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Vet Shares That There Are More Emotionally Draining Things In Their Job Than Putting Animals To Sleep
Losing a pet is a heartbreaking experience akin to that of parting with your human family member. So it’s no wonder that for many pet owners and animal lovers, putting your furry friend down seems like the hardest thing anyone could ever do. But for the vets around the globe, it’s an inseparable part of their daily work.
And one anonymous vet decided to refute the common belief that animal euthanasia is the most difficult part of their job. In an illuminating and touching post, this vet explained why that’s the case and wondered if “Does that make me a bad vet? Hopefully not.”
The author went on to list three other hardest moments of being a vet, and they really put this job in a whole new perspective and it has to do more with people than with animals themselves.
RELATED:
One anonymous vet explained why putting an animal down is not the hardest part of their job in this touching Imgur post
Image credits: jaminriverside
Other vets elaborated on why being close to your pet when the vet is administering euthanasia is vital
Image credits: jessi_dietrich
Image credits: jessi_dietrich
Image credits: jessi_dietrich
And this is what others had to say about parting with your beloved animal
What makes it so hard for any dog owner to part with their beloved furry friends is that special bond these beautiful animals share with humans. In fact, owners are so close to their dogs that the majority love them as much as their children, suggests Anna Trobec, an animal researcher from “Petovly.”
Anna has recently conducted a study surveying 2750 dog owners to get a clearer picture of the human-dog bond.“It positively surprised me how a high percentage of dog owners would do anything they can just to save their dog and keep him or her healthy,” the researcher told Bored Panda over email. “After all, we do think of dogs as our children, and they certainly consider us their parents,” she added.
Anna also said that 99% of those surveyed consider their dogs family members, which explains why the death of an animal hurts as much as the loss of a family member. Moreover, “60% of respondents feel like dog parents, not dog owners, which further lessens our differences which we bear as species.”
What do you think ?
troufaki13 4 years ago
I'm dreading the moment I will have to say goodbye to my girl...Sometimes when I think about it, my heart literally hurts :(
Viviane 4 years ago (edited)
I don't know how old she is, but when her time comes, spoil her and be there for her at the end. It's hard, but I was lucky to have a sensitive vet who let me stay with my cat and a kind relative was by my side.
Load More Replies...
AnnaBanana 4 years ago
I thought I'd never be able to cope with being in the room with any of my pets when they had to be euthanised, but I've done it several times now (all elderly animals) and I'm so glad I did. The thought of any of my babies being alone at their end is too much to bear. You just have to suck it up and remember to think of them and not yourself.
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
Same here. My responsibility, my decision, my place is therefore at their side. I want the last words they hear from me to be "I love you".
Load More Replies...
Foxxy (The Original) 4 years ago
I would have thought seeing abused animals would be on the top of the list.
Viviane 4 years ago
I don't know how often people bring their abused pets to the vet. I imagine that vets are more likely to see abuse at a shelter or a sanctuary. Bless one of my friends, she took someone's abused kitten to the vet, then told the owner that it had died so that she could adopt it. Bless the kitten, because she grew into a wonderful companion to another cat who had been abused.
Load More Replies...
Eileen Schaefer 4 years ago
The vet has no relationship to the animal he is putting down. So of course it is not so emotional than it is for the owners
Cori 4 years ago
That's not entirely true. Sure they aren't with the animal day in and day out, but they've probably been seeing them as a patient for years, maybe helped the through some tough illnesses or injuries. I was just a volunteer at our local clinic in high school. I had regulars that I came to love. I cried with more than one family while we eased the suffering of old friends. If your vet staff doesn't love your pets, then you need to find a new vet.
Load More Replies...
