This touched my heart today

[trudy1]

Pets, it turns out, also have last wishes before they die, but only known by veterinarians who put old and sick animals to sleep. Twitter user Jesse Dietrich asked a vet what was the most difficult part of his job.

The specialist answered without hesitation that it was the hardest for him to see how old or sick animals look for their owners with the eyes of their owners before going to sleep. The fact is that 90 % of owners don't want to be in a room with a dying animal. People leave so that they don't see their pet leave. But they don't realize that it's in these last moments of life that their pet needs them most.

Veterinarians ask the owners to be close to the animals until the very end. ′′It's inevitable that they die before you. Don't forget that you were the center of their life. Maybe they were just a part of you. But they are also your family. No matter how hard it is, don't leave them.

Don’t let them die in a room with a stranger in a place they dont like. It is very painful for veterinarians to see how pets cannot find their owner during the last minutes of their life. They don’t understand why the owner left them. After all, they needed their owner’s consolation.

Veterinarians do everything possible to ensure that animals are not so scared, but they are complete strangers to them. Don't be a coward because it's too painful for you. Think about the pet. Endure this pain for the sake of their sake. Be with them until the end.”

 

[cmshap]

When I was a child, we had a dog who developed a rare autoimmune disease that killed her at only the age of 3-4. I was too young to understand any of it.

But later in my life, my dad explained how he stayed with her during the euthanization, and it was extremely hard, but he never regretted it.

My 10-year-old cat is still pretty healthy, and I hope he has several years left. But I plan to be there at the end.

 

[FeebysOwner]

Thanks for the sweet sentiment. I think many folks on this site do want to be with their pets when euthanasia is decided.

I will go one step further and suggest that at home euthanasia is the most appropriate when the circumstances allow. I have a cat (18+ yo) who isn't crazy about vet visits but will 'tolerate' them - with some degree of protest. The last thing I want for her is to be driven to the vets to be euthanized when her time comes, even if I am there with her.

 

[cmshap]

I will go one step further and suggest that at home euthanasia is the most appropriate when the circumstances allow.

That's how I plan to do it, but I am lucky enough to have a vet that does this always because it's her policy.

I wish more vets could do this but I understand why it's not feasible in some practices with budget/time constraints.

 

[Furballsmom]

Don't be a coward because it's too painful for you. Think about the pet. Endure this pain for the sake of their sake. Be with them until the end

I've seen this article before.

I'm no coward. I did not want to be there for my angel Moffit because all I was doing was literally contributing to her upset and confusion, and I saw it as selfish on my part to try and be there. I was worthless to, and had no strength for, her at that point. The whole situation was complicated by other factors I couldn't do anything about and my emotions were in overdrive by the time I got to the clinic.

My point being that there's definitely more than one side to this perspective.

 

[cmshap]

My point being that there's definitely more than one side to this perspective.

I totally agree with this. It depends on the pet, and the person.

I've made another post on how my cat is currently constantly sitting in my lap and staring me in the eyes. And when I look at him he vocalizes.

I hope that's how the end will be. As I said, my vet does home euthanasia for anybody who wants it. I feel like my particular cat will benefit from that, but I can't know how the actual scenario will play out.

I totally understand how some cats/people just won't make the situation better, or might make them worse.

 

[FeebysOwner]

My point being that there's definitely more than one side to this perspective.

There are...and you are right. Sometimes, situations are not capable of being managed in the 'ideal' world (for what with death is 'ideal'). My first cat, who I admittedly, ignorantly, waited too long to decide he needed to be relieved of his suffering (1992) with what was not even diagnosed at that time, but was most likely FIP, was taken to the vet who tried to euthanize in our presence. They couldn't even find a vein to administer drugs to, they kept collapsing. He was very much out of it, and they asked for us to allow them to take him in a backroom to end his suffering through other means. I let them do so, and I never asked, but now suspect, they administered a lethal gas. I was not with him at the end, but given his state at the time, I am truly not sure he even knew.

I hope we are much further along in helping our little guys/gals that such an event is not the norm.

 

[cmshap]

There are...and you are right. Sometimes, situations are not capable of being managed in the 'ideal' world

That's how I feel about my cat's eventual end.

He sits on my lap and stares me in the eyes all the time, but having a strange person in my home, poking him with a needle, I'm sure is going to cause stress. Might also divert his attention entirely away from me while it's happening.

But at the same time, I think I can't overthink it too much. I just want to provide him with the option of using me as comfort. Even if it doesn't work out that way.

Damn, this is making me tear up just thinking about.

 

[marshmallow2013]

I never got the chance to schedule at home euthanasia. I had to make a decision within hours to have my beloved 12 year old put to sleep. It was extremely hard but I was so shocked at the time I couldn’t cry. His oral cancer was so aggressive, he had stopped eating. I just wanted to end his suffering. I was hugging him as he laid on the table with his cheek right next to mine. He started purring after the sedative. Then he was given anesthesia. It was the saddest day in my life.

 

[di and bob]

i agree with the vet, be there for the pet, even as it breaks your heart. If you just can't, at least be there holding them and ask for a strong sedative first to calm them. then when they are out of it, the vet can take over. The first deaths I went through were at home, they were accidents and we could not get to the vet in time, death was pretty much instantaneous. Traumatic, but quick. My precious Burt died in my arms, we had plans for a vet, but at that moment all vets in town were called to a truck rollover with a lot of injured cattle. Most deaths at home are relatively pain-free, the body starts to shut down. But there is still anxiety. I will always be there if at all possible for my little ones, I never want to think of them looking for me. Always remember, they carry your love with them at all times, they will never be alone. so if you really can't be there, you are still in their hearts.........

 

[Antonio65]

Definitely with my cats till the end. I don't think there's an alternative.
They gave us all themselves to us, they trusted us every single second of their life with us, we can't let them down at the end, when they need us the most.
I did it for all my cats when needed. I was a wreck in those moments, but I was there, holding their paws, looking at them in the eyes, speaking soft words to them, and crying.
I did it even for the cats of my colony that needed this last act of love. All pets deserve this.

 

[Mighty Orange]

I apologize to all my cats, I lost my love of my life during covid only my wife could attend. Then I lost snickers, then we-run then Sammy.
I'm sorry I can't do more death vigils.

 

[cmshap]

I apologize to all my cats, I lost my love of my life during covid only my wife could attend. Then I lost snickers, then we-run then Sammy.
I'm sorry I can't do more death vigils.

You don't need to feel pressured to reply if you don't want to, but I honestly am wondering about what you mean by this post. Who did you lose, exactly, during COVID?

 

[Mighty Orange]

My best friend, Batty. Been missing him for 2 years now. My vet would only allow one of us in to be with him.

 

[ollie4444]

The fact is that 90 % of owners don't want to be in a room with a dying animal. People leave so that they don't see their pet leave. But they don't realize that it's in these last moments of life that their pet needs them most.

I could never imagine leaving any of my babies alone during anything like that no matter how heartbreaking it would be