Putting a dog to sleep during lockdown.

ester said:
My assumption from them not doing it in the car/car park would be that they wouldnt' have easy access to additional medication etc if they need it and I'm not sure what the risk assessment would be for carrying PTS drugs out to use in the car park.
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I had one dog PTS in the car. I sat in the car holding him and OH went in to fetch the vet, not a car park as such but parked in a side road. Vet was quite happy to bring drugs out to do this. I think she thought it far less stressful for both us and the dog. (not during CV of course)
 
This is keeping me up at night every night.
My old boy has rallied, but I’m so so scared for him that this will be the case. As a rescue he is terrified of going to the vets and I cannot imagine having to leave him. I just don’t think I could do it to him, knowing his last moments would be full of fear surrounded by strangers.

I’m so so sorry for all those who have had to do this already. And sending you so much love.

I just hope he can carry on as he is until the restrictions are lessened somewhat.
 
MissTyc said:
My friend had to hand hers over in the car park. It was awful. Then just a few days later another friend had to make the decision, and she called around until she found a vet that would home visit with very strict biosecurity protocol. Her dog was large, difficult to carry, and very suddenly unable to get up without a lot of help so the vet said it was an essential welfare service. As the weather was nice they ended up being able to do it outdoors, which was nicer all round and easier to control biosecurity.

So sorry you're in this position xx
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This is really heartening. My dog is very very large (Great Dane cross Doberman) so hopefully this will help if the time comes.
 
Oh dear......... this is sooohh horrible for people; feeling very sorry for anyone right now who is having to think about or make "The Decision".

For those of us who have gardens, wonder if (presuming the garden is securable) it might be possible to PTS there instead?? That would give safe distance??

Thinking of you all. Sending (virtual) hugs.
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
Oh dear......... this is sooohh horrible for people; feeling very sorry for anyone right now who is having to think about or make "The Decision".

For those of us who have gardens, wonder if (presuming the garden is securable) it might be possible to PTS there instead?? That would give safe distance??

Thinking of you all. Sending (virtual) hugs.
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I didn't get the impression from the vet I spoke to that they would do it in the garden. Of course I understand how careful we all have to be these days but I honestly can't see if we can all go shopping in a supermarket with lots of other people why one person can't be allowed in a vets surgery. With the appropriate masks gloves etc. Doing this last act of kindness for a much loved pet is a welfare issue and I question that not allowing a owner to be there could in be classed as inhumane.
 
We had one of our terrier PTS in the first week of lockdown, I was worried I might have to hand her over, but they were very good, let me sit with her on my lap in the consulting room, vet was masked and gowned up.
 
Starzaan said:
This is keeping me up at night every night.
My old boy has rallied, but I’m so so scared for him that this will be the case. As a rescue he is terrified of going to the vets and I cannot imagine having to leave him. I just don’t think I could do it to him, knowing his last moments would be full of fear surrounded by strangers.

I’m so so sorry for all those who have had to do this already. And sending you so much love.

I just hope he can carry on as he is until the restrictions are lessened somewhat.
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just a thought is there anything like sedalin that could be given to the dog by you before you left home, many years ago the travel sickness tablets that i was given for my dog made her very sleepy, maybe something like that so at least he wouldnt really register that he was at the vets. and you could give him extra to make sure....luckily my oldie loves my vet so that is something i dont have to worry about.
 
Pointless1 said:
Doing this last act of kindness for a much loved pet is a welfare issue and I question that not allowing a owner to be there could in be classed as inhumane.
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it is very sad but it is equally inhumane that people have to die alone in ICU and cannot have a relative with them. I feel sorry for any animal or humane having to be left without their relative or owner at this sad time but there are a limited number of vets and they have to be protected if at all possible.

perhaps Saddle over sofa knows if a dog sedative the owner can give exists?
 
It’s such an awful time for anyone losing a family member, whether that be human or canine. I couldn’t bear the thought of not being with my dogs at the end but equally understand why it might not be possible. My heart breaks for anyone in this situation and for all who’ve been through it already during lockdown ?
 
paddy555 said:
it is very sad but it is equally inhumane that people have to die alone in ICU and cannot have a relative with them. I feel sorry for any animal or humane having to be left without their relative or owner at this sad time but there are a limited number of vets and they have to be protected if at all possible.

perhaps Saddle over sofa knows if a dog sedative the owner can give exists?
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I agree. The difference is that the person in hospital has corona virus so there is a good reason why they sadly can't have a relative with them.
Also a person knows why as hard as it is they don't have relative with them.
A animal doesn't know these things and will feel abandoned.
With the proper precautions in place I can't see why the owner can't at least be in the room.
 
