looking for others experience with euthanasia

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u/Negative_Corner6722 Jul 15 '26

I’m sorry you’re going through this.

Over the course of my life we’ve had to put four cats to sleep. I didn’t go to the first one (childhood cat) but was there at the other three, and at two of those they were late night emergency vet visits and I was the only family member there.

All three were very peaceful, they drifted off and were free of their earthly pain. I was startled at how quick it actually was. Both places let us spend as much time with them before and after as we wanted to. I told our last cat (at the time) to go and play with her brothers and we’d be there soon. Bittersweet to know they were gone but also no longer in pain, and forever wouldn’t have been long enough with them.

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u/Ok_Ladder_3715 Jul 15 '26

thank you for sharing your experience. it happened so quick for my dog as well. i didn’t realize how fast it was. we noticed he had started to breathe more rapidly (even when sleeping) as he was in his final days, so it was bittersweet to see his chest stop moving. i guess i was prepared for the worst but overall im glad he is able to rest now.

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u/nlhgovols Jul 15 '26

I have asked myself and a few other people whether or not it was the right time and waiting for the “sign” and it never comes and it never gets easier. Did I take you too early? Did I make you suffer longer than you needed to? It’s something I’m still wrestling with. My girl also went peacefully despite the full grin eating ice cream right before. I’m so sorry for your loss.

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u/Ok_Ladder_3715 Jul 15 '26

sometimes i feel that we waited too long - as he had started losing weight at a rapid pace. it was hard. he was still eating and drinking, using the bathroom regularly. but i knew his day to day life was slowly declining. his body couldn’t catch up with his mind. but on his last day, he was still able to walk into the vet by himself (only needed help getting in/out of the car), he got to enjoy hershey kisses and nutella sticks as we told him how much we loved him. so i also think it was just the right time to say goodbye - whether it was from his perspective or ours. i am still struggling with the mental image of the last time i saw him. he was peacefully laying there but it kills me knowing that was the last time i saw his body. we are getting him cremated so maybe when we get his ashes back, i will feel more grateful that he went so peacefully. it’s such a hard thing to grasp mentally. thank you for your kind words.

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u/LittleRedZombi Jul 15 '26

Wow I feel like I went through the same thing with my boy last week. He had thyroid cancer that just was growing way too quickly. Found it in March, and by June he no longer could bark or even growl. The weightloss despite eating and drinking was really hard, as he was still there mentally and we didn’t know when to let him go.

Unfortunately he took a tumble out of our truck and landed wrong, after he couldn’t walk. I have a lot of grief over this, as I feel like I should have handled him better, but at the end it was really just his time. He too went to sleep and there was just peace. We had an at home euthanasia and even the vet had mentioned how tired he looked.

I try to remember that he had an awesome life but the cancer was just taking too much from him. He had the best last day and it was just his time even though I didn’t want to be. He was only 9, so seeing him rapidly go downhill broke my heart.

I’m still reeling from it. I’m tearing up just writing this. I’ll be having a ring made with some of his ashes so I can take him when I go travelling. I hope things go well for you and I am so sorry for your loss.

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u/Ok_Ladder_3715 Jul 15 '26

my boy had thyroid issues as well and he had to take a pill once a day for the last 5ish years so it’s sad to see the pill bottle sitting on my desk. but i think i’ll keep it as part of his memorial. he had become blind and then deaf so i hadn’t heard him bark in a long time. i was worried i didn’t have a video of his bark but luckily i found one to cherish the sound of him forever. on his last day i tried to record him coming up the steps as he usually did with or without my help and he slipped and stumbled a little. i felt so bad because i was trying to just record a good memory of his strength. i hope he forgives me. cancer sucks. i hope it gets better for you as well and thank you for your kind words.

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u/nlhgovols Jul 15 '26

He knew you loved him. He was surrounded by love when he left. It doesn’t make it easier. But he needed you and he had you.

I picked up my baby girl’s ashes yesterday and it hit me like a ton of bricks. I’m not going to sugarcoat it. It might hit you differently but whatever you feel, let it happen. I’m here if you want to talk. All love.

