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An article on Dailymail.com quoted a "tired, broken-hearted vet" in South Africa as saying most people don't understand that if they do not stay with their pet during euthanasia, the pet ends up frightened and looking around desperately for their owner as they are euthanized.
Broke my heart. Vets say it is the responsibility of the owner to be there. I agree...it's hard but our last responsibility to our beloved pet.
Last edited by greatblueheron; 09-11-2018 at 07:45 AM..
When I was much younger (late teens, early 20s) I did this three times. Couldn't bear to watch a pet be euthanized, so I left them in the hands of the vet.
Then I finally woke up and realized that the pet's fear and need for comfort at such a tremendously difficult time vastly outweighed whether or not I could 'face it'. And when I finally stood with the first pet that I watched being euthanized, I thought, how could I ever NOT have done this?
To this day, it haunts me that I wasn't there for those pets in my early years...most esp. the dog I grew up with. He was devoted to me - despite being the family pet, he truly was my dog - and he was always petrified of the vet's office. But the day he went downhill, my sister's boyfriend wound up taking him in. I will never forgive myself for that.
Hell no is right! NO WAY would I not be present....!
I wonder about the 90%....that seems an awfully high percentage...
I was bamboozled. I had been asked in advance and told it cots extra. No one can ever explain why they have to use a cath if I am there but not if I do not want to.
Anyway, even for the cath they said it might be hard to find a vein. It will distress you. I said I am here for HER. If that happens, all the more reason for me to be PRESENT. NO.
'We could give her oxygen. She has a wheeze'. We are killing her, why does she need oxygen? NO!
When I was much younger (late teens, early 20s) I did this three times. Couldn't bear to watch a pet be euthanized, so I left them in the hands of the vet.
Then I finally woke up and realized that the pet's fear and need for comfort at such a tremendously difficult time vastly outweighed whether or not I could 'face it'. And when I finally stood with the first pet that I watched being euthanized, I thought, how could I ever NOT have done this?
To this day, it haunts me that I wasn't there for those pets in my early years...most esp. the dog I grew up with. He was devoted to me - despite being the family pet, he truly was my dog - and he was always petrified of the vet's office. But the day he went downhill, my sister's boyfriend wound up taking him in. I will never forgive myself for that.
Forgive yourself. You still did the brave thing and did right by him. Ended his suffering.
Just euthanized a dog we had for 16 years last week. The older I get, the harder it gets for me but I would never put an animal down without being there to calm him/her. It is the absolute least I can do in return for the years of unconditional love my pets have given me. And, seeing an animal go peacefully, though heartbreaking, beats the hell out of watching our human family members long drawn out suffering before they pass. Death is the reality of life. The sooner we face it, the better.
Just euthanized a dog we had for 16 years last week. The older I get, the harder it gets for me but I would never put an animal down without being there to calm him/her. It is the absolute least I can do in return for the years of unconditional love my pets have given me. And, seeing an animal go peacefully, though heartbreaking, beats the hell out of watching our human family members long drawn out suffering before they pass. Death is the reality of life. The sooner we face it, the better.
It is hard. Sometimes, it does not go well and they panic, yelp, have seizures, etc. Sometimes they just go to sleep. My wife usually goes with them. She is stronger than me int hat way and I am never available when vets are open anyway.
One of our dogs was too big to take to the vet and he could not stand, we tried to lift him with five people and lifting the blanket onder him, but it was painful for him, so the vet came to our house and put him to sleep. Fortunately, he just went to sleep.
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