Scarlett Fox 4 years ago
Pet owners yelling and screaming at staff about the cost of care and calling them selfish is the reason veterinary professionals are now the number one profession at risk of suicide, and it's become even worse during the pandemic. The truth is, veterinarians and veterinary technicians make less than half of what their human counterparts do (doctors/nurses) so when we have people driving up in fancy cars and bragging about their "purebred" poodle mix, then start screaming at us that we're just out for money, it's heart breaking. X-ray equipment, surgical equipment, and having a fully-stocked pharmacy on-site all cost money. A veterinary clinic is a mini hospital, with nearly all the equipment you'd find if you went to the ER. That's where 90% of the money is going, NOT to staff wages. The industry has become so toxic that I actually left to protect my own mental health. So please be kind your vet staff, because your words are literally killing them.
crazy_cat_notAlady 4 years ago
I treat street dogs and cats. truly, putting them down isn't the hard part...watching them suffer meaninglessly and crawling towards a slow and painful death because caregivers and daily feeders don't want to put them down because of personal beliefs is much worse. breaks me anew each time.
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
Yeah. I tend a feral colony of cats, and when that time comes, it's heart-rending, but.... I took 'em on. I only wish we could ease people in agony as we do animals.
Load More Replies...
Rod Egret 4 years ago
Our amazing vet always told us that the priority number one is the animal quality of life. I believe in euthanasia for humans (the right to go in peace and with dignity) and also for our companions. What's the point of keeping a sick animal in life if the treatment makes their life miserable?
Easily Excitable Panda 4 years ago
I agree completely! With my last kitty, I felt as though I just couldn't say goodbye to her, and said I was willing to do *anything* to keep her alive. My vet said, "I know you. Do you want to avoid grieving at the cost of her being in pain?" And of course my answer was no. Grief will break your heart, but I could never be cruel.
Load More Replies...
Chaotic_pansexual 4 years ago (edited)
It was really hard but my family and I stayed in the room with our girl when she had to be euthanized at 3 years old. She had sudden congestive heart failure and there was nothing we could do, it was a breed thing. I couldn’t bring myself to touch her but I made sure she could see me and I told her she was a good girl while my mom sat near me and my dad stroked her head. We were heart broken and crying but we made sure she knew how much we loved her before she went. It’s really hard and even though it was almost two years ago, it makes me cry to this day, but if you ever have to go through this, please don’t leave them alone. They need you so much at that moment. It is heart shattering but you can’t turn your back on them then.
Scagsy 4 years ago
We have a sick doggo - Henry has a porto-systemic shunt - which means that he wasn't expected to live a long time. We shed tears and hugged a lot (Henry couldn't understand why) and then we found an awesome vet; Lisa is actually a surgeon but has taken Henry on as her 'special case'. She has done everything possible and more - even to the point of happily consulting (free of charge) over the phone because she knows Henry is terrified of the surgery. Yes, it has cost us a lot of money and we have had to scrimp and save as we couldn't get insurance for a birth defect but with Lisa's support we have raised our pup to a healthy 7 years which is at least five more than was expected. Every penny has been worth it just to have our little doggo for this extra time. Thank-you to Lisa and all vets for the amazing work you do. We salute you!
Mary Bank 4 years ago
I held both my kitties when it was time for them. I have a dog and a cat now (they are best friends) and I am DREADING when its time for them to go but you can bet your sweet ass I will be holding and whispering how good they are and how much I love them. And I will thank the vet that helps us.
troufaki13 4 years ago
I'm dreading the moment I will have to say goodbye to my girl...Sometimes when I think about it, my heart literally hurts :(
Viviane 4 years ago (edited)
I don't know how old she is, but when her time comes, spoil her and be there for her at the end. It's hard, but I was lucky to have a sensitive vet who let me stay with my cat and a kind relative was by my side.
Load More Replies... AnnaBanana 4 years ago
I thought I'd never be able to cope with being in the room with any of my pets when they had to be euthanised, but I've done it several times now (all elderly animals) and I'm so glad I did. The thought of any of my babies being alone at their end is too much to bear. You just have to suck it up and remember to think of them and not yourself.
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
Same here. My responsibility, my decision, my place is therefore at their side. I want the last words they hear from me to be "I love you".
Load More Replies... Foxxy (The Original) 4 years ago
I would have thought seeing abused animals would be on the top of the list.
Viviane 4 years ago
I don't know how often people bring their abused pets to the vet. I imagine that vets are more likely to see abuse at a shelter or a sanctuary. Bless one of my friends, she took someone's abused kitten to the vet, then told the owner that it had died so that she could adopt it. Bless the kitten, because she grew into a wonderful companion to another cat who had been abused.
