First Anaesthetic Death Today

[Amber]

All of us are in total shock and so upset at the moment.

I witnessed my first death under anaesthetic today an apparently perfectly healthy 4 year old bitch. Our whole team worked frantically for over half an hour to bring her back, but it just wasn't to be she went into both respiratory and cardiac arrest, we tried everything we could - but with no success we knew after about 20 minutes that we weren't going to get her back, but we still carried on trying for another 10 - 15 minutes before admitting that we had lost her

We all feel numb and we feel so guilty, like we could have done more. The owner is understandably distraught, and although we explained to her that there are risks with every anaesthetic, she is obviously in total shock - it was just totally unexpected. Although we know it was no bodies fault, we cannot help but feel responsible.

It is our first at the practice for 2 years, performing around 4 anaesthetics per day. Our vet has only ever experienced 4 anaesthetic deaths in her 20 years of training, which makes it even more of a shock when it does happen.

Play free at the bridge little baby - I'm so so sorry

[Elaine]

Oh dear thats so sad but you just never know how they will react to it. Sending big hugs xxx

[dandysmom]

Every pet owner's nightmare...... how very sad for all concerned.

[babycakes]

Oh that must have been awful for you all X RIP little one

[mable1718]

aww that is so upsetting for you amber huge huge ((((((hugs))))))))

[Mags]

That is so sad Amber ...... we are all warned it can happen but it is so tragic when you come face to face with it... ((((hugs))))

[Amber]

Thank you for your kind words everyone - it's good to be able to talk about it.

We had four nurses and a vet working on her, we injected her with adrenaline, cardiac massage, I was breathing for her, running back and forwards with heat pads, dopram drops (which is a respiratory stimulant) but she was gone however, her brain was starved of oxygen for so long that it was almost certain that she would be brain damaged, had she come around for us

All of my thoughts are with the owner right now - I can't imagine what she must be going through. The poor lady has recently suffered a stroke, and has no real family to speak of - her dog was all she really had which makes it all the worse we have decided that we are not going to charge her for anything. She is a fantastic client and has been through so much lately

[Jane]

I'm so sorry RIP doggy xx I'm sure she (the dog and the owner) wouldn't blame you guys for this, it's just one of those things as sad as it is :'(

[Fran]

It's a worry that every one of us goes through when our pet has an anaesthetic but until you experience it, it's hard to believe that it does sometimes happen as indeed it does in humans I feel so sorry for the owner, the dog would have known nothing of it I guess being under anaesthetic but what a terrible shock for the owner

I have a friend that lost a labrador bitch under anaesthetic whilst she was having a spay operation

[Kim]

How very sad for all concerned. ((hugs))