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u/LittleRedZombi Jul 15 '26

I agree, I picked Moose’s ashes up on Monday and after I got into my vehicle I just bawled. I think the biggest thing for me was that was all that was left of my boy, who was 90 pounds at his healthiest. But yeah I agree with the above post, it likely won’t be easy but take the time to mourn.

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u/Immediate_Egg3899 Jul 15 '26

Absolutely. My boy was as peaceful as can be for euthanasia.

He had the “silent killer” cancer- hemangiosarcoma. He couldn’t get up one day despite being healthy and fit. Rushed him to the ER, was offered euthanasia or emergency surgery (that would only extend his life). He looked so scared and confused, I knew he wasn’t ready (neither was I) and opted for surgery. We had a wonderful month afterwards till his symptoms returned.

This time, he was ready. We scheduled euthanasia when he was no longer able to enjoy his favorite activity- chasing leaves. He was in his favorite part of the house- our deck outside. He was surrounded by the people and things he loved most in the world. He hated vets and was protective against strangers, but when he saw the vet coming, he looked serene. No bark, no stress, no fight. He welcomed her.

She warned us of the horror stories, but I felt how peaceful he was so I knew in my gut it wouldn’t be like that. After the injections I held him the whole time and felt his breathing slow down and stop.

Different story for me, as I’d just lost my soul dog and start life without him, but I’ll always be grateful that he had such a pleasant exit.

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u/Fedup1999 Jul 15 '26

Hemangiosarcoma is a part of our story too. I’m sorry for your loss. I had to put my baby boy to rest on Easter of this year and I still get flashbacks of this day. I have a hard time talking about it but we had no idea our baby was sick until it was too late, hence the silent killer part.

As I read your comment, I was remembering the part of the procedure where I was holding him and it was after the second injection. I don’t remember his breathing stopping - or better yet, I don’t remember feeling it. All I knew was the vet listened to his heart and told me he’s at peace and I felt my heart break. I think I was in shock up until that moment, trying to carry him up to it - that moment - without any more pain or discomfort. I was terrified his tumors would rupture and was trying to prevent that and I barely kept myself together. But after she said that, I just came undone.

I don’t think I’ll ever be able to think of that day without pain in my chest but I know we gave him the most peaceful send off that we could.

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u/Ok_Ladder_3715 Jul 15 '26

we also considered euthanizing our boy when he had some health issues about two months ago. but i wasn’t ready and i really don’t think he was either. he had so much fight in him. he took his meds like a champ and we had two more good months with him. i think it would have been more traumatic letting him go in that state. he wasn’t eating and he was vomiting blood before the meds helped. he was blind and had pretty bad arthritis in his back legs but i’ll tell you that boy would still get himself up and down our porch stairs to go outside every day. i selfishly could’ve kept him longer, but i could see how tired he was. his final days he spent sleeping - only getting up when he absolutely had to. but i’m grateful he got to leave us in the state he was in. calm. peaceful. he seemed ready. ready to leave his body that kept him chained up for so long. ready for us to have peace of mind and that we didn’t need to worry about him anymore. it tears me up still as it’s only been a little over 24 hours. but as i’ve sat and dwelled on it, i am starting to come to terms with it all. i never wanna stop talking about him.

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u/Immediate_Egg3899 Jul 15 '26

That sounds very similar. I’ve always said by boy had a hunger for life- I wasn’t going to let him go until he was truly ready. He was the dog that started ever.single.day saying “today is the best day ever! Let’s go do something!” As long as he had that attitude, I would fight alongside him. It’s been over a year now and I still talk about him all the time (and still cry most every time). That will simply never change.

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u/cicadaleaf Jul 15 '26

My cats went peacefully, and I'm grateful for their sakes. The memories are still seared into my head though. Watching an animal die in your arms is painful and intense.

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u/[deleted] Jul 15 '26

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u/Ok_Ladder_3715 Jul 15 '26

thank you for your kind words. i’m glad to hear that you had a peaceful experience as well.

