Euthanasia is a term that means ‘peaceful death’. Clearly, the aim of performing an in-home euthanasia is to subject you and your pet to as little added stress as possible at such a horrible time, to use as minimal restraint as is possible, and further to allow you the opportunity to grieve privately.
The drugs given are anesthetic/pain/sedation agents (injected under the skin or in the muscle) which will cause your pet to fall into a deep sleep. An intravenous injection of pentabarbitol is then given which causes your pet's heart to cease beating.
Following the second (intravenous injection), your pet will become anesthetized and then within approximately 1-5 minutes the animal’s heart will stop and breathing will cease. Prior to death, a very small percentage of animals, though in a coma and completely unaware, will appear to take gasping breaths and/or vocalize. Some will urinate and defecate. Again, though this may cause you to worry that your pet is suffering, s/he is in an anesthetic coma and could undergo surgery at this moment without feeling anything, so please do not be alarmed.
You and your family members may choose to be present or to excuse yourselves at any time you wish. Children and other pets are welcome to be present and I am more than willing to spend time with them as necessary. Possibly, animals might sense that the ‘spirit’ of their animal companion is no longer in the body. It has been my experience that this may lessen their grieving, which is a real phenomenon in animal companions.
The drugs given are anesthetic/pain/sedation agents (injected under the skin or in the muscle) which will cause your pet to fall into a deep sleep. An intravenous injection of pentabarbitol is then given which causes your pet's heart to cease beating.
Following the second (intravenous injection), your pet will become anesthetized and then within approximately 1-5 minutes the animal’s heart will stop and breathing will cease. Prior to death, a very small percentage of animals, though in a coma and completely unaware, will appear to take gasping breaths and/or vocalize. Some will urinate and defecate. Again, though this may cause you to worry that your pet is suffering, s/he is in an anesthetic coma and could undergo surgery at this moment without feeling anything, so please do not be alarmed.
You and your family members may choose to be present or to excuse yourselves at any time you wish. Children and other pets are welcome to be present and I am more than willing to spend time with them as necessary. Possibly, animals might sense that the ‘spirit’ of their animal companion is no longer in the body. It has been my experience that this may lessen their grieving, which is a real phenomenon in animal companions.
