scipio

I am sorry to hear about Lucy Can I ask what reasons did the vet give for giving a sedative? (My fella was a greyhound too.)

This wasn't the article but there appears to be plenty on the web. I think whatever I read/saw was around the time that certain USA states prohibited any more deaths by lethal injection until they investigated further. Here is link: http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=171776 however it may not be the same chemicals for animals, i've no idea. But I had never heard about sedatives stinging and I just wondered if that was so. It has all been preying on my mind since (no doubt all part of the grief). Thanks for telling me re muscles - it looked like a nerve twitching or a pulse in his neck. I know I am particularly upset at the moment, it has been a tough few months, just wish I had insisted on the sedative.

I ask because I have always asked for the sedative first and the passing has been peaceful. I am not saying that my dog fought it this time but it has bothered me since. No-one has ever made reference to a sedative stinging before and I just wondered if it was true or whether the vet just didn't want to hang around to wait for it to take effect. Part of my worry comes from reading about death by lethal injection for humans. I read an article about a year ago which stated it wasn't the instant death that people imagined. First the injection effectively paralyses the person; the article indicated there was a lot of pain but the person was paralysed so couldn't do anything/give voice to that pain, and so on. It took a lot longer for death to occur than people thought. I had told the vets earlier in the day that if we had to pts, we would want a sedative and that appeared to be no problem to them. At the time the vet started to get it ready but then said she didn't think it was a good idea, it might sting and distress my dog. I obviously went with what she said, I wouldn't know enough and was too upset to argue about it. what has worried me since is that within seconds he was totally motionless, she was listening with a stethoscope and a couple of minutes later she said 'he has gone'. Another minute later I noticed twiching in his neck and said something - I was told it was just muscles relaxing. They then went out to get the stretcher from the van. I noticed more twitching - this about 4/5 mins after he was supposed to have gone. It then stopped. I now can't get that article about euthansia out of my head and worry that he suffered . If he had been sedated, even if it stung, he would have at least been asleep or out of it. Sorry, you will probably all think I am totally nuts by now but I keep going back to that article and wish to hell I had made her give the sedative.

I know from reading something on here that many of you ask the vet to sedate your dog before euthanasia. Has anyone been told that the sedative injection may sting (and therefore distress the dog further) and it is better not to have it, ie just have the PTS injection?

I think you are going to be in difficulty with this one. It wouldn't be a true redundancy in any event since a redundancy is when they require less employees to do work of a particular kind. To claim redundancy payment, you need two years service under your belt. It could well be that you are being unfairly dismissed. However, to claim unfair dismissal you need one year with the company. As others say, it is important to look at your contract (and any other company policies/procedures). Express terms in a contract will be enforced. So if there is a probationary period and it says they have only to give you one week's notice, you are stuck with that. If, however, there is no probationary period and your contract says you are entitled to one month's notice, that is what they must give you. If they don't give you the one month's notice it is 'wrongful dismissal' because they are breaching your contract. If no notice period is set out in your contract, the statutory notice period for somone with your length of service is (only) one week. Do you belong to a union? Might be worth contacting them if you do, to see if they can assist you. Or CAB?

I am, for the second time, in the position of having a sick (and, this time, elderly) dog who has needed constant care for the past few months. When he is bad (disc/arthritis in back), we need two people available to get him up and outside. On his good days, he can manage to walk, although needs help to get up, and seems happy. I know the time will soon come when the bad days will outnumber the good and I will know what I have to do. But his quality of life is still reasonable. It got me thinking that others must find themselves in this position, ie working but with a sick dog who basically needs full-time assistance of some sort. As I say, we can manage with help from others but it can't be easy for anyone else in this position and who hasn't got others around who can provide that assistance. What do you do? (By the way, I hate leaving my dogs for long even when they are young and fit so they are never left for long! ) The people who are helping me now wont be around to help in the future; and I have to work. So it got me thinking as to whether I could really take on any more dogs (I have two others anyway) while we continue to work. It is ok while the dogs are fit and healthy but working and dogs can become a real problem when they are sick and need care. Annual leave doesn't go far and employers aren't particularly sympathic in my experience. I would quite happily have more dogs (and would give them a good home) but really wonder if I should because of this problem, which is the second time I have faced it. So just wondered if others had been in a similar position and what solution (if any) you found?

