Euthanasia’s Place in Pet Ownership

No matter how many years you work in vet medicine euthanasia never gets “routine”. Certainly there is the procedural stuff: signing the papers, going over what to expect, giving the injections, these things don’t change. However, watching people at their most vulnerable, their most painful is often excruciating. We often feel so helpless. We want to waive a magic wand and grief be gone. The flip side of watching is participating. Most of us who are good at comfort draw from a place of personal experience.  

Everyone has their opinions about the place of euthanasia. Some people see it as letting their pet down; some see it as killing their pet; some see it as giving up; many see it as relieving suffering.  

When you choose to have furry companions, at some point you will hurt. This is an unavoidable fact. Your heart will be ripped out, trampled on, and you will feel lost. Grief stinks, sometimes choices stink, and when it is put on you you are going to feel guilt. I know all about that war of head vs. heart. Just when you have made peace with your decision, Fido will have a good day. He won’t seem in as much pain. He will eat well. He will wag his tail just like he used to. Well you can’t very well do it now. You will be cheating him (and yourself) out of good time. Maybe tomorrow……..

These are the tormented thoughts of love and the forestalling of pain. Dr. Morris says it is better to end it too soon than too late. So, instead of thinking about all of the things you may be missing out on think about all of the things your pet will have to endure. At 2pm he may be chowing like a mad bunny, but what about midnight when he is struggling just to get his next breath? He brought you the ball and dropped it at your feet because he just LIVES for a toss, but all too soon he can’t get up because his hips hurt so badly. The numbers on a piece of paper tell you that his body is drowingin in toxins, his organs are failing, and he must be in pain, but he looks at you with THOSE EYES!  

Maybe you do make the decision too soon. You may have lost out on days, hours, precious moments, but what you have saved him is immeasurable. Pets rarely die peacefully in their sleep, at home. When their weary bodies cannot keep them going, when their organs have nothing left to give, they die. I love my fur friends too much to put my needs ahead of theirs. A kind, painless, humane euthanasia is the last gift I can give. I will put aside my agony to ease theirs. This is the sad responsibility of pet ownership; to be there at the beginning, the middle, and at the end when they are counting on you the most. It takes massive amounts of bravery, strength, and love. Their suffering is at an end while yours is just beginning.

chris