Euthanasia

Obviously there are many careful and compassionate Vets who assist animals to die as painless as possible and without stress.  However, having observed how difficulty in getting into veins can so often cause fear and stress, and even cause multiple attempts at putting down an animal, I wonder how peaceful the average "euthanasia" really is. 

Accordingly, when it became the time to help our Rupert pass away, I asked our Vet if there was an easier way than the simple intravenous injection.  He replied that there now is - and I hope that this method will be used universally.   My wife held Rupert in her arms and the Vet, using a fine needle on the syringe, gave him a quick subcutaneous injection that Rupert did not even notice.  Rupert, still purring, gradually lost consciousness and our Vet was then able to find a suitable vein and inject a lethal dose of Barbiturate. 

The subcutaneous injection used the sedative that is put into darts that are fired at large wild animals, such as the big cats in the bush, so as to make them lose consciousness instantly.  Rupert, thinking he was being cuddled, was not stressed at all, never suffered in any way whatsoever and simply dropped his head and went to sleep.

With kind regards,

Geoffrey

I'm so sorry for your loss. It sounds like Rupert had the most peaceful end possible - you certainly had a great vet there :nod: Thank you for sharing this story with us all - hopefully it will help many other members and cats in the future. You might like to start a tribute thread for him in our Crossing the Bridge forum when you're ready.

When we had to have our Callie put to sleep several years ago, this is how our vet did it.  She administered the relaxant, then did the barbituate while we held and cuddled her, and cried.

The method you're explaining is what I went through as well, this was in Oct of 2013. Hopefully there is a "new" method that vets are using now.

This would be a good learning thread for anyone that's considering euthanasia, ask about the process! I know when I was calling around to get pricing, all the vets would explain exactly what would happen. As I was typically crying on the phone, I was totally upset but was glad they explained things to me. I didn't want my little girl to suffer or be in any pain which is I'm sure the goal of many others.

I seriously wish a simple subcutaneous shot had been available when I took my poor girl Tiger to the ER last year...They put in an IV and she was dehydrated and  was such a struggle....I can still hear her cries in my worst nightmares :-(

Kitten had a catheter. It seemed to cause her no distress. She was completely relaxed and the process took less than a minute. if that. She was being held by daddy and then she was gone.

It's very important to never be judgmental about the process used for euthanasia. As everyone who has been there knows there is already plenty of guilt.

In a planned procedure most vets have a meeting with you before the actual event and explain what is going to happen.

Not all procedures will work with all animals and some medical conditions. Skill in placing the catheter is essential but not every euthanasia is going to take place in a state of the art faculty or have the grace of time to make sure things are perfect.  A veterinarian may choose a method they are more skilled at than the one you want. The idea is always to end their suffering as quickly and as painlessly as possible.