Continued
When pet owners come to the conclusion that it is best for their pets to be put to sleep permanently, very often they want to know how their beloved pets are going to be euthanised and what should they do with the dead body after the procedure.
Sometimes, having come to terms with the fact that their pets are going to die, they opt to stop treatment but instead of euthanasia, wonder if their pets could die at home so that they could have those last few days together.
Well, let’s try to deal with the last questions first. While owners might think that terminally ill pets will die in their sleep overnight, more likely than not, the poor animals will suffer a few more days of excruciating pain and agony, before lapsing into a coma just before death; or their hearts just giving out. It is for this reason that I advise euthanasia and as soon as possible. Why prolong the agony associated with the assured eventuality of death, even for one day?
I have had the unfortunate experience of a client putting off euthanasia for five days, before she eventually conceded that the pet must be put down. She was, I think, suffering as much as the dog. The pet was in excruciating pain, and the owner was going crazy with distress.
After that incident, many decades ago, I made a promise to myself not to be timid and restrained at giving the definitive answer to the question of prolonging the agony at home. My answer is: No! Do not let the animal suffer. Do not continue to suffer with the animal. It is better to have an end with pain than pain without end.
That has been my mantra in such unfortunate circumstances. It might sound callous to some people, but I really do think that the vet should be firm and not vacillate (therefore perpetuating the pain all round). In fact, I think it sort of takes the weight of the decision a bit off the client’s shoulders. One must not forget that even if the vet is also agonising over the situation (witnessing the distress in both patient and owner), the owner is even more frustrated and traumatised.
The most frequently asked questions relative to that final phase of the euthanasia process are:
1) How are you (vet) going to put the animal to sleep? Is the process going to be painful? Is the process instantaneous?
2) Do I (the owner) need to be in the room? Can the children witness the euthanasia? Should they be allowed to see the dead body afterwards?
3) What is to be done with the body of the euthanised animal?
4) Now that a part of the family is gone, how should I treat with the other pets? Will they grieve?
In the more affluent societies, there might be other questions as well, for example those relating to the use of the cadaver for students studying veterinary medicine, or the use of crematoria or pet cemeteries. Here in Guyana, such questions never arise, other than from distraught caregivers who ask why we don’t have such facilities. Personally, although I know that it is the vet’s job to assuage the hurt caused by the loss, I try not to entertain a discussion, which, on reflection during a more sober time, will produce the obvious answers for the caregiver. The vet must nevertheless always be sensitive and sympathetic enough vis-a-vis the grieving owner.
Most of the answers to the questions listed above (1-4), are decisions that the owner has to make or request. The vet can only guide the owner in a direction that would ensure the least stress and agony for all concerned.
I thought that I would be able to complete this article today. However, since there is so much to be said in answer to the questions listed above, it seems more appropriate that we deal, in some detail, with these important queries next week.
Please implement disease preventative measures (vaccinations, routine dewormings, monthly anti-heartworm medication, etc) and adopt-a-pet from the GSPCA’s Animal Clinic and Shelter at Robb Street and Orange Walk, if you have the wherewithal to care well for the animals. Do not stray your unwanted pets, take them to the GSPCA’s Clinic and Shelter instead. If you do not wish your pet to have puppies or kittens, you may exploit the GSPCA’s free spay and neutering programme. If you see anyone being cruel to an animal, or if you need any technical information, please get in touch with the Clinic and Shelter by calling 226-4237.
