Question for the vets among us...

[helios7]

I'm visiting my mom in Florida, and yesterday we put down our sweet ten year old dog. My father was posted abroad for a year, and a few days after he left our dog got the diagnosis of lung cancer with only weeks to live. Sure enough, two weeks later was yesterday and we had to put her to sleep. :(

My question though is this - after the sedative came the injection. She fought the sedative, and the vet predicted she might because of her breathing difficulties (head extended etc). But she was groggy, just not all the way out. After the injection though, and body function ceased, there was bleeding from her nose. A fair amount, enough to soak and continue soaking the bed she rested on.

I'm just curious as to why that is- if its common, or if it was in someway related to her breathing difficulties. My family trust the vet implicitly, so I'm in no way even hinting there was anything amiss - just curious. I've also never been present for an euthanasia (sp?) so it could be common, and I just don't know.

Thank you for your wisdom.

[MikeC]

helios,

Not a vet and can't answer your question. But I've been with two of our cats, quite a few years ago, that had to be euthanized (sp?). Both were very old and had chronic illnesses that weren't going to improve; one cat had gone into convulsions.

This has been, again, quite a few years ago. But I only remember one injection. And it was very quick. In each case, I was petting the cat. The cat gave a very slight twitch and that was it. There was no bleeding from any orifice. But neither cat had respiratory problems, I must add, so I guess you can't really compare the experiences.

[mcgeiger]

Some vets choose to give a sedative, followed by euthanasia solution (overdose of babrbituates). There can be muscle twitching, as well as agonal gasps that the animal is unaware of, and are just physiological responses to the drugs and death. All orifices can leak at death, as most are kept closed my muscles that relax.
My guess is she somewhat struggled breathing, causing damage to the fragile tissue in her lungs (from the tumors). This blood would have probably been sneezed out, or in this case just came out when her head was down. She also was could have been low on clotting factors, which is why the blood may have kept coming. So while the blood is not common, I don't think it would be abnormal.
I'm sorry for the loss of your puppy (they are all puppies forever to me). I'm glad that you could be there for your DM.

[helios7]

Thanks for your replies....

It was just unnerving walking away leaving her like that, with the pool around her nose. But I'm sure her labored breathing over the past few days was definitely a definitive factor.

It was a peaceful decision, but I confess its really lonely being in my parents house today with out her. Not that she's been herself this trip, but its lonely without the memory of the dog she was before she got sick.

Thanks again...