Question about Euthanasia :(

Would someone care to explain the process? I would like to know what to expect.

My roommate finally made the appointment for Sami, which is Thursday at 6pm.
She doesn't want to be there but I feel awful about Sami passing alone. I just don't know what exactly happens and I am kind of nervous. I am not even 100% sure I can watch even though it is sort of a relief on many levels.

For those who aren't aware, Sami is almost 19 years old and after spending almost a whole month at the vet in June/July, weighing 6 lbs and was at deaths door, she was brought home with a pancreatic enzyme powder that she was to get for the rest of her life. However, we have not found a successful way to get the proper dosage into her, (believe me, we tried every recommendation out there), so her progress has been slow. She is still very much underweight, her appetite is mediocre at best, her fur is falling out like crazy and she still has bouts of very foul smelling diarrhea which doesn't always end up in the litter box.
She just looks lifeless, miserable and wants to be left alone 99% of the time, hiding in the cat tent or under an end table. Her eyes say "it's time to let go".

So yes, what exactly happens? What can go wrong, if anything? Any information is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

From this thread in the health forum: When putting a cat down

Originally Posted by Violet

This is from a veterinarian

http://www.catsofaustralia.com/cat-euthanasia.htm

Click to expand...

It is an excellent article.

I've had to make this choice for 2 of my kitties It's a terrible decision to have to make. My heart goes out to you.

In both cases it was very dignified.

I was taken into an exam room with my baby. I was allowed to stay in there for as long as I wanted with her to say goodbye. The vet then came in and took her back in order to insert an IV port (no tubing or bag) and given a sedative. My girl was then brought back to me awake. Again I was able to hold her until she fell asleep and then some. The vet then came in and took her from my arms and gently layed her down on a soft towel on the exam table. While I was hugging and cuddling her, he gave the fatal injection, and then listened to her heart beat. Within 15 seconds he announced that she was gone. It was like she went to sleep and just didn't wake up. I was left in the room as long as I wanted to be there in order to say my goodbyes. I think I stayed with her for about 1/2 hour until her body started to feel cool.

All the time I was holding her while before the sedation, when she was falling asleep, and even afterwards when I was saying goodbye to her, I was telling her how much I love her, what a good kitty she was, how beautiful she was, and how hard this was for me and explained to her that I didn't want her to suffer and be in pain and wanted her to keep her kitty dignity until the very end. And I thanked her for choosing me as her special person.

Make sure you let them know that you want her sedated prior to the injection. My vet explained to me that it is the more humane thing to do because without it, they could struggle and have a seizure. Which is not only traumatic for them, but for us kitty parents too.

I can give both a personal and "professional" perspective on euthanasia.

Having worked in veterinarian offices you do see euthanasia fairly often. I have seen cases where both the owner was present and others when the owner was not. I can say from the outside looking in (or 3rd party view) it seems easier on the person if they are not in the room. But that is just my humble opinion.

Now I have only had to put down one of my personal cats/fosters. But he was about 17 years old when it happened. So that did make it easier for me. Since he had a good long life.

I was in the room when the veterinarian did it and I was well hysterical. Even though I have seen it done hundreds of times to other peoples animals. It is a very different thing when it is your own personal animal.

Well the veterinarian let me say goodbye to my boy, Clyde. When the veterinarian came back he asked if I was ready and I said yes. So he put a syringe in his front leg with Pentobarbital (Sodium thiopental is also used). With in thirty or so seconds he was gone. I spent the next forty minutes crying. Then I put him in a box which was need for taking him home. Then I buried him at home.

Now let me say I have had other cats die. But they all where indoor/outdoor cats like Clyde and they just walked away and died. Why Clyde never did I am not sure.

I do know one day Panda will have to be euthanized, as she has many incurable medical conditions. But she is still alive and kicking . But I do know that the day will come when she will not be okay any longer . Since she is a completely indoor cat I know she will die in my home or need to be put down.

