View Full Version : Putting a family pet down
My brother is coming up for the weekend to hangout with me and my wife... He is bringing our beloved rotty Kano. Kano has terminal cancer and poor ole boy is in alot of pain. My brother is against having a vet do it and asked me to do him the favor. Im not looking forward to this at all, as he has been in the family since he was a few weeks old, but would rather myself then him as he is a terrible shot, and dont want to risk an ill place round.
I have a 22' at my disposal and think a well placed shot on the brain stem should put him down cold before he hits the ground... But im a bit apprehensive as ive heard people surviving pretty close range shots to the head with a 22' and dont want him to suffer. Also, is there any legal issues in me putting him down myself( ie. trouble with law enforcement) Any input or alternate method is greatly appreciated.
Danny
mojaveman
06-05-2014, 15:07
Take him to a vet. Have the vet do it or if you have to DIY they have a kit you can take home that you give them a shot and they go away.
Probably the best way. ;)
The Vet is the way to go.
The wife has held every one and cried as they went to sleep.
My brother is coming up for the weekend to hangout with me and my wife... He is bringing our beloved rotty Kano. Kano has terminal cancer and poor ole boy is in alot of pain. My brother is against having a vet do it and asked me to do him the favor. Im not looking forward to this at all, as he has been in the family since he was a few weeks old, but would rather myself then him as he is a terrible shot, and dont want to risk an ill place round.
I have a 22' at my disposal and think a well placed shot on the brain stem should put him down cold before he hits the ground... But im a bit apprehensive as ive heard people surviving pretty close range shots to the head with a 22' and dont want him to suffer. Also, is there any legal issues in me putting him down myself( ie. trouble with law enforcement) Any input or alternate method is greatly appreciated.
Danny
Some vets make house calls for this. Livestock vets pretty much always make house calls.
Pat
DIYPatriot
06-05-2014, 15:27
Go the vet route and let your pet exit this life in peace. You'll be glad you did. You'll also be thankful that you do not have the memory of having to do it the hard way.
Take him to the vet....I've done that once to a horse, damn fine but sick horse, once.
Easier to shoot a person that needs it.
Thanks for the input fellas .. I will call my brother tonight and talk to him. I didnt know about the house calls, so i will call the local vet and ask. Thats probably why he didnt want to go that route... Ive never seen it done, but i imagined its done on some cold, steel gurney kind of thing at the hospital, and we wanted a chance to pet him up and feed him a nice steak and bananas before lights out.
Team Sergeant
06-05-2014, 15:52
Yeah, unless you and your brother want the last memory of the dog doing the "dying cockroach" then take him to the vet. I put one of mine down last year and he went very quietly.
Mega160,
These days most vets are very compassionate when it comes to both the family and the pet when it's time to say good-bye. Our beloved beagle had to be put down last year and the experience was as good as it could be, given the circumstances. Beagle was given treats, even chocolate if she liked. We were given as much time as we needed with her beforehand, and were with her as she fell to sleep while mid-bite of yet another treat. It was that quick - she never knew anything but our love and some treats there at the end.
Susan
Mega160,
These days most vets are very compassionate when it comes to both the family and the pet when it's time to say good-bye. Our beloved beagle had to be put down last year and the experience was as good as it could be, given the circumstances. Beagle was given treats, even chocolate if she liked. We were given as much time as we needed with her beforehand, and were with her as she fell to sleep while mid-bite of yet another treat. It was that quick - she never knew anything but our love and some treats there at the end.
Susan
Thats about as humane and dignified as you could ask for. Thanks
Our vet Rick lives down the block so he came by when our Terrier Sammy needed to be put down.
In the living room right where Sammy liked to lay down. A good way and not 'violent' like a gunshot.
Hell, Rick the vet started crying.
Most vets are animal lovers and they hate to do it too.
Peregrino
06-05-2014, 20:20
For a pet who has been a beloved family member, the Vet is the only way to do it. Peaceful, dignified, and worth every penny. No pain, no funky chicken, and no "ooops". We've had to do it four times in the last 19 years and while it never got/gets easier, it was always obviously the "right thing to do" when the time came. And yes, the Vet does share your pain (at least ours did, but then that sort of comes with a 20+ year relationship).
Will never go to the vet to do it again. Had to put one down that failed miserably. Vet had to go straight to the heart with a needle. Dog was very scared.
Before this and from now on I will always put them down myself. Take them out back, give them an nice pork chop and in the middle of eating it they just get put down. To me it's much more humane than going to he vet were many dogs are scared to death to go in the first place.
Two words ... Old Yeller.
I would most definitely have a vet do it.
AlElks ... you sir have a rock hard constitution. I tip my cap to you Sir. I could never do that to a family member such as a pet.
I have done it before and aside from legal issues (I dont know about NC) it just sucks. Take him to a vet. Have the vet do it or if you have to DIY they have a kit you can take home that you give them a shot and they go away.
The Vet,,
We have put down 3 cats & one dog.
My Vet uses a combo of drugs, not unlike the stuff they use for death row. The 1st shot is to calm the animal, then in 2-3 minutes she used something to stop the heart. It was quick and painless. The pets don't suffer, nor were there any traumatic termination effects.
