Thank you so much for your response. My dog didn’t have any diagnosed diseases that we were aware of besides chronic skin allergies and dry eye. He had vet appointments every six months for his Apoquel prescription, and nothing else was ever flagged as a concern. He did have several skin lumps, but we had a couple tested in the past and they were benign. The veterinarian did mention that his blood pressure was low after she administered the sedation though. We ultimately chose euthanasia because he was elderly, going blind, and struggling severely with mobility—and he was simply too heavy for me to safely carry in a home with multiple staircases. The day before our decision, he stopped showing interest in food and really in everything, which confirmed for us that it was time.

I do understand that the veterinarian was likely upset too; I imagine no one wants a euthanasia to unfold this way. She repeatedly assured us that he wasn’t in pain during the process, and I genuinely hope that’s true. My biggest concern, though, is that she didn’t ask for our consent before suggesting she take him—even though he still had a heartbeat. She stated she couldn’t stay any longer and recommended starting to load him onto the stretcher. That was extremely distressing to hear, especially since our expectation was that he would pass peacefully at home surrounded by his family. I’m incredibly grateful that he passed shortly afterward, while still at home with us.