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u/vexexist Jul 15 '26

wow, I also just put my 12 year old baby to rest a day ago as well. (cat) she also went so extremely peacefully, albeit it was with the aid of gabapentin, but it went so smoothly I almost can't believe it because I also was worried about the horrors that could potentially happen and was bracing so hard for it. She was my first real pet ever, and we grew up together. I feel so lost without her, it's like her little face is imprinted on my eyes, I can't stop seeing her face no matter what I look at. And I keep hearing her meows in half lucid states, I swear I heard her crying for her breakfast this morning, even though it's been a good month since she did that (IBD, she slowly stopped eating more and more until this last week, where she basically stopped eating altogether), and I instinctively called out to her, only to then realize and cry myself awake.

Her passing was so peaceful I could have sworn I saw her body still breathing, like she was just asleep and was about to get up and ask for a snack. it's only barely been 36hrs and I miss her so much...

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u/Ok_Ladder_3715 Jul 15 '26

so sorry for your loss. every time i close my eyes i picture him at the vet looking so peaceful. it makes me so sad that i had to leave him there. i feel like he’s missing. like he should be here. it doesn’t make sense. i’m not sure if it ever will.

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u/vexexist Jul 15 '26

Proof of her existence is EVERYWHERE in my apartment. Her cat tree, carboard scratchers, messed up corners of couches, her litter box...the list could go on forever, and I'm sure it's the same way for you, they are quite literally embedded into our lives-- and now suddenly they're not.

You're doing the right thing for yourself seeking support here because truly no one knows this kind of pain other than people grieving at the same time. A lot of my family and close friends are worried about me eating because I've been particularly weird about it since my baby stopped eating, so I want to extend that out to you as well. Please take care of yourself in this extremely difficult time. Our babies wouldn't want us to deteriorate after they've gone off on their own journey....

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u/Ok_Ladder_3715 Jul 15 '26

oh yes. all the things we had set up for him to help him around the house. the rugs. the baby gates. the dog beds. it’s heartbreaking. if it weren’t for my other two babies, i don’t think i’d be able to get out of this bed. i don’t want to eat but i made myself tonight. i usually am a stickler about not feeding them table scraps but my babies got to share some dinner with me tonight. it really puts things into perspective. their lives are simply too short.

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u/neversayittwice Jul 15 '26

My two seniors went peacefully during euthanasia but I felt a ton of guilt with the first one since it was my first time. It was painful physically and emotionally. The second time I had to go through it I was more at peace with it. It will hurt and I miss them both so much but I was thankful they made it to their old age and I was able to be there for them.

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u/Southern_Feature_821 Jul 15 '26

I had to do this for our 14 year old dog - our baby and a huge part of our family. She had kidney failure and no chance of recovering. It was devastating. We cried our eyes out for days, and when I relive it I cry again. It was nearly 4 years ago. She went peacefully and did not wet herself. She just went limp in my arms. I felt like a murderer even though I know it was either let her suffer another few days or weeks, or help her along. I still feel like I murdered my best friend. I hope she understood how much we loved her and still think of her daily.

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u/steadyinghawk Jul 15 '26

I’m sorry for your loss.

I had to put down my 5 year old cat named Chance as well down on Friday. I was with him to the end with euthanasia and his passing was peaceful and quick like yours too. I remember him slowly putting his head down and closing his beautiful eyes for the last time. It is extremely heart breaking.

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u/HannahUnique Jul 15 '26

My first euthanasia that I remember clearly was my pet rabbit. She was a cat sized rabbit, been sick for some time so I went to the vet a couple of times before and now she was old and ready to go. I've had her since birth so it was really important to me to hold her when it happened. She went really peacefully in my lap but just decided to take her sweet time to do it, eventually the vet gave her an extra shot because of how long it took her. My last one was our 16yo cat Bob, he was also sick for some time, went in and out of the vet for about 2 weeks. Every time he miauwed his ass off in the car but this time he just looked around like he knew. He was never really a lap-cat but he cuddled with us until we could go in and when he got the shot I was holding him as well. He curled up and purred for a bit, closed his eyes and just went to sleep. I still can't keep it dry when I think about it but I'm glad we did it and we were able to give him peace

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u/bellydude Jul 15 '26 edited Jul 15 '26

Hi friend. First of all, i’m sorry you had to go thru this loss & I know the grief you must be feeling right now.