Lastly there is no "right or wrong" way to euthanize your animal, as in if the owner is present or not. That is something only the owner can decide. Also only you (the owner) can decide when it is time to euthanize your beloved pet.

Sami isn't really mine but I have spent the last 8 years helping take care of her. I don't love her the same way I love Parker but still care about her. I am really stuck as to whether or not I should be there.

Part of me thinks she wouldn't care anyway, since she's never been a "people cat", if you will, as in she never cared if anyone petted her or played with her. She is very, very independent in that way.

I am very soft hearted and don't want to end up crying like I did when my friends puppy was sick. I bawled my eyes out in the waiting room when they said she had a 50/50 chance of dying. I don't want to end up that way.

It's a tough choice for me to make. Ugh. Either way, I will be happy she won't be suffering any longer.

I did post a video of a cat being euthanized with his owner present.

Peaches goes to the bridge

Warning: While this is clearly a beloved pet with her owner present and comforting her, this may be upsetting.

Stay with her. Doesn't she deserve that? Yes it may be hard on the human. But the pet should be attended by a human loved one as s/he passes over the the Bridge.

I'm sorry it is time for Sami to go. But she is asking to be set free, so yes, it is time.

I'm so sorry about Sami. I agree that she deserves to have somebody with her....I think it's the best thing you can do for her.

We have kind of an unusual arrangement with our vet, probably because the hospital deals with a lot of large farm animals and makes a lot of farm calls. Our vet will come to our house and put our cats to sleep at home. It's so much less traumatizing for the cats as they hate being in the car and they hate going to the vet.

When Hydrox was put to sleep, the vet came back to the bedroom. Rick and I had spent about an hour with Hydrox, outside under a maple tree. We put him on his blankie at the foot of the bed and, one by one, the cats came to say good-bye. Whisper stayed by his side the entire time and as he passed over, Whisper was licking his face. When he died, she gave him one last look and then she jumped down and went out of the bedroom. Rick and the vet gathered Hydrox with his blankie and the vet took him for cremation.

With Da Pumpkin-Boy, who had leukemia, we had to call our vet around 2:00 on a Saturday morning. There was nothing more we could do for Pumpkin and it was time. The vet who was on-call came to the house, and again, Pumpkin was back in bed. I laid down with him and gathered him in my arms and he got his shots. And that was that.

This is just my opinion, but I honestly feel that we owe it to our kids to help them on their final journey. It's probably the most difficult thing we'll do for them, but they deserve that. If you feel that you can't do it, then you can't; for some people, it's just too hard.

Originally Posted by Winchester

....... We put him on his blankie at the foot of the bed and, one by one, the cats came to say good-bye. Whisper stayed by his side the entire time and as he passed over, Whisper was licking his face. When he died, she gave him one last look and then she jumped down and went out of the bedroom. ......
This is just my opinion, but I honestly feel that we owe it to our kids to help them on their final journey. It's probably the most difficult thing we'll do for them, but they deserve that. .....

Click to expand...

Okay. That made me cry. But I totally agree.

It actually made me feel better to know the last thing my cats Gudrun, Torfinn and Lena heard was my voice, soothing and loving, as they went on their journey.

I know you said Sami is not necessarily a people cat, but I really think someone she knows being with her is better than not having anyone there.

Nanner, Whisper had this "thing" for Hydrox from the moment she set foot in the house. Hydrox was her "man" and that's the way it was. He was old, even at that point, and all he wanted to do was nap. By himself. She would go over and try to curl up with him...he'd wake up and snort and go some place else. She'd wait until he was asleep again and she'd curl right up with him again. He'd wake up, smack her and stalk off. And she'd wait....and she'd curl with him again. She did not care; he was hers. And that was that. She put up with a lot of abuse from Hydrox, but she did not care. We always got such a kick out of the two of them.

