Dog Died At Vets

[Ice_T]

Took my dog to be neutered. He was a dear friend, we befriended each other while I was living rough on the streets of Northampton. Decided to have him done because he was marking his territory in my housing association flat. Went to pick him up after the snip and the vet told me he never came round after the op, his ticker basically went pop and whilst rare it can happen. Are they billy bull&%itting me?

[seekeerz]

oh that's just awful, Ice, I feel for you and nothing I can say can make it any easier. No I doubt they would tell you a load of excrement but I'm sad they couldn't let you know before you went to collect him.

stick around cos there'll be lots of support for you here ... I've never lost a friend like that but others will though it is rare. take care, will be thinking of you

[Ouzel]

I don't think the vet would lie to you, but they should have let you know what had happened.

So sorry that you have lost your friend - it's a horrible experience to lose a much loved pet - take care xx

[wolf63]

I am sorry to hear about your friend. There is always a chance of this happening, it happens in humans too (but we don't usually get our troublesome males neutered ☺). The anaesthetic is pretty safe but there are still some risks involved.

You did the right thing in choosing to get him done, it is just unfortunate that he did not survive.

I am sure that the vet did all that he/she could.

Best wishes.

[Old_Geezer]

It's a common enough op so I find it difficult to believe that the vet could have done anything fatal during it. Just doesn't seem plausible. So we have no reason to believe it wasn't just as the vet described and that he had to break the awful news to you.

Of course you will be full of how/why type questions, but it sounds to me as if your companion had a weakness and that it was simply a question of time when it caught him. Unfortunately it was when it was and he was in someone else's care. These things happen from time to time and we all hope not to us.

Best try to come to terms that it was his time to go. I don't think there are any other answers nor reason to try to place blame anywhere. Good luck with coming to terms with your loss.

[pixie374]

Really sorry xx anaesthetic is risky for anyone. It is quite possible, but must be a real shock. Take care xx

[murraymints]

same happened to a cat I had ...reacted to the jabs...

[Peter Pedant]

Ice T sorry for your loss

wolfie - the pres of the r c of (human) anaesthetists put the chance of death from an anesthetic alone at between 1 -million and 1 - ten million

confounding factors are of course that you are ill, old, scrunty ( yup scrunty ) before the anaesthetic .... so I was given a mortality of 5% for hemicolectomy at one month ( but I did have cancer )
that chance of course is for 'all comers'

even simple operations like appendicectomy have a mortality
we had one 85 y o keel over from a clot on the lung which was a shock to everyone

and of course Ice T asking the vet - " was it the ether or your scalpel Mr Cut-it-all ? " doesnt bring the dog back

[Mosaic]

We had a dear cat, very briefly - she had been feral and had scavenged for years, and this compromised her digestion leading to kidney failure. It might be that your old friend's past history simply left him with a very weak heart. But remember the good times - he was your good buddy and you his, and when you're ready, you'll possibly think of finding another friend in need at the nearest animal shelter.

[RATTER15]

Yes it does happen, if a dog or cat is going under general anaesthetic, you usually have to sign a disclaimer, it is usually explained in there that animals can die as a result.

So sorry for your loss :-(

[LGP]

I feel for you, it's like losing a member of your family or a friend who never judges you and gives you complete loyalty. I have lost a few dogs in my life mainly to old age but once suddenly without warning, it was hard but I received a very kind letter from my vet expressing sympathy for my loss. I'm sure your vet would have done everything possible to ensure your friends safety and would have been upset too the op wasn't successful. take comfort in the fact that you saved your friend from a miserable life and gave him a good home, he would have loved you for that.

[horselady]

We had a lovely Retriever that died suddenly when she was in kennels for just one day, that was due to an unknown heart problem, such a shock for you and I really sympathise.

[rsvp]

Think it was probably just bad luck ice_t - it does sometimes happens although it isn't common so I guess your friend was very, very unlucky. When you're feeling a bit better why not go and have a quiet chat with the vet, it may help. At least your friend didn't suffer.

[Ice_T]

I'd like to thank everyone for their kind thoughts. It has been very hard, just as I was getting my life back on track this set me back. Living on the streets as a teenage girl was very hard, my dog protected me on several occasions when someone thought I was an easy target so although pets weren't allowed in my flat I tried to keep him under the radar and his spraying was making that difficult. B*stard, sorry for giving you that name. May you rest in peace.

[mastercraft]

No, it happens.

[LostSoulx]

Ice T I am very sorry for your loss, you could ask the vet further questions, as I would probably want to in your situation, but then that might be counter productive in allowing you to be able to move forward and heal.