Share your experiences about pet euthanasia.

1. 84

   midget38posted 10 years ago

   Share your experiences about pet euthanasia.

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2. 82

   Vvittaposted 10 years ago

   I believe of giving all living things, Man or Animal a chance. Animals are known to pull through the most impossible situations in the wild so who am i to decide? i once had a cat who when knocked down by a car, was in such a bad shape. We took her to the vet, got her hooked up on drips and the whole woks. All of us we in tears but we just could not do the deed. I know she might have been in pain, but if i can't decide for a human than i can't decide for a pet. I believe I giving them the best care, reducing the pain and let nature take its cause.

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3. 95

   peeplesposted 10 years ago

   I have had two pets euthanized. Both were extremely loved. One was in severe pain with cancer tumors all over her body, was 13 and had no chance of survival due to not being able to take the medication. The other was dying due to extreme poison ingestion. There was no possibility of survival, just a slow torturous death. I wish someone would have prepared me for two things, one is that sometimes the medication they give them doesn't work (didn't work with our dachshund even after giving an large dog dose). Also their tongues hang out. While that is not weird, I never thought about it before and when I saw it I felt worse than I had. In cases of no possible survival I feel it is the owners responsibility to end the suffering.

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4. 48

   ppriorposted 10 years ago

   As pet owners I feel that we are owe it to our pets to end their suffering if the quality of their lives has been reduced to just enduring pain. I am not saying this is an easy decision to make.  I recently had to have my beloved pet of 14 years euthanized, and it was agonizing, but I know it was the right thing to do, Ziggy was my heart, but he was having trouble eating, and walking and could no longer control his bladder and I could not bear the thought of him suffering any longer.  It was a very difficult decision and a difficult day and I miss Ziggy terribly, but I know he is no longer in pain and I take great comfort in that.  I do not believe in euthanizing dogs for behavior problems, and I feel that vets that do this or for some of the other frivolous reasons owners request having their pets euthanized, should have their licenses revoked. It also upsets me that over 5 million healthy dogs and cats are being needlessly euthanized in shelters every year, and that the public is being lied to and told that this is a necessity because homes are not available for these animals. How can that be when 17 million dogs and cats are being purchased as pets every year?  I think the American public is in denial regarding euthanasia and has a cowardly attitude towards dealing with it directly. People will take a pet that they have had for 15 years and not stay with it during it's last moments of life, but allow it to be frightened and confused while a stranger ends it's life. They will say they love animals but will refuse to provide training for their pet and when the pet's behavior becomes unmanageable, they will take the pet to their local shelter, and leave it frightened and confused, knowing that a stranger again will be ