Putting them to sleep. Can anyone tell me about it?

[parrotonmyshoulder]

It’s time to make this decision for our old boy. I think I want this one last weekend with him, to take him on some short walks to his favourite places and have a few more days of cuddles.
He’s old, with a tumour that’s affecting his breathing. He’s not comfortable and I know I have to do this.
But what happens. Do I take him to the vet (he likes it!) and stay with him while it’s done? Do they take him to a different room? Will I have to stand in reception and pay afterwards (obviously I know I will pay, but not sure I’ll be able to hang around waiting for the receptionist to faff about etc).
Just need to hear what I can expect, if anyone is willing to share. Thanks.

Our vet came to the house as our little elderly hound was incredibly stressed when she was taken to the surgery. It was wonderfully calm and quiet, and she was sedated before the end came. Literally it took less than 5 minutes and then our lovely vet cradled her in a blanket as we said goodbye. Perfect, peaceful and the right thing to do.

When my old dog got sick we took her to the vet to be PTS (she was 17). He trimmed a little bit of hair from the front of her leg with scissors, he didn't insert a cannula but just injected the drugs straight into the vein. She was sitting/lying on the examination table. I held her tightly in my arms, stroked her ears and told her what a good girl she was - she took a few deep, gasping breaths and was gone. Very quick and painless - I've just made myself cry 😭

My vet last year administered some sedation via a cannula as I held and cuddled my dog for 10 mins or so whilst she relaxed. He and the nurse then came back in the room, and she had the other medication whilst I held and she gently fell to sleep. It was the most caring situation it could be. I was then able to sit with her for how long I wanted too. The nurse said I could leave out the back, but I went out the normal door with just a lead which was hard. The vets didn’t want payment then, I phoned up the following week to settle the bill.

We had someone come to the house, we had the grave dug, tree ready to plant.
Your vet will know someone that offers this service if they don't themselves. You can also have them cremated if you wish.

Thank you for asking the question OP, I have an old dog that I'll have to make the decision for at some point, it's definitely helped me seeing what to expect. Enjoy your weekend of spoiling them rotten.

Our vet came to us. My boy loved the vets but he struggled getting in and out of the car, so we decided to be home.
DH & I stayed with him the whole time; he had treats while the vet prepped him, he was sedated first. The actual euthanasia took longer than I expected ( he was asleep before she started the injection), but he had a strong heart.

The vet took him with her when she left and the pet crem. returned his ashes in an urn to the vets, as I had requested.

It was peaceful and kindly.

My big old boy (65kg) lost the use of his back legs at the end, he was over 13 yrs old and it was his time.
It was during COVID so the vet couldn’t come out but two of the kindest ever friends and colleagues came and got him into the car with me.
The vet came out and sedated him in the car (big boot, door up) gave me as long as I wanted with him, sat in the winter sun, then did the injection there too.
We were parked by the back door and they kept an eye on me, but gave me as long as I wanted.
The vet and a big strong assistant carried him in (I left him for cremation).
I asked about paying and was shushed with ‘not today’ and I paid when I collected his ashes.
They couldn’t have been lovelier, and neither could the two lads who helped me get him there.
Still finding hair … (Malamute)….
I’m sorry you’ve reached this time but they’ll help you make it the best way it can be.

I paid for home visits for my dogs, so they all went in the comfort of their own beds. The vet sedated them first, so they drifted off to sleep. Then we said our final good byes before they administered the second drug. I kept them and took them to the crematorium myself.
I went into the vets a few days later to pay the bills.

A vet and a nurse took us into a consulting room. They put a line into her paw. We then sat quietly whilst the vet injected her through the line. All the time I stroked her and told her what a beautiful, clever dog she was. She slowly drifted off and it was over. Her last image was of me, stroking her and talking gently to her.

My DH, who’d said previously that he wouldn’t be upset because she’d had a good life, was a snotty mess. I’m sorry he came in with us. Luckily my dog had me to hold her paw and comfort her. It’s the very least anyone can do for a dog who has dedicated their life to you.

So sorry you are facing this. Our last Labrador’s was a 3am emergency vet’s visit as she collapsed. Turned out she had a massive stomach tumour and it was inoperable. So it’s probably slightly less chaotic if it’s planned.

We were taken to a room out the back, she was laid on a bed. I cuddled in behind her and my husband held her paw. We told her how much we loved her and the vet injected her into a cannula in her leg. It was very quick and very peaceful. She just went to sleep.

We paid afterwards and chose her cremation and box she’d come back in. If you can do that bit before, maybe on another day I really recommend it. I was utterly distraught and I don’t really remember that bit. But the cremation was very good and they were very compassionate. Big hugs to you.

It’s the hardest thing to do but payback for all of the love and good times they have given us. I have been with 2 cats and a dog as they were pts. We stroked and cuddled them. With our dog, my husband was cuddling him and I was stroking him telling him he was the best dog in the world . His eyes locked onto mine and stayed that way until they gently closed and he was gone. It was actually heart renderingly beautiful. Horrendously sad but we couldn’t even contemplate not being with them . We opted to have them privately cremated and we scattered the cats ashes under tree in the garden that they both first climbed as kittens and our dog’s ashes were scattered in the river where he loved to paddle.

Sending so much sympathy. We said goodbye to our elderly boy a few months ago and it was a really peaceful experience. Our vets took him to another room to put the cannula in and then he lay on a big fluffy dog bed in a dimly lit and lavender scented room where he was hand fed endless treats until he passed. In terms of the bill they sent it around a month later.

The only suggestion I’d make is to perhaps discuss the language they use to confirm they’ve passed as we once had a vet just deadpan “right, his heart has stopped now” which near enough killed me having just said goodbye to my best friend.