I had to change from Sainsburys a couple of years ago when my greyhound's insurance went up by over 150% in one fell swoop when he reached 11 years. We had never claimed in 7 years. It used to be around the £12 mark, then jumped to £19.99 when he reached 10 and then they wanted £55 when he reached 11 years. I wrote all sorts of rude letters to them and ended up withdrawing all our savings from Sainsbury in disgust. It was very difficult to get a response from them; and when I eventually did all they said was the increase was a result of a new formula they were using, taking account of the dog's breed, age etc. Greyhounds and some other breeds are getting clobbered. I did write to both Sainsburys an Axa asking whether they had any idea of the impact such a move would have on rehoming certain breeds and older dogs in general. Needless to say they didn't give a toss. I felt particularly aggrieved because we had never claimed and he was fit as a fiddle with no underlying conditions. We moved to Tesco and now that has gone up to £40+ a month for the greyhound (13 now), so I wonder if all the insurance companies are following suit. Surely it will impact on adoption/abandonment etc. I think it is very worrying for certain breeds. I am also asking myself whether we can afford to keep multiple dogs.

Thanks Wendy. I have had a look on their web site but I don't think there is a store anywhere near me, shame.

Gorgeous photos and gorgeous dogs Can I ask about the bed in the photo, ie where you got it from? What is the cover? Washable? Sorry for all the questions but I am on the lookout for new beds and that one looks rather comfy!

Thank you for the responses. We have heard from the vet, who will come and assess our elderly lad to see whether it may make a difference to him. I am not sure that he is in that much pain on a day to day basis - he seems too happy and smiley. But when it 'goes' he obviously is and of course is unable to stand, balance, walk etc. Generally speaking however he is a lot wobblier than he was a couple of months or so ago. thanks again

Thanks blackmagic, perhaps it is worth a go then - undoubtedly my dog has arthritis and probably some nerve trapping. Will ring the insurance company today to see if they cover the cost or whether we need to find the pennies (££s!)

I have an elderly dog who is suffering with back problems. He is generally wobblier on his legs now but we are having what the vet thinks is intermittent disc problem, resulting in the collapse of his back end, giving him pain and the sudden inability to stand/walk (trapped nerves/arthritis). Vet has him on metacam etc. They are avoiding x-rays cos of his intolerance to anaesthetics and his age and the fact that we wouldn't put him through an op, in any event, at this stage of his life. They don't think it is cancer because of the intermittent nature of the problem (however, we are having less time between 'attacks' now) We have also tried a few sessions of osteopathy but, although the 1st session saw an improvement, things seemed to be worse after 2nd/3rd sessions. Basically I think getting up from a lying position to standing is what is putting the most strain on his back. We are trying to make sure we give him a helping hand as much as possible but can't be there every minute of every day needless to say. Apart from this he is a happy dog with a good appetite and still enjoys life. It has now been suggested we try acupuncture (a vet would administer). I wonder if anyone has any experience of back problems such as these and the use of acupuncture?

Spot on!

Ooooh, so pleased - I have been following this story, quite made my evening It seems as though some dogs go a bit wild and nervy if they get parted from their owners. I know one of my would be a nightmare to catch if she got lost. Such heartache, but such a great ending!

I have just finished 'The Road' by Cormac McCarthy. If you want to read a book this is brilliant, this is it. It isn't difficult to read, but it is desolate and chilling. Some event has happened in the past; you don't know exactly what it is but the earth is covered in ash, there are few living, food is becoming scarce, etc. A father, and the son he is trying hard to protect, are 'on the road', barely surviving. This is their story. Not a comfortable read but it is certainly a book that will stay with you when the last page is read.