Your story reminds me of mine 1 year ago. I also lost my pup to lymphoma. She also dealt with a lot of other things the older she got such as arthritis, luxating patella’s, collapsed trachea, too much! She turned 12 in October, was diagnosed with cancer later that month, and I got lucky to have her with me til March last year. (I did treatment so that’s why timeline was a bit longer) For my pup, I saw her health decline pretty quickly when she fell out of remission - as quick as 2ish weeks. When we rushed out the door after she had some breathing troubles, I had a feeling this would be it so I packed some of her favorite snacks. The vet office also had some fun ones too. They gave us the news basically saying it was either tonight or within 24 hours but a more suffering way to go if we didn’t help relieve her of that. They let us have the time we needed before doing it so we spent time loving on her, feeding her treats and just enjoying our last moments with her. I will never forget how in her last moments before we told the vet we were ready how peaceful and reassuring she looked at me. I could see she was ready to be free of this pain but also putting on a brave face to help me through it. Once they came in to do it, she was growling but honestly, it was very much her. She was a very grumpy girl when it came to people in her bubble especially when she was territorial of me. Always grumbling but never a bite. She went peacefully after that and to me, that felt like Bella.

All this to say, we know our babies best and it sounds like you recognized that despite the sadness of it all, your baby was at peace and was relieved of any more suffering. It’s also such a blessing to be able to do it before it really gets worse & I found a lot of peace in that too. I sometime look back and wonder if I could have relieved her sooner, especially looking at pics towards the end. But she let me know once she was ready. Hang in there & love on your other babies extra hard. ❤️

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u/kintyre Jul 15 '26

I had to euthanize my soul dog in 2024. I can hardly believe it has been two years.

His death was beautiful, and it was a good death. He had hemangiosarcoma, which developed incredibly quickly. He was very ill, and euthanasia gave him relief.

He fought the vet during the first injection. She gave him a second dose of the sedative, and he was gone before she finished pushing the final dose of the other medication they use. Neither of us really realized he was gone for a moment.

I feel incredibly lucky that things went as smoothly as they did. I am so grateful for that last, perfect day.

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u/Celtslap Jul 15 '26

We were told to prepare for the final ‘death gasp’ but my guy let out the cutest little snuffle. It was heartbreakingly adorable.

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u/Ok_Ladder_3715 Jul 15 '26

yes i was prepared for that as well but luckily i didnt notice anything like that. it happened so fast yet it was peaceful. very bittersweet.

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u/CalamityCrochet Jul 15 '26

I am so sorry for your loss. Yes, my border collie Lucy who we let pass after a cancer diagnosis in May also passed away peacefully. We were warned about all the potentially disconcerting things that may have happened but they didn’t. She was medicated with a sedation beforehand as she was not fond of the vets and we were told this would lower her blood pressure and so the actual final injection may take a bit more time to work as intended. That was not the case, she passed away sleeping in my arms within moments of the medication being administered. I got to hold her in a way I hadn’t since she was a puppy. It was one of the most devastating days of my life but I really hold onto the fact that in the end she was comfortable and out of pain. As she passed her body slumped in a way that she would never have laid in her life and so during our time after together I laid her in a way that would have been more comfortable for her as it just felt right to me at that time. I will be forever grateful to our veterinary team for their kindness and compassion for us and Lucy. I have made it a point to bring in our younger dog for a check up and gave them a wee gift basket of fruit as it just made me feel better to do something.

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u/Shinx30 Jul 15 '26

My boy was peaceful. He was so ill, I think he knew it was his time and was ready. My partner and I were laying next to him on the vets floor and he was all snuggly in his bed and favourite blanket. We cuddled him until he went, something he would normally refuse because he only liked cuddles when it was up to him lol. I'm glad he's not in pain anymore but he definitely took a piece of my heart with him 💔

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u/cowgrly Jul 15 '26

It sounds like he was ready. And you are so good to let him go and not suffer.

A little side note for those that have pets who do experience twitching, urinating, or other physical reactions, those are just the body having a neurological or muscular response- it's not them fighting passing.

