Did my dog know what was happening during euthanasia without me there?

First off, I'm very sorry that you had to put your dog down. Please accept my condolences for your loss. As for her crying, I'm not sure why she needed to be put to sleep, but if she was sick or in pain, she could have been crying due to feeling so ill. She would not know what was going to happen, dogs don't have that kind of awareness. There could be many reasons why she was crying, but knowing that she was going to be put down would not have been one of them. Again, I'm sorry for your loss!

Hello, thank you for your question. I am very sorry for your loss of Rupert. An animal's level of consciousness does depend on the specific medication that was used for sedation. Many agents are what are often called a pre-anesthetic, or medication that helps lead to anesthesia, loss of consciousness. They can cause significant sedation. Although Rupert may have appeared very sedate/relaxed I suspect that he was still aware or your presence and your touch. I'm sure he passed peacefully. I am so sorry for your loss!

Hi there. This is a great question, as I'm sure you want things to go as smoothly as possible for your pet's euthanasia. There are oral medications your vet can prescribe that will calm the dog, as you say - but none of these meds are strong enough to actually make the dog unconscious. However, many veterinarians opt to give an injectable sedative at the start of the appointment, which will make the dog completely relaxed and asleep within 10-15 minutes, prior to giving the actual euthanasia injection. This is how we do euthanasias at my clinic, and I do feel that it makes the process smoother and more peaceful for both the pet and the owner. You may want to ask your veterinarian about this option, if it's not something they routinely do.

I am so sorry for your loss of Cocoa. I know this is a very difficult time for you and I'm sorry the euthanasia procedure traumatized you. There are many ways to perform euthanasia. Typically, I would say most vets, including myself, give a sedative prior to euthanasia however, it is not mandated by any law that this be done. I suggest you speak to your vet directly about the procedure he/she performs as perhaps there was a miscommunication between them and their staff assuming a sedative was already given prior to them performing the euthanasia?? I really think that they need this feedback so they can review their euthanasia protocol and change it in the future for other owners if they don't typically use a sedative prior. Again, so sorry for your loss.

I am so sorry Nat that you had to put Jack to sleep. I work for a home euthanasia company, so I know what it entails quite well. I wasn't there, so I can't say anything for certain, but it may be that he wasn't fully sedated at the time the solution was pushed, or it could have been a natural body reaction to the solution. He may have had what's called agonal breathing, which is normal. I warn owners about the potential of it happening, as it is distressing, but I can assure you it doesn't mean the dog is in distress or feeling anything. I have seen it happen myself. The solution causes no pain to the dog, so I suspect that may be the cause of what you saw. I hope this helps.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm very sorry to hear about Bundas, that sounds like a tough situation. The most humane way to euthanize a pet is with a veterinarian who can administer a sedative and a euthanasia solution to painlessly stop the heart. There are some veterinarians who can perform at-home euthanasias, which may be a good option for Bundas. While there are no sleeping pills for dogs, there are pills that can cause light sedation and a calming effect. I'm not sure what is available in Hungary, but I recommend asking your veterinarian about medications such as Trazodone, Gabapentin, Acepromazine or Melatonin. These medications can be combined to help "take the edge off", and reduce the stress of Bundas's last moments with you. I hope this is helpful!

It can be extremely difficult to get intravenous access in small kittens, especially with poor circulation and sedation is often used beforehand. The disoriented response is very rare but it is unlikely your kitten was actually aware as certain sedatives can cause :dissociation' where there is no link between behavior and sensation leading to erratic movements and delusions. In people, amnesia is often reported after the sedation wears off with no recollections of the effects.