The vet sat with our pet and as did our family.
As our vet was a traveling vet, it was at our home. You may want to weight the effect of at home or at the Vets. At home is more traumatic for the family, as there are the post death details to witness. Having the procedure at the Vet's is more like a funeral home.
Internment, We let the Vet handle that, but if you plan otherwise, make sure it 100% prepared prior to the Vet's visit.
My condolences, Losing a pet is hard..
Dean Jarvis
06-06-2014, 08:07
One of the hardest thing I've ever had to do is put down my dog. GOD spelled backwords.
One of the hardest thing I've ever had to do is put down my dog. GOD spelled backwords.
I'm on my 4th Akita in about 40 years. The first three I had to have put down. It's damn hard. But is just one or two days out of years of faithful companionship. Not a bad investment. It also underlines the depth of the bond.
Pat
Thanks for the input fellas .. I will call my brother tonight and talk to him. I didnt know about the house calls, so i will call the local vet and ask. Thats probably why he didnt want to go that route... Ive never seen it done, but i imagined its done on some cold, steel gurney kind of thing at the hospital, and we wanted a chance to pet him up and feed him a nice steak and bananas before lights out.
I had to do this with my Dobe about 4 years ago and my Weim a couple months ago. My vet has a special room (think they call it the comfort room or something), for this procedure. It's designed to look like any living room, complete with a couch, end table, etc. Both times I laid next to the dogs on the floor and held them while they slipped away into the next dimension.
Be forewarned... they don't always close their eyes, and sometimes they will evacuate their bladders after they pass. Still, it's a thousand times more peaceful, safe, and respectful than trying to use a firearm. Dogs are the only source of unconditional love on the planet, they spend every minute trying to please us. The least we can do is be there for them in their last moment and make it as dignified as possible.
dollarbill
06-10-2014, 08:05
I have done it before and aside from legal issues (I dont know about NC) it just sucks. Take him to a vet. Have the vet do it or if you have to DIY they have a kit you can take home that you give them a shot and they go away.
Good advice. Lilly (English Pointer/American Bulldog) is without a doubt my closest and most loyal friend. I'll hate the day I have to put her down. Rest assured she'll deserve better than a bullet to the head. Do yourself a big favor, contact your vet. You'll rest easier that night.
WarriorDiplomat
06-10-2014, 08:40
Like everyone else is saying the Vet is the best way, the animal just peacefully goes to sleep and it is a good memory in comparison to the way I was raised.
My last dog I had to put down was my Sheltie, she was an awesome working dog and a great companion. I was deployed and my wife had told me that she was laying in her own urine and feces we decided that we would send her out peacefully. She had been senile for a few years and just sort of confused generally the last few years. She was only 13 which is young for a well maintained Sheltie. She took her to the Vet and the Vet gave her the shot and she went to sleep peacefully and the Vet cut some of her hair for my wife as a keepsake.
Habu-MFFI 175
06-10-2014, 09:34
"Done it both ways, with and without a vet. Last time I took my black lab "Tess" to the vet. She gave her a shot to relax her, that shot set her free, so was so bad off. Then she still gave her the other shot a little later to make sure.
Its hard either way, especially when they have been a part of the family for so long.
Yesterday when I was headed to the store, my copilot was my granddaughter, she said " Papaw, remember when Tess would ride in the back seat with us in the truck?" I told her yes, and that was about a year ago when we put her down.
She is buried on our land that she roamed and guarded for so long.
Golf1echo
06-10-2014, 09:37
I sure miss our Rotty, what a beautiful loving breed. They can be very stoic and our love for her clouded my perception, I wanted my daughter to see her one last time. Things went quick, just as the vet was on her way to the house she died in front of both of us...
Don't do that, I count it as one of the worst experiences and mistakes of my life. She is in our hearts and buried in the rich black top soil at the home place up in those Western Mountains...
BigJimCalhoun
06-16-2014, 05:43
Several years back our Shih-Tzu broke his back, or something close to it. It was wailing in a way I never heard it yell prior.
I brought it to the 24 hour emergency vet next town over and the procedure took about a second once they injected the shot. They were going to make a plaster of Paris paw print for us, but I never followed-up about it.
Barbarian
06-16-2014, 06:13
I had to put my shepherd down a few years ago. I don't know about having the vet do it, but if you put your own pet down, it will be a weight that you carry with you from then on.
Looking back, I don't know that I could trust someone else to do such a personal thing.
Snaquebite
06-16-2014, 06:42
Went in her sleep two days ago....It was a great run of almost 14 years. I rescued her almost 14 years ago after being abandoned and on her death bed. She survived heartworm treatment (twice). Nothing but pure unadulterated love and trust. Shady, you will be missed girl.
28314
Went in her sleep two days ago....It was a great run of almost 14 years. I rescued her almost 14 years ago after being abandoned and on her death bed. She survived heartworm treatment (twice). Nothing but pure unadulterated love and trust. Shady, you will be missed girl.
28314
Sad to hear, Snaque! She looks like a sweet pup.
Pat