Euthanizing our first dog questions

[CrazyChickGirl]

Hi everyone. Our first family dog is getting older. He is 11, but has outlived all of his family members, including his younger brother. He has a long list of health issues that have overwhelmed us the last two years and now seems to be in pain. We feel like instead of continuing with ultrasounds and biopsies, it's time to let him be. My husband called the vets office and the clerk was sort of rude. She said we would first need an appt to have a physical to see if it was the "right choice". My husband didn't even know what to say. Is this a common scenario? This is our first time every putting an animal down and we've thought about it very carefully and for many months. I didn't know that vets questioned the choice... I thought it was the choice of the owners? Am I wrong? My husband doesn't want to take him to that vet now. I don't know. I don't feel like we have anything to hide but maybe I am wrong? Are they going to be mad at us?!

 

[Pyxis]

Get a new vet. Never have I ever been told that my vet needs to do a physical to see if it's the right choice. Some owners simply cannot afford to pay for care for their pets in situations like yours and it is their choice to end the suffering of their animal, not the vet's.

 

[nayeli]

I agree with the above answer, get a new vet. It is YOUR choice when to euthanize. If you feel like the quality of life has deteriorated than its time!

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Agreed wih the others. A good vet would not question an owners choice to euthanize. They may give some alternative options but they should understand the mental toil owners go through to come to the euthanasia decision.

I'm sorry you have to make this difficult decision and deal with a vet that is giving you a hard time about your decision.

 

[Stacykins]

If you were planning on euthanizing a young, perfectly healthy animal, I'd understand the vet questioning you on it. But you know your dog better than your vet, including when he is in pain. I assume it is pain that isn't being controlled well by rimadylor tramadol? Eventually, those stopped helping my 15 year old dog, and when he started crying from the effort of just standing up, it was time.

 

[enola]

I am firmly convinced that some (not all) vets will assess the emotional hold your pet has on you, then take monetary advantage of you.

(That was the nicest way I could think to say that when you are at an emotional low........they will still gladly take your money.........)

 

[CrazyChickGirl]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. Yes, last time we were there she wanted to send us to a specialist and gave me his number. Somehow she gave the specialist my phone number and he left several urgent messages on my cell phone. We love our dog. But he has 12 different things wrong with him. The ultrasound they wanted to do was only a first step, a biopsy needed to be done. Just a few months before our vet said he didn't feel comfortable doing surgery on him though because he was so elderly. We don't have a lot of extra money, so that makes these decisions even harder. We did spend thousands of dollars on him last year for various things. But at some point we had to step back and look at his quality of life and the vast complications he has and the fact that we were spending more on him then our own three children, you know? Its not been easy though.

 

[CrazyChickGirl]

He's a pure bred miniature schnauzer... And I don't think he was bred for good health... :/

 

[brandy00]

I agree with everyone else, get a new vet. We had to have a family pet euthanized a few years ago. It is a very difficult decision, and it's an emotional ordeal. It is hard enough as it is, and you shouldn't be made to feel guilty by the vet's office.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I am so sorry that this time has come and that it is being made more difficult by the response of your vet. Given that the vet/staff should be quite aware of and familiar with your dog and the road you have traveled to get to this point I can't see this being a matter of them not understanding that this is a judgment call being made for the right reasons and not falling under the category of putting down a young, healthy animal for no "real" reason at all. I would find yourself a good vet who is there to support your animal and yourselves through this decision and process. To answer your question about whether it is normal or not - as I touched on above, that depends on the situation. In a situation such as your's, I do not think it is the "norm" -- but in a situation where there has not been any sort of indication that this sort of choice may be coming (young, healthy animal) it can be - some situations that lead someone to think euthing is the only solution can be resolved with treatment, etc and those are cases that would be identified through the sort of appointment the receptionist mentioned. Again, doesn't (or at least shouldn't) apply to your case because your vet/their staff should be familiar enough with the situation to understand. {hugs}