Pet Euthanasia --The process - good-bye Thelma and Louise



Pet Euthanasia is one of the toughest decisions I had to make.  I offer my experience in hopes that it will help anyone in this phase of their pets lives.

Animal Euthanasia Facts:

Euthanasia means "gentle death', a pain-free or stress-free death.
A survey in the Veterinary Record   listed the most common reason for cats and dogs to be put to sleep as terminal illness (51%). Old age or senility accounts for 37% of cat and dog euthanasias. Cats are twice as likely (10%) than dogs (5%) to require euthanasia because of traumatic injuries, for example, road accidents, which sadly are more common among cats. However, only 1% of cats, as opposed to 6% of dogs, are put to sleep because of behavioural problems.

A word on natural death. Although this may always seem the ideal end, pets do not always die easily in their sleep without help. They may suffer much distress in their final hours, vomiting repeatedly, struggling for breath, or experiencing convulsions. Sometimes, as the organs shut down, the animal may drift into coma, but you cannot count on this happening. If it has become obvious that your pet is no longer enjoying life or showing any enthusiasm for it, it is kinder to put it to sleep and end its suffering.

Cat Euthanasia - Thelma and Louise.

 Thelma - Diagnosed: Chronic Renal Failure - (http://www.thepetcenter.com/gen/kf.html)
AGE: 10 years old -- 56 in human years
WEIGHT: 5 lbs
The first was Thelma -- she was diagnosed with Chronic Renal (kidney) failure when she was 8 years old. For 6 months she participated in a blind Chronic Renal Failure treatment experiment with 9 other cats suffering the same disease. It was unknown as to whether Thelma received the actual medicine or just a sugar pill.  I never really understood why they would actually just give a sugar pill in this experiment -- but I guess the reason could be to gauge whether positive reinforcement and hope play a part in curing this disease.  We were eager to try anything to save our cat from certain death and believed that it was worth the risk. We never knew - but the vet believed that she did get the actual medicine and improved while she was receiving the daily pills. Unfortunately even if the test was successful, the medication would not be available for 3 more years -- not in time to save Thelma.   She weighed a meager 5 lbs when she was put to sleep. 
Reasons to put to sleep:  Severe hydration, loss of appetite, trouble walking, low weight

Louise - Diagnosed:  Old age
AGE: 15 years old - 76 in human years
WEIGHT: 4 1/8 lbs
After Thelma passed, Louise - from the previous article (link), her sister went into a depression and hardly ate and slept the day away.  She went from 14 lbs to 4 1/8 lbs. in 4 years. She had 4 blood tests -- each came out normal.  The vet could never figure out why she was losing weight -- but she was steadily losing weight every month -- even though she ate a lot of food!   The cut-off weight for our vet was 4 lbs - because 4 lbs is basically equivalent to a bag of bones.  Louise was still eating, drinking and even playing -- but she started to have a hard time lying down because she literally was just skin and bones.  You may have thought that we waited too long but she really seemed fine until she crashed and didn't eat for 2 days.  
Reasons to put to sleep:   trouble walking, trouble laying down, low weight, loss of appetite

 Euthanasia - the decision
This is the second time for me to have to make the the hard decision to put my ailing cats to sleep. 

When is it time?  The hardest decision for any pet owner is let your cat pass naturally or to stop the suffering and put them to sleep and die with dignity. I believe that the most loving thing you can do is to understand that this is not about you, it is about your cat and that they could be in deep pain and are suffering a slow death.  Unfortunately the cat can't tell you in words, but after observing their behavior you should be able to ascertain if this is the right direction for you to go.  If you are still having doubts, ask your veterinary.

Since I've been through it twice - I know what to expect. 

The 4 toughest moments (for me):  

#1) Making the call to the vet to make the appointment to put my cat to sleep.        
        The vet will ask you the following :                           
                    - They will ask if you would like to be present during the injection
                    - if you would like the remains of the cremation to be public or private and keep the ashes.  If you decide to keep the ashes - it will take about a week to receive the box of remains.
 
#2) Putting my cat into his carrier to go to the vet.
 
#3) Taking my cat out of the carrier in the vet room.
 
#4) Holding my cat down while the vet injects the euthanasia solution - and waiting for the last breath and their eyes to go black. 

 
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Euthanasia - What to expect:  

This is my experience -- it may be slightly different depending on your vet - but I believe the process is pretty standard.  

1) Once you are at the vet and sign in -- they will ask you to sign a form authorizing the Euthanization on your cat and confirming the questions asked when you made the call to make the appointment.   They should also ask you if you'd like to pay before - so that you can just leave after the appointment.
 
2) While you are in the vet room -- they will probably weigh your pet and make a few final observations and talk about what happened to your cat.  Most will assure you that you are making the right decision.

3) They will lay a towel down on the table, lay your cat down on the towel and ask you to comfort your cat and help hold them down with another staff member, while they perform the Euthanasia.

4) The vet will explain what is happening while they make the injection into a vein in the hind leg. 

5) After about 10 seconds (it seems like 10 minute) you will witness your cats breathing slowing down and then their eyes go black.  I would recommend talking to your cat while this is happening and say good-bye.  Crying is ok.  Don't feel like you have to hold in your emotions. 

6)  The vet and staff leave - you say your last good-byes and leave

7) 1-2 weeks later the vet calls to let you know that your cats remains are available for pick-up.

For a more details - here is an article from a Vets perspective:
Euthanasia: What to expect