8 years ago
6
When is it ethical to euthanize your pet?
In the past, owners were quick to put their pets down. Now, with many viewing pets as family members, are they waiting too long?
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What kind of heartless monsters did this? I want to know!
It's crazy to think about, isn't it? I knew a lady who euthanized her dog because he was 'too much trouble.' He was a little dachshund, only around a year old. I can understand not being able to keep a pet, but why euthanize it? Why not give it to someone else? I know that's not always possible, but it was in this case. It was a young and healthy dog. I don't think I spoke to her after that. I didn't know about this until it was already done. :(
I wouldn't want to be a vet. The whole job sounds horrible. I volunteered at a veterinary hospital in high school because I was considering becoming a vet, and it was not fun. The vet I worked with was so cynical and burned out it was awful to see. You are expected to care for innocent animals, but to do so you have to ask people for money that they may not have, and then what? Veterinary costs can be as much, if not more, than healthcare costs for people. This is a real problem. I did actually have a vet who committed suicide. :(
This was more depressing than I meant it to be. Sorry!
Same here..Our family always had a dog and I always had pets in my room. It never crossed our minds to do this. As to when to do it,I go with quality of life myself.
It's in the mindset. You don't think twice about eating chicken because chickens are products not family. Heck in China, you can buy a dog to eat for dinner. It's just how humans are.
I had to put down one of my dogs a year and a half ago. It was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. My poor old Pax. His lymphoma had returned after 2 years. We tried treating it but it didn't work the second time. He wasn't in any pain and they told me he would simply pass. I was hoping he would simply slip away at home. What changed? he had a stroke like event and became unable to move, he started to be in pain.
What was the threshold? when it no longer became merely a financial issue.
The night vet said at first I should put him down as there was no point in "wasting money" on a dying dog.
Before he was dying comfortably and getting a bit chunky due to his pill and diet ;).
The thing is there was a slim chance that he could be healed and allowed to die at home . The night shift vet and I had a long conversation and I decided to take the long shot as fuck it its only money. I'd have wondered if I could have done anything else if I hadn't at least tried. The tests wouldn't hurt. The pain could be stopped as they saw if there was anything they could do.
Why did I go so far? it was only money.
Before he wasn't in pain.
The second he was in pain and nothing could be done to stop the pain I put him down.
My regular vet and his oncologist commented that Pax was the happiest dog ever.
I'd be up every day at four am to rub his joints, cool him down and hand feed him. Hah at one point I was even wiping his ass.
He was happy in his final days on a diet of fresh cooked bacon, vanilla Oreos and frozen raspberry bars. Hah when the end was in sight I threw out the rule book for feeding him he got what he wanted. The last thing he had? chocolate pudding, something he always tried to steal from me since he was a pup.
Why did I go so far? it was only money.
He wasn't in pain.
The second he was in pain and nothing could be done to stop the pain I put him to sleep.
This is a quote from the book "Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul"
Having to put three pets to sleep due to illness, this quote always makes me smile and tear up at the same time. It really is a tough decision, but it's about doing what's right for the animal, not yourself.