous, the dog didn’t know he was going into a cold room to die. A few minutes in that cold room doesn’t negate a lifetime of love and care. It’s not like she threw the dog in the ditch to let the vultures eat him alive. Way to add insult to injury in typical COTH fashion, you should be ashamed of yourself and owe her an apology. There is no wrong answer to the decision to stay with an animal when they are put down or not. What is best for you may not be best for everyone. I assure you the dog would be calmer with calm strangers in that cold room than with an owner who is hysterical for example. Seriously keep your admonishments to yourself.

[DrBeckett]

Even as a vet, I couldn’t be there when my horse was euthanized. I would have died on the spot. Not everybody can handle something like that. No judging needed here. Sometimes people are there, sometimes not. I can’t make that decision for them and I don’t judge what their decision is.

We use IV caths and 2 injections because the Euthasol alone can cause some bad reactions that people don’t need to see.

[Midwesterner]

I have had two cats euth’d in the past couple of years, but none recently…so maybe the protocol has changed? But, with both of them, it was one shot and they were gone.

I’m sorry that your experience was so terrible, and I’m especially sorry for your loss. Thanks for bringing this story to COTH, though, as now I will be sure to ask my vet what their procedure is beforehand…and request that one shot and one shot only be used.

[Sswor]

[QUOTE=Laurierace;8798197]
That is ridiculous, the dog didn’t know he was going into a cold room to die. A few minutes in that cold room doesn’t negate a lifetime of love and care. It’s not like she threw the dog in the ditch to let the vultures eat him alive. Way to add insult to injury in typical COTH fashion, you should be ashamed of yourself and owe her an apology. There is no wrong answer to the decision to stay with an animal when they are put down or not. What is best for you may not be best for everyone. I assure you the dog would be calmer with calm strangers in that cold room than with an owner who is hysterical for example. Seriously keep your admonishments to yourself.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for that. I did not stay with my first dog when he was euthanized. I was a complete disaster and could not keep it together beyond carrying him in and putting him in the tech’s arms. I was sobbing hysterically in my car when the tech tried to coax me to come inside and be with him. I could not do it. I was so distraught, I would only have scared him, as he could have never understood why I was so very upset. I do hope that he simply thought he was there for routine vacc’s and etc and simply fell asleep. The logical person in me knows this is most likely true. Meanwhile I cried my eyes out in the car.

I still regret that I could not keep myself together long enough to see him out of this world. I will never, ever forgive myself for it either and still now many years later, I still break down into tears and beat myself up for it. I loved him with all my heart and he deserved better.

[Bicoastal]

I’m so sorry.

I just euthanized Timber at home last week, so this is fresh in my mind. The vet gave one injection sub-q. Propofol? Unfortunately, Tim flinched as the solution was being injected causing minor blood flow and requiring a re-stick. He was a little agitated (pacing) after that, before the full effects hit him. The euthasol was administered via butterfly catheter and went smoothly.

[Gestalt]

[QUOTE=Sswor;8798430]
Thanks for that. I did not stay with my first dog when he was euthanized. I was a complete disaster and could not keep it together beyond carrying him in and putting him in the tech’s arms. I was sobbing hysterically in my car when the tech tried to coax me to come inside and be with him. I could not do it. I was so distraught, I would only have scared him, as he could have never understood why I was so very upset. I do hope that he simply thought he was there for routine vacc’s and etc and simply fell asleep. The logical person in me knows this is most likely true. Meanwhile I cried my eyes out in the car.

I still regret that I could not keep myself together long enough to see him out of this world. I will never, ever forgive myself for it either and still now many years later, I still break down into tears and beat myself up for it. I loved him with all my heart and he deserved better.[/QUOTE]

Be kind to yourself, you did the right thing. :o. In the past I’ve stayed with my animals, but I can no longer do that, I upset everyone with my uncontrollable sobbing. I can’t help it, I simply lose it.

My vet and her staff are the kindest people. I’m not leaving my pet in a cold room, all alone. But thanks to the poster that is trying to make me feel worse than I already do.

[trubandloki]

[QUOTE=Obiwan;8797853]
Luvdogz, are you kidding me? Don’t be there while your dog is dying? Let this animal that you took on the obligation to love and care for, and did so for years, to have their last moments even more terrified by being alone in a cold room to die without mild comfort of family? I’d hate to be your dog.[/QUOTE]

This has to be one of the most heartless posts I have ever seen on COTH.

How dare you judge how someone else deals with loss. How dare you say mean things because someone was brave enough to end the suffering but not able to deal with the loss the way you do.