That day, even the vet was amazed that she stayed with him like that. He was very intrigued as the kids came into the bedroom, sniffed Hydrox and then left again. It was like they were saying good-bye. But Whisper stayed the whole time. She is truly an incredible and wonderful little girl.

You're right in thinking that. They knew you were there. And I think they were comforted by you being with them. It's difficult.

Originally Posted by Winchester

Nanner, Whisper had this "thing" for Hydrox from the moment she set foot in the house. Hydrox was her "man" and that's the way it was. He was old, even at that point, and all he wanted to do was nap. By himself. She would go over and try to curl up with him...he'd wake up and snort and go some place else. She'd wait until he was asleep again and she'd curl right up with him again. He'd wake up, smack her and stalk off. And she'd wait....and she'd curl with him again. She did not care; he was hers. And that was that. She put up with a lot of abuse from Hydrox, but she did not care. We always got such a kick out of the two of them.

..... But Whisper stayed the whole time. She is truly an incredible and wonderful little girl.

Click to expand...

Awwwwwwww.....

I had Bobber PTS this spring. When my vet clinic built a new facility a few years ago they built a room esp for this purpose. Its got a sofa and chairs along with an exam table and other equipment. Its part living room. Their goal is to make the process less clinical (soft music playing/ dim lighting). The process is like what most others described but they do ask if the pet will be going home for burial or not as after Bobber had passed the vet folded her body in the curled sleeping position for easier burial.
One can contibute photos to their remembrance album as well.

The only animal I have had put to sleep so far is our family dog growing up, Sabre. Well, I was 13 at the time, so actually it was my parents decision. He was a 15 yr old German Shepard/Collie mix and he was miserable. He barely walk because of hip dysplasia, he couldn't see, he was incontinent and full of tumors that you could feel...he had no quality of life and was whimpering all the time because of being in pain. He should have been put to sleep a year before he was, but my parent's didn't have the heart. They were both hoping he would slip away peacefully in his sleep. Well then my dad got into an accident at work and wasn't able to carry him outside to "do his business" or upstairs to sleep (yes, dad carried a 100lb+ dog all over the house), so they made the decision.

Dad couldn't drive him to the vets and mom refused (she couldn't handle it), so the vets came and picked him up. I watched out my bedroom window as they carried him out and loaded him in a crate in the van. They gave my dad a few minutes with him and guess what Sabre did....pooped on his shoe!

Bottom line is...my childhood friend died alone with strangers and I still feel guilty about that.

It will be hard I know, and no one will think less of you if you don't think you can handle it, but it may actually make it easier on yourself afterwards to know you were there to help her over to RB and to know first hand she passed peacefully.

I think I will stay with her. I don't like the thoughts of it but her dying without someone familiar seems kinda sad.
I hope it goes smoothly. I think Parker and Buddy know already. They've been very clingy literally since the appointment was made. I guess its sort of a relief though, poor old girls been through a lot in the last few months.

I'm sorry that Sami's time with you is coming to an end

I did stay with her. She was PTS just after 6pm. Thank you all for the information.

Sami.

Originally Posted by GailC

I had Bobber PTS this spring. When my vet clinic built a new facility a few years ago they built a room esp for this purpose. Its got a sofa and chairs along with an exam table and other equipment. Its part living room. Their goal is to make the process less clinical (soft music playing/ dim lighting). The process is like what most others described but they do ask if the pet will be going home for burial or not as after Bobber had passed the vet folded her body in the curled sleeping position for easier burial.
One can contibute photos to their remembrance album as well.

Click to expand...

I wish there was more of these "rooms" at clinics as you describe. I am going to have my special, very special dog, Wilbur euthanized at home on his favorite place in the world. My bed. ...when the time comes, I don't know when that will be, he will tell me. I just think is will be less stressful and not so "cold" having him go to the vet on that metal table. I could not do that to him. I remember about you losing Bobber .....

I am sorry about Sami