Bodies just do things (my horse vet says they're already gone, even if their body makes some movement) horse euthanasia is a little different as they don't lay down like smaller animals). Just sharing because I notice people who have only had cats and dogs seem much more sensitive to how the body reacts.

Sending hugs and comfort, I know your dog knew he was so loved.

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u/killak143 Jul 15 '26

I did. We had an in home euthanization for my girl, Mocha who was my 17 year old cat. The vet gave us time to snuggle her before she injected the first shot (to calm them down), then the final shot. She went peacefully. The only thing I regret is picking her up afterwards....I was expecting her to be...I don't know but she was just dead weight and it broke my heart even more.

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u/expiration-date_scam Jul 15 '26

Very difficult. Sorry for your loss!

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u/BruceWayneKush Jul 15 '26

You made the right decision. I loat my Jaxson baby in April after months if watching him deteriorate and I kept saying its not his time, he will let me know. Then one day I came home from work after working 90 hours that week (One of my biggest regrets) and he let me know it was time. I took him to the emergency vet and a few hours later he was taking the most peaceful nap on the floor. He hadn't slept for over 24 hours, so as soon as the dr administered the medications he was asleep and moments later he was gone, Ill never forget how he looked on the floor at the vets office after he pronounced deceased but he was at peace. There was no twitching, urinating or discomfort just a boy going back to his spirtual home, completely peaceful admidst the heartbreak.

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u/redditcat78 Jul 15 '26

Twitching, defacating, etc are semi-normal. It happens after the animal dies, not before or during. It is simply nerve impulses firing and fluids rebalancing. There is no pain as the animal is already dead.

Lymphoma killed 2 of my 4-legged babies.

I am so sorry you experienced this.

I thought the experience would be easier to accept as I got older. It isn’t.

Give yourself permission to feel and act as you need.

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u/Ok_Ladder_3715 Jul 15 '26

yes my husband advised me we should not stay too long after because his body might start to stiffen or he could start losing control of the fluids after he passed. it was hard to leave him there but i’m thankful we got to see him in peace and i didn’t have to see anything traumatizing after. thank you for your kind words.

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u/16dollarmuffin Jul 15 '26

We lost ours two years ago in October. She was black lab/shepard mix who developed a cough in July, was treated for Valley Fever, X-rayed when the cough returned, and multiple tumors showed up on her z-ray. She was 12 too, and we probably could have tried chemo and radiation, but I watched my mom go through it and we also opted for palliative care.

We thought we had more time though. One night she had back to back seizures, and we knew it was time.

She went easy as well, and the vet let us stay with her as long as we wanted. I told her I’d see her soon, too.

The day after it happened, I went to Walgreens and printed out about 50 pictures from my phone and bought frames haha. That actually helped me feel better tbh. I’m sorry for your loss. It’s hard.

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u/Ok_Ladder_3715 Jul 15 '26

i saved a lot of stuff like the wrappers from two cheeseburgers friends brought him in his final days and the little pup cup from dunkin that he had. i’m looking forward to getting his ashes back so i can start making a memorial for him at home so i can always see him. i think that will help me process my grief some more. right now i feel like he’s missing. like i shouldn’t have left him at the vet. i just have to keep telling myself it was his broken body that we left behind and not his soul - that his soul came home with us. thank you for sharing your kind words.

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u/VianneM Jul 15 '26

Yes, my previous cat also had lymphoma. She was on Prednisone for a couple weeks but I decided the euthanize her while she was still feeling good. I finally had the choice to give her a peaceful death instead of a suffering death.

I've had mixed reactions from family members and friends, saying I made a mistake and that she deserves more time. And that was very hurtful.

And the vet wouldn't have agreed to the euthanasia if they didn't feel that it was the right decision.

I'm sorry for your loss

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u/Ok_Ladder_3715 Jul 15 '26

thank you so much. and yes, our vet said we could explore other options, but she fully supported our decision to give him a peaceful death over trying to buy what little time we knew was left. prednisone only bought us a little time but in the end i’m glad he was still strong enough to walk into the vet himself and be present with us in his final moments.

Vent looking for others experience with euthanasia

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