These are difficult times for all of us. Of my team of 3 I’m the only one yet to get COVID. I am not doing house visits on pets that can physically be moved, and either 1 person can come in- if we have the time and the space, or it can be done in the car park via a drip line. There’s generally about 5 cars in the car park (clients all wait in their cars) at once just off the road so not at all private. It’s 5 I’ve PTS today, plus 1 home visit for a collapsed dog to try to find a solution to plus 2 that I had to call to say their seemingly minor problem was only the obvious thing and they actually had cancer elsewhere. We’re out of masks with no known new stock in- I have 1 on day 3, 1 on day 2, we’re using them for 5 days before discarding. Even the ‘easy’ cases are complicated by the whole situation- owners not wanting to Travel, money worries... We’re not allowed to release cremains back to owners as that’s counting as a non essential journey. It’s pretty draining to be honest. The other vet on today is on day 8 post covid so her first day back, she wasn’t risking having anyone in as still has quite a cough (though oked by 111/NHS to get back to work even though WHO say 14 days...). Some others are going home to vulnerable family members. I think everyone is trying their best both for their health, public health and animal welfare. It’s not an easy balance.
 
Pointless1 said:
I agree. The difference is that the person in hospital has corona virus so there is a good reason why they sadly can't have a relative with them.
Also a person knows why as hard as it is they don't have relative with them.
A animal doesn't know these things and will feel abandoned.
With the proper precautions in place I can't see why the owner can't at least be in the room.
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An animal will be stressed for a very short time, and will have no idea what is to come. I think most people by now will have a good idea what may happen, which is bad enough, but they will also know what effect their illness or death will have on their family. Animals have no one at home depending on them. My daughter who so far, thank goodness has not been infected, its an occupational hazard, has told her sister she get's her car and her money.
My last dog, I had to leave at the vets for x-rays, I never saw him again, if the hand over had been in the car park the outcome would have been just the same, and I still feel pretty bad about it, he is the only animal I have ever not been there are the end for, but his confort came above my feelings. No one has the right to ask another person that they put themselves at risk, no matter how small you think that risk may be.
 
I haven't found a safe way to do this with owners present yet. We dont have enough ppe to be able to risk direct exposures to people at the moment.
We are drop off only. If we know the pets are nervous we dispense meds to give at home prior to drop off if they are still eating.

It's awful and I'm sorry.

We treat them like out own and thankfully the pets have no idea what's going on,for them its same as when they are going for surgery just with extra treats food and love.
But it's heartbreaking for the owners.

One of my nurses had asthma,another lives with older vulnerable parents. I'm recovering from a chest infection. We are all incredibly careful in out day to day lives atm.This virus is not something we take lightly. We want to stay open to help out clients and their pets with their issues... but I could not live with myself if one of them or their family died because we didn't keep them safe at work. So I made the call for drop off only.

Crying people release a lot of respiratory secretions. Everyone tends to cry for a euthanasia. Not everyone knows when they have Covid.We do not currently have enough ppe to do direct contact with people....If it changes and we can get more I'l reconsider.

When humans are dying alone in hospitals of this disease, I cannot risk having my staff or their families join them because I put an owners desire to be with their pet before their safety.
 
Agree with Aru, I have had to help quite a few animals over rainbow bridge recently and we have not yet found a way to make this happen with the owners present. The health of our staff is priority. If one of us becomes infected then the whole practice closes and is unable to help more animals in need. Most practices are already running on skeleton staff.

I have sadly had to help euthanise many animals without their owners present over the years, and I have hugged them, fed them treats and swaddled them in soft blankets, talking to them as if they are my own. Euthanising animals without their owners present is heartbreaking for vets and nurses. But sadly in these current times it is necessary. Animals don't know what is going to happen, and some animals really do pass away purring/making biscuits or with waggy tails whilst chomping on treats. For the nervous and scared patients we take everything slowly and do not rush them. Some patients may have drugs given at home to help with anxiety.

