daughter had to put her dog to sleep?

That's tough. Every dog takes euthanasia a little differently, but in 20 years in the vet industry I've never seen it as difficult as you describe. I'm Very sorry for your family's loss. The vet at the first sign of difficulty should have removed you guys from the room. Anyway, to answer your question, the best thing you can do is to try to convince her that the pain and suffering staying here with us was by far more substantial than the minute or so of his last struggle. Cancer hurts, compromises other bodily functions and tends to go slow and drawn out. To die naturally of cancer would have been much worse. There is no way to erase the images you surely keep in your mind of that last minute, but comfort her that the dog is much better off in his new place, waiting at the door of heaven with his fave toy for her to play with...he'll sit there for a hundred years if he has to.

I agree with Launi. Your vet screwed up. I've worked behind the scenes at a few vet practices and they vet will generally go OVER the dose just to make sure the animal goes peacefully. All of the ones I work with make sure to use an iv and catheder to adminsiter the medication if the owner is present. They also begin with a high dose sedative because the animals ~can~ begin to twitch as the medication takes effect. No owner should have to see that.

I am so sorry for your daughter's loss. It really sounds like you are being a great parent and trying to help her get through it. Your daughter did a selfless thing by letting him go. I can see why she might think he wasn't ready, but I assure you, it wasn't because he was fighting for his life. Help her realize she made the right choice. I don't know if sharing that the vet screwed up would help or not. Maybe letting her know that it is a natural reaction to the medication, the vet just didn't have things mixed right?

Maybe a photo album filled with pictures of him throughout his life might help ease her pain. It will be a long journey for her. Be supportive and help her through it.

Again, I am sincerely sorry for her loss. Keep being there for her. If she still isn't sleeping or eating, you might want to phone her doctor. Some people take losses harder than others. Especially since she feels guilty...it may be extra hard for her.

euthanasia is the last loving act that any owner can do when there quality of life is not longer enjoyable to the dog. The Rainbow bridge poem is beautiful and comforting to many owners.http://www.rainbowbridge.com/

the bobbing was just an uncontrolled response to the sedative, and if he twitched and paddled that was the brain saying goodbye to the body, he felt no pain. It is hard to do, I doubted myself when I said goodbye to my dog it takes time, we never want to loose what we love the most.

I did make sure that I have her where I can see her everyday, and maybe getting a picture frame that holds several pictures of him and put that up where it can be seen and with going through the pictures that will not only bring back all those happy memories but also see the change in him over the years.

I am sorry for your loss.

I do want to add what may have happend is the vein blew in the dogs leg and some of the solution leaked out into muscles and under the skin, I am sorry if this is the case when a dog ages it just happens sometimes.

I totally agree with Launi in this case! What on earth was this vet doing - this should NEVER have happened. And she's right, most vets overdose if anything, so this sort of thing doesn't happen. Yes, with my breed (Bassets) it can sometimes be difficult to get a vein up and I can tell you about a horror story we had happen with one of my last home-bred bitches when she had to be pts - vet started out saying how difficult it was etc. and injected into her JUGULAR (I had left the room by that time because I'd have hauled off and socked the idiot, who wasn't our regular vet, although my hubby was there to the end) but there's no excuse for what apparently happened during this procedure with your dog.

I would agree that he wasn't resisting being pts. He wouldn't have know that was what was happening, only that he was being restrained, and didn't like that. If he'd stopped eating, it was obvious that you did the only thing possible in helping him to the Bridge. It's just tragic that it happened the way it did.

I assume you won't be going back there!!! All you can do under the circumstances, as we did after what happened with our b itch is vote with your feet. And you know, if you are really inclined, there are regulatory bodies governing vets and their behaviour. If you think it will help, report what happened. Won't bring your dog back, and neither should it really, but it might make you feel better and give you some closure.

Please give your daughter my sympathies.

He wasn't fighting to stay alive because he didn't know he was about to die. He was just resisting the unnatural situation of being held on a table being touched by a stranger in unfamiliar surroundings. If you were there with him although his physical activity may have been upsetting he would've been more at ease than had you not been there. If your daughter is very young perhaps she shouldn't have witnessed it. Dogs often pee when they're being sedated because their muscles relax. All dogs are different and if he had cancer and no quality of life then you did the right thing. The vet may not have sedated him strongly enough but anyhow he didn't suffer psychologically in the way you think he did.

Geezus. That vet royally screwed up. There is NO excuse for this. My vet weighs the animal and gives MORE than needed to make SURE the dog goes quietly. IF the dog is highly anxious he will sedate the dog while we are in the waiting room and then have us come in for the euthanasia.

What the heck?!!! I am so very sorry your daughter had to see what was NOT right.

I don't know anything to tell you. My heart goes out to her. And to you.

I would just try and explain even though it is the animal's time to go some will still fight it whether it be right or wrong.

I am very disappointed in your vet. Sorry. That was uncalled for.

How heart breaking just reading your story. I am so sorry for your family's loss. We have a black flat-coated retriever who is getting up there in age and I dread the day when we have to make that decision.

If you have photos of her dog maybe you can get them duplicated and make a beautiful collage for her. I'm at a loss for the right words that might bring you comfort. Again, I am very sorry for your great loss. A dog is not just a pet, but is a family member who will always be remembered fondly.

Your poor daughter. I've never had to put a dog to sleep & I know if that was my first experience doing so it would be twice as heart breaking.

The best thing to do? Be there when she needs to talk about it. Comfort her. Try to answer her questions honestly & gently. Explain that she did the most loving thing a dog owner can do, let her loyal friend go at peace when he was suffering.

Its hard to get over losing a loved one. If she is really that bad consider taking her to speak with a doctor.

This might sounds ridiculous but would you consider rescuing a dog from the local shelter and surprising her with it? Every time I lost a pet I always got a new one soon after to make me feel better. That's not for everyone though

I even have the magnificent dame connection with my canines that your daughter has with hers. even however if my dad placed my canines down mutually as i became into away, i may be particularly indignant because of the fact one minute the canines's there, the subsequent he's not. i think of you ought to allow her have a suited good bye while you evaluate it is the final time she'll be seeing him. whether it is painful for you adult men, you ought to stay it by using.... including your daughter. she would be in a position to in all probability be particularly mushy around this time besides, so incredible her like that could only upload to the rigidity of a dull kin puppy.