Anesthesia

I imagine there may be a few people who read the previous post and wondered why I requested Annie be given anesthesia before she was euthanised that night. The logic may not be scientifically sound, but I wanted there to be NO possible way that she would feel any additional pain when her heart stopped. Here are my reasons for it:

1. I once had to put an injured cat to sleep, and the process was so immediate he simultaneously stopped in mid cry and all his visible muscles (pupils, tongue, body) relaxed. I had been told that the drug used would first put his brain to sleep like an anesthetic, then it would shut down his body. I question to myself still if there really was enough time for his brain to become "unaware" or if he lingered enough to register the complete shut down of his body.

2. Although not exactly in the same vein, I myself had once been told by a doctor that the anesthesia I was going to be given for a minor surgery (compacted wisdom teeth) would turn off my mind and that I would be completely unaware of the procedure as soon as I passed out. I passed out, but then was cognizant for a few minutes more, listening to the machinery monitoring my pulse, the drills being tested, feel them shaking my head to check that I was out, and feel them wedge that darn prop into the roof of my mouth so hard I felt it cut into my palate . . . all while being unable to move my body or react in any way. THEN I was out.

3. Having your heart stop is painful. Do not ever want to feel that breath-taking crushing pressure; do everything you can to avoid it.  End of story.