I have never worked anywhere where an animal is checked over by a vet or euthanised in the back of a car. Too many risks (eg: animal getting stressed and escaping on to the road etc) and practice insurance may not cover it.

Yes we are already potentially coming in to contact with the virus on animals fur. But I'm not going to increase that risk by getting too close to owners or their car/house/gardens. And neither would I want anyone I work with the have that increased risk, or the old/young/sick people they may live with.

Our practice is sedating animals upon arrival and letting the owner have some time with them in the car park before we take them away. It is awful, and I really feel for owners during this lock down, but this is a time where people are dying in hospitals without their loved ones. It's not ideal and I am very sorry :(
 
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I would not be able to get my old Rottie in the car as he's too big & too crippled. I really hope he can hang on until the lockdown is over. He is quite happy at the moment & I recently sent a video to the vet so I could get some more Metacam & he agreed that we were a while off PTS. It worries me terribly though.
 
yhanni said:
I would not be able to get my old Rottie in the car as he's too big & too crippled. I really hope he can hang on until the lockdown is over. He is quite happy at the moment & I recently sent a video to the vet so I could get some more Metacam & he agreed that we were a while off PTS. It worries me terribly though.
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Me too. I do understand the risk vets are putting themselves at and respect the need for them to be careful but doing it outside in a garden or in the surgery with one person present at least in sight of the dog if not able to hold the dog would be compassionate.
I hope and pray that mine can hang on until this is over.
 
I was wondering about this. I have one elderly whippet left (14) with arthritis. She's not too bad at the moment with medication but, while I absolutely understand the reasons, I would be devastated for her to be taken away to be pts. So sorry for your loss op. Such an awful awful time for everyone.
 
Pointless1 said:
I'm hoping this situation does not have to happen but having a elderly dog I'm very concerned what will happen if a dog needs to be put to sleep during this lockdown.
I've spoken to my vet about this and they say they are not making any home vists during this time neither are you allowed to be with your pet. They will also not do it in the car.
Surely their must be ways round this?
I know this is a dreadful time and the are much worse things going on in the world but with procedure put in place their must be a solution.
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My daughter is a vet and had to pts a dog last week. I asked her whether the owner had to not be with her dog which for me would be unthinkable.
She said the way she got round it was to take the dog to sedate and place a catheter in and then attached a long line by which she could administer the drug for pts from a safe distance while the owner could be with her dog at the end.
 
StableMum said:
My daughter is a vet and had to pts a dog last week. I asked her whether the owner had to not be with her dog which for me would be unthinkable.
She said the way she got round it was to take the dog to sedate and place a catheter in and then attached a long line by which she could administer the drug for pts from a safe distance while the owner could be with her dog at the end.
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Your daughter sounds to be a very compassionate person and just the kind of vet I’d want in this heartbreaking situation.
 
What a horrible time to have to go through this. My heart goes out to you all that have had to.

I had to collect some essential drugs from the vets last week. It’s a huge surgery/hospital (they’ve closed their other three branches for now) and there were at least ten other people/cars in the car park (two spaces apart). So I guess it would be extremely “public” having to put an animal to sleep in the boot. That’s possibly one of the reasons. I find it upsetting even reading about other people having their dogs pts, I think I’d be dreadful if I had to witness it.
 
Oh my god. This is something I’d never even considered :(
How awful and heartbreaking but I suppose as someone above has said people can’t even be with relatives, even children so no I suppose it go’s without saying.
 
I have shamefully only been with one of my dogs when they have been put to sleep but that was because he had bloat and I didnt know what was wrong when I took him in and I found it devastating The others I have only been able to go as far as the consulting room and then said goodbye and left them. Ive always felt terrible but at least thought I havent upset the dog at their last moments by sobbing all over them. I have an elderly "creaking gate" dog and am hoping that I wont have to take him in and say goodbye in the car park, I think that would be worse than at least going into the vets with him.

ETA I am actually in tears reading this thread.
 
I am hoping that Bandit my german shepherd's legs will hold up a bit longer, but the day is coming which is really hammering me. He is ok for now, but deteriorating. I have lost several much loved animals over the last couple of years, I just feel terrible.
I just hope that if I have to let Bandit go in the next few weeks that it can be done as peacefully as possible and as safely as possible for the vets and nurses.
 
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