Tis the season...

[draggonlaady]

For things to die.
This week alone, we've had 2 colic horses that died, one of which was a long-time patient we've done a lot of work on. Euthanized a cat that was attacking the owner's grandkids, I did an at-home euthanasia of a really nice older dog on Monday. I've just heard from a client that one of our favorite regular boarders (an older Newfoundland) died at home about an hour ago, and I'm scheduled to euthanize an elderly boxer this afternoon, who's been enthusiastically and happily starving himself for weeks. I've been talking to a couple with a dog in kidney failure daily this week, and expecting to euthanize it at anytime--they're just trying to nurse her through the next few days so they don't have to kill her on Christmas. Yay. Happy Holidays, everybody.

November 28/30 + one client

Comments

[fr33f0x.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know all the reasons for euthanasia, though I think if one is honest in the end it does remain a question of convenience - with almost any creature there are almost always some options remaining to just alleviate the pain or to provide some pleasure, that gives each further day, each further hour some meaning, before that long sleep of oblivion. It's just that at some point we usually don't want to be bothered with it anymore, when the effort becomes too great, or, I think more often than not, because it is US, who are on the outside, who cannot stand the suffering anymore. I mean, I know that there are exceptions, where immediate death is a grace, but I sometimes think they are far less than we'd like to think.
I remember when my sister was dying, how she clung to each moment, how in those days that the firm ground of life around her melted away, until she was balancing on a tiny outcropping above that vast gulf, and there was still instances of a smile, of a happy thought, of some meaningful communication, or just some comfort, and how she'd, I dunno, would eat them up, cramming herself as long as she still was able to... Maybe I was selfish, but I hated the docs and my mum fr every decision they made to shorten her days, for every treatment not attempted, for every machine not employed. I know it's a balancing act of kindnesses and necessities, but I always came down on the side of more time. Life is more than pain and pleasure, it is experience, any kind of experience, against nothingness. She was gone soon enough and will be forever. Each second was a treasure. But one dearly paid for, that's true. Certainly more than one would invest in a pet...
But I am glad to hear that it tears you up inside, even when you deem it necessary or a kindness. I mean, not that I wish you pain or anything, but it shouldn't ever be easy, should it?
(Listen to me talk, as if I hadn't been willing to toss it all away more than once. You're not the only one with these conflictes, my dear. ;)

[draggonlaady.livejournal.com]

I don't know, really. I mean, is it worth keeping a dog alive but so drugged on pain meds that it's barely aware of anything and is essentially unconscious, because otherwise it's in pain? A choice that each person has to make for themselves, I guess. And some owners do choose that, and I can't say they're wrong.

As for getting easy; you're exactly right and I tell people that on a regular basis. When putting away your pet becomes an easy decision, it is time to stop having pets.