Thoughts on Euthanasia

Defined as the practice of ending life to eliminate pain and suffering, euthanasia also means “good death”. It is part of our job as veterinary professionals to prevent and relieve animal suffering. So, for this reason, it becomes an important option that we don’t hesitate to talk about with pet owners in the right circumstances. It is a conversation that we don’t take lightly, and we always aim to be empathetic, open, non-judgmental, and compassionate when talking about death. It is a gift and a blessing that we can provide to an animal that is hurting.

The reason I am writing about this is because it has been heavy on our hearts that we have had to help five families say good-bye to a treasured pet within the past three days. For our small practice this is more than we normally must do. This often raises the question of “How are we able to do this part of our job?” And I will tell you that it is a necessary part of the job that we cannot avoid so we just do. We do it because we need to for the sake of our patients. It can come with a variety of emotions, but I would say relief and sadness are the most common feelings. They are not all the same. Sometimes the patient has been sick for a long time and despite attempts to treat, this is the next kindest option. Sometimes they are young and it’s a sudden trauma that cannot be fixed or sometimes they’re old and aging has taken its toll. Sometimes finances play a role and we cannot treat anymore because the cost of care is just to great. No matter what is happening, we will never leave a pet owner alone in making the decision to euthanize as it can be overwhelming and difficult. It is our experience that euthanasia is often the last act of love that we can give. We feel it is a privilege and we take pride in providing a peaceful end of life experience for your pet.  

You can expect the following from us.

·         Time to discuss any concerns or questions about the process.

·         The entire procedure done at the pace that you and your family needs.

·         A comfortable space to spend these last moments with your pet. This can be either in our comfort room at the clinic or in your home if desired.

·         Sedation so that your pet is sleeping comfortably without feeling pain before the final injection is administered.

·         A memorial keepsake including a clay paw print or a lock of fur if desired.

·         Cremation if selected.

·         Compassion from us as we have all lost special pets ourselves and understand just how hard it is to say goodbye.

On a final note, euthanasia often does require us in the veterinary profession to distance ourselves from the emotional side of the process. It’s never because we don’t care, but we know we have more patients waiting in another room that require our focus, care and a smile.  

We have created a comfortable space for you and your pet.

We will always provide a memorial clay paw print personalized with your pet’s name. If private cremation is chosen, your pet’s ashes will be returned in a keepsake urn.

End of life photography with our local photographer can be a special way to commemorate your pet.