Load More Replies... Eileen Schaefer 4 years ago
The vet has no relationship to the animal he is putting down. So of course it is not so emotional than it is for the owners
Cori 4 years ago
That's not entirely true. Sure they aren't with the animal day in and day out, but they've probably been seeing them as a patient for years, maybe helped the through some tough illnesses or injuries. I was just a volunteer at our local clinic in high school. I had regulars that I came to love. I cried with more than one family while we eased the suffering of old friends. If your vet staff doesn't love your pets, then you need to find a new vet.
Load More Replies... Scarlett Fox 4 years ago
Pet owners yelling and screaming at staff about the cost of care and calling them selfish is the reason veterinary professionals are now the number one profession at risk of suicide, and it's become even worse during the pandemic. The truth is, veterinarians and veterinary technicians make less than half of what their human counterparts do (doctors/nurses) so when we have people driving up in fancy cars and bragging about their "purebred" poodle mix, then start screaming at us that we're just out for money, it's heart breaking. X-ray equipment, surgical equipment, and having a fully-stocked pharmacy on-site all cost money. A veterinary clinic is a mini hospital, with nearly all the equipment you'd find if you went to the ER. That's where 90% of the money is going, NOT to staff wages. The industry has become so toxic that I actually left to protect my own mental health. So please be kind your vet staff, because your words are literally killing them.
crazy_cat_notAlady 4 years ago
I treat street dogs and cats. truly, putting them down isn't the hard part...watching them suffer meaninglessly and crawling towards a slow and painful death because caregivers and daily feeders don't want to put them down because of personal beliefs is much worse. breaks me anew each time.
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
Yeah. I tend a feral colony of cats, and when that time comes, it's heart-rending, but.... I took 'em on. I only wish we could ease people in agony as we do animals.
Load More Replies... Rod Egret 4 years ago
Our amazing vet always told us that the priority number one is the animal quality of life. I believe in euthanasia for humans (the right to go in peace and with dignity) and also for our companions. What's the point of keeping a sick animal in life if the treatment makes their life miserable?
Easily Excitable Panda 4 years ago
I agree completely! With my last kitty, I felt as though I just couldn't say goodbye to her, and said I was willing to do *anything* to keep her alive. My vet said, "I know you. Do you want to avoid grieving at the cost of her being in pain?" And of course my answer was no. Grief will break your heart, but I could never be cruel.
Load More Replies... Chaotic_pansexual 4 years ago (edited)
It was really hard but my family and I stayed in the room with our girl when she had to be euthanized at 3 years old. She had sudden congestive heart failure and there was nothing we could do, it was a breed thing. I couldn’t bring myself to touch her but I made sure she could see me and I told her she was a good girl while my mom sat near me and my dad stroked her head. We were heart broken and crying but we made sure she knew how much we loved her before she went. It’s really hard and even though it was almost two years ago, it makes me cry to this day, but if you ever have to go through this, please don’t leave them alone. They need you so much at that moment. It is heart shattering but you can’t turn your back on them then.
Scagsy 4 years ago
We have a sick doggo - Henry has a porto-systemic shunt - which means that he wasn't expected to live a long time. We shed tears and hugged a lot (Henry couldn't understand why) and then we found an awesome vet; Lisa is actually a surgeon but has taken Henry on as her 'special case'. She has done everything possible and more - even to the point of happily consulting (free of charge) over the phone because she knows Henry is terrified of the surgery. Yes, it has cost us a lot of money and we have had to scrimp and save as we couldn't get insurance for a birth defect but with Lisa's support we have raised our pup to a healthy 7 years which is at least five more than was expected. Every penny has been worth it just to have our little doggo for this extra time. Thank-you to Lisa and all vets for the amazing work you do. We salute you!
Mary Bank 4 years ago
I held both my kitties when it was time for them. I have a dog and a cat now (they are best friends) and I am DREADING when its time for them to go but you can bet your sweet ass I will be holding and whispering how good they are and how much I love them. And I will thank the vet that helps us.
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