How does a dog that hates the vets get PTS?

[Ditzyitzy]

Been wondering how I’ll have my girl who hates the vets or being handled by strangers PTS. Even if she was put under GA first she’d spend her last moments trying to fight so would have to be muzzled . It’s not an immediate worry but it’s on the horizon iyswim and a behaviourist won’t work with her, it took my years to build trust to even be able to towel dry her. Anyone managed to have a difficult one PTS relatively calmly?

[theeyeofthestormchaser]

Could the vet come to your house to do it, so your ddog is relaxed? Vet used to come to our house to treat mad cat 1, who was terrified of the vet and get very aggressive/scared.

[BiteyShark]

Have you spoken to your vet on options. I am wondering if they could provide sedatives first for you to give and then they come to your house to PTS?

[Tinkletinklelittlebat]

Tbh in years of having animals, mostly by the time you get to that point they're too ill to care. Yes to sedatives given at home and a possible home visit, vets have been brilliant about this with very large dogs difficult to pick up and transport when they were very poorly and had reached the end.

[FabulouslyFab]

After having my first dog PTS at the vets I vowed never again. Subsequent pets have been PTS at home with me soothing them.
Just as heartbreaking but not as traumatic for the pet, IMO

[CocoaGin]

Our darling girl hated the vets but when we took her on her last visit, she was very poorly and barely able to walk. We carried her in on her bed, and the vet showed us straight into a small room. They gave us some time alone with her, so she seemed very calm and was wagging her tail. They were lovely with her (and us), and I'm hugely comforted that she ended her life in our arms on her own bed and it was as serene and calm as it could have been.
I think once your dog is at that stage, you will manage.
We didn't want the vet to come to us at home as I knew I'd find it too hard and she was a very big solid labrador. We were able to spend some quiet time with her after, and arranged to have her cremated so we could have her ashes back.

[GothMummy]

I once paid the vet to come to my home to have one of my dogs put to sleep. I didn't want her last memories to be of fear.

[pigpoglet]

Get them to come to the house , I always have my animals euthanised at home . It's much less stressful for them and doesn't cost that much more .

[FrangipaniBlue]

Another one here who had the vet come to our house.

I was also pleasantly surprised by the cost, it was a Sunday and so an out of hours call out - I was expecting an enormous bill the next day but it was only £90.

I can't image doing it any other way, she got to lay in her own bed with her blanket and I sat on the floor with her while it was done. We then kept here at home for a few hours before taking her to the crematorium ourselves.

[Dottierichardson]

I had to deal with this question when my much loved dog was PTS last week. Although he had an amazing vet he was very reactive when in pain or handled. In addition he had severe arthritis in most of his limbs so was in a great deal of discomfort.
We opted to take him to the surgery as we thought he would be more suspicious of handling by a vet in his safe space than at the surgery - where it would seem like a normal visit.
The vet gave him a dose of opioids prior to euthanasia. It took about 10 minutes to take effect, it was then possible to insert the catheter for the final overdose without stressing him, and with absolute certainty that he was out of pain and relaxed.
My OH and I were then able to comfort him and stroke him while the final dose was administered. He was so relaxed his tongue was poking out of his mouth and it was clear that he felt no pain.

[Wendycastle]

Another vote for pts at home and sedation - make sure they don't use ACP as this only sedates the body not the mind. Most vets are moving away from it but still used by some.
Start working now on building up her coping with visitors, lots of positive reinforcement when people come to house etc so when (hopefully many years from now) the vet has to come it's not so traumatic.
Now our nervous dog is very elderly we do all her check ups at home so she's getting used to the vet coming here (she has to be seen every three months as is on meds). She will never be friends with the vet, it takes her too long for that but after just a few visits she is accepting her better than I could have hoped.
If your dog is really fearful your vet can give you sedative tablets Beforehand, they can then give an injection when they arrive (in the rump, tiny needle they won't feel) so they are snoring when it comes to the actual pts.
I've had to have dogs pts when working in rescue and have done it this way many times. It's very peaceful. Vets dont always like sedation as it can take longer for the Barbiturates to work but as the animal is asleep they are not in pain or distress. I have equally known fearful dogs fight against the barbiturates and it been a dreadful mess - happened to me with my first dog and a couple of my colleagues at work including one very elderly, very poorly dog: dreadful last memory for my colleague. It was his own dog and it scarred him for a long time.

I hope it's a long way off for you but really sensible to think about it now so can start the ground work - and in case of accident /illness.
After my nightmare with my first dog I've always had pets pts at home and every one has been as perfect as a sad event can be. The other dogs have always been there and thats been a real comfort to the one that is leaving. Plus whoever is left behind seems to accept that they've gone better - but I appreciate would have to consider the individual temperament of the other dogs as to how they would cope with strangers messing with their friend!

[Tamberlane]

It does depend on her level of aggression really. A house call vet will still need to get close enough to sedate her safely.Would that be possible?
Given this situation is a long way off I would really recommened you muzzle train her .Then she wouldnt find a muzzle scary and handling would be safer for everyone involved.The muzzleup online page has loads of tips to do it safely. Then you could get a home vet out to your home to sedate her and put her to sleep in her home surroundings if you needed.
Also have you tried a vet recommended behaviourist? Its unusual to have a qualified behaviourist refuse to work with a dog. Most will require a muzzle for everyone's safety but thats not unusual if you have an aggressive animal and muzzle training so they are used to wearing one before stressful situations happen make a massive difference to the level of stress involved. If she ever gets sick she sounds like she may need to be sedated and muzzled if shes that scared anyway so making it an easier experience on her by training her to accept a muzzle would be a good idea.

Very few dogs are out and out aggressive. Most are this way,with vets in particular, due to fear. Making the experience less scary is key so home environement etc is a good idea but you also do have to make sure she wont be able to harm anyone if she reacts.

[Dontbuymesocks]

All the vets I’ve been with will make a home visit when the time comes to be PTS. It makes things much easier for all concerned.

[12PurpleSnails]

We paid for the vets to come to our house for this as our dog really hated going there. She used to wee the second we went through the door because she was so scared of going.

[Almostflownthenest]

Our vet came to the house. Ddog freaked when she got the electric fur trimmer out so she could access a vein. She stopped, gave him the sedative intramuscular then when he finally sighed a big sigh and was deeply asleep she proceeded to trim/shave his leg and injected the last drug. All the time we hugged and stroked him and he passed as peacefully as was possible. Thinking about it is making me cry but our beautiful boy didn’t suffer any stress at all.

[SinceWhenDid]

Vet came out to the car for my old lady.

[Hillingdon]

Same here with a big dog a few years ago.

Agree with all that has been said. I thought the vets was the best place to PTS but circumstances dictated that I needed to do it at home. She had collapsed although the tail was wagging. A muzzle was used because she did try and fight the injections but it was 100% the right place to do it. She went to sleep with her head in my lap.