So sorry you’re facing this OP. I’ve been through it several times and each time has been gentle and calm, though it never gets easier. Some were at home, some in the vets. I have never had to pay there and then. I suggest discuss in advance how things work at your vet. And I think my main advice is to know what you would like to do (eg cremation). Again I’ve found the vets always clear, kind and helpful.

When we said goodbye to our beautiful boys (one was sudden) we were with them throughout, cuddled ‘ held, stroked & talked to. We stayed with them afterwards by ourselves then we left through a side door, we took them home to bury. We were both sobbing & very upset. This was discussed before. We settled the bill a week later, we went in & settled up both times. We had to say goodbye to our beautiful cat after 18 years during Covid in 2020, we weren’t allowed to be with her. The vet collected her in the car park then brought her back out after. I’ve never forgiven myself for not being with her, always felt like I let her down. Vets handled it with sensitivity on all 3 occasions. I’m sorry hour having to make this decision, it’s the hardest.

I’m really sorry OP.

It’s nice to hear that people had good experiences at the vets. I’ve had all our cats and dogs (and horses!) put to sleep at home, which has always been peaceful and easy, even if it’s very sad. We’ve buried them all, but we have a small holding. The rabbits, however, have been pts at the surgery. And we’ve had to come out with their bodies in their carrier, wrapped in a blanket, and pay at the desk next to the pts candle, which I found very hard, everyone was looking at us. Sympathetically, but still. I’d have given anything to have left by the back door.

The hardest drive is coming home with just a collar. Sorry to read this OP. Just think you’ve given them the most amazing life.

Aww I went in with our old boy and he was on my husband's lap for the whole thing. It takes moments and I saw that he didn't feel a thing. 5 years on and it still breaks my heart, but it was the right time for him. Thinking of you OP.

I had my beautiful girl PTS at home. The vet amd nurse were so kind. I couldn’t look at her but kept feeding her her favourite treats until she stopped taking them and I knew she was gone. It was peaceful and lovely but horrific and heartbreaking at the same time. They wrapped her in a blanket and took her. We received card through the post from the vet and the invoice several weeks later which was nice as felt like they weren’t rushing us to pay.

This was my experience too. We were sad but also relieved she was no longer suffering. As soon as they injected the drug into the cannula, she was gone. The light literally went out of her eyes; it was very odd. I was grateful to be there with her.

I did this via vet visit at home and took my boy’s body to pet crematorium myself. It was a very good death, no sedation, he died instantly, eating chicken. I hope my death is like that.

Also been at vets ones, which are fine if your dog ok at vets, and always beautifully handled by staff who do this all the time. You have options for the body (eg use their pet cremation, take them somewhere for cremation yourself, get ashes back or don’t etc). I got comfort from literally leaving my dog next to the cremator myself, didn’t want him stored and collected in a bag etc, but it’s not for everyone and whatever feels right is right. Agree with others - just be there at the injection. The rest is for you, not them.

all best with it OP. It’s a good and fitting thing to do for our dogs at the end. It’s just horrendous for you, but not for them.

I'm sorry that you're having to deal with this, the hardest part about pet ownership.

I sat on the floor with my last dog, held her head and told her over and over that she was such a good girl. That was something a friend recommended to me and I'm glad she did - all dogs want to know that they're such a good dog! We had a vet and vet nurse. When I went to go pay at reception they waved us away and said we could sort it out another day - not sure if that was because we were so well known in the practice, or if that was standard practice. We were shown out of the back door so we didn't have to walk past people all teared up. My vet and vet nurse were so lovely - and it shocked and touched me in equal measures to realise that they had both teared up at the end too.

If you possibly can, consume a little sugar afterwards, in the car. It can help with the immediate shock.

I'm sorry @parrotonmyshoulder

My cat was taken into a room, given a cannula and the good drugs. I joined her shortly afterwards and was given as much time as needed whilst she just went to sleep and afterwards. I was given a leaflet on options and was told just to leave, walk out when ready and get in touch

picking the ashes up was hard but if you ring them in advance and everything is settled if you want they will just pass them to you without comment and you walk straight back out, which is what I wanted to do

It's very peaceful at the end @parrotonmyshoulder

We had our old Lab put to sleep a few years ago. He used to wag his tail a lot all his life, we were always joking about how he could win competitions for it.

After he was given the sedative, we sat on the floor with him as he lay down. Even in his last few moments, he wagged his tail when we stroked him. That's such a nice memory for me, him wagging his tail as he slipped away knowing that he felt relaxed and actually quite happy. His last memory was of feeling loved.

He was a lovely, happy dog and I'm so glad we made sure he had a good death.

Definitely stay with him, its so hard but i would have regretted it forever if i hadn't been with my cat comforting him as he closed his eyes for the last time.

Do think about what happens with cremation - i wish i had known that by organising it through the vet there can be a long wait for them to be collected as it was a national service and i found it incredibly upsetting not knowing where he was in that process. I wish i had taken him to the crematorium myself, albeit that of course would have been hard too.

I'm sorry you found that language your vet used distressing.

I don't know why, but I can remember a conversation I had with a vet, a vet nurse and a (human) consultant, all friends of mine about the language used to confirm that the patient has definitely ceased to be alive. The consensus from all of them was that being clear and direct was much, much better than trying to soften the blow with euphemistic language, as people who are understandably feeling fragile often don't understand what you mean if you try to say something like "he's at peace now," and having to clear up a misunderstanding is just awful for all involved. I'm sure any professional would be open to using or avoiding whatever language you like if you discuss it with them beforehand, but just thought I'd type this in case it helped you to be slightly more at peace with what happened. xxx