abigail414's diaryland diary
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The Dog Who Would Not Die
Diablo was a prime example of a German Shepherd guard dog. He was over 100 pounds, incredibly handsome, with an intimidating bark and hackles along his back. He was a protector to the single mother and three small children that he adored. Unfortunately, he considered anyone else his mortal enemy. Before her husband left, he was controllable - now she thought it was just a matter of time before he attacked someone. Plus, he was 11 years old, moving slower, and stumbling over his nails because she couldn't trim them (and he wasn't allowed at our, or any other, facility).
In veterinary medicine, we want to make our patients better. I am especially interested in animal behavior, and wanted to try an experimental drug protocol to alleviate his aggression problem. But, there are liability issues in treating dogs like Diablo, especially if the owner can�t control him. If he bit someone while on medication for aggression, the veterinarian could be considered at fault. Plus, he could respond opposite to any psychotropic medication, which would be very bad.
Diablo�s owner initially came in for a consultation (without him). She wanted to know if it was time to say goodbye. She listed all his faults, but also his values, and wanted me to help sort out her options. We talked for awhile and she decided she would call when she was ready.
The euthanasia had to be a house call. She lived close by, and she was allotted a 1 hour appointment. I prescribed 100 mg of Valium in advance to take the edge off and allow us to get close enough for the fatal intravenous injection. When we knocked on the door, we were greeted with ferocious barking. My assistant said �I hope they have another dog�. Nope, it was Diablo, impervious to his medication. The owner got a muzzle on him, but there was no way she could hold him still, and someone was going to get hurt.
So, we made arrangements to come back later in the week, and prescribed a three-drug cocktail. Again we arrived and again he was barking. Luckily, we had brought a third sedative concoction that is usually injected, and Diablo let his owner give it to him orally. It would take longer, so we drove around the block for about 10 minutes. Our third try at the door and we were greeted with silence.
He was in the backyard and we muzzled him just in case he woke up. Good thing, because while we tried to maneuver him, he gave us a deep growl. To our chagrin, the required overdose of sedative also lowered his blood pressure and a vein for the fatal injection was not to be found. We had to double the dose of euthanasia solution, and then wait for his body to slowly respond.
After about ten minutes, his breathing slowed down and his owner wanted to come out and be with him. She had been crying in her bedroom, comforted by her policeman boyfriend (whom Diablo hated). But he kept breathing long after he should have passed on, and we were out of euthanasia solution. My assistant and I were giving each other subtle looks of �what now?� and considered strapping his unconscious body onto the stretcher and getting him back to the clinic before he woke up. He clearly didn�t want to die � he was a protector, and we were strangers in the house.
The whole thing was especially heartbreaking since I love German Shepherds more than other breed. He was, literally, showing undying loyalty to his owner in the face of an onslaught of lethal chemicals. His owner was sobbing, but assuring him that he could go. He wasn�t convinced, and kept breathing. Then, her boyfriend said something funny and she laughed. At that very moment, Diablo took his last breath. It was as if he finally accepted that she was going to be OK, that the uniformed policeman at her side might keep her safe and happy, so he was free to clock out from his job.
7:14 p.m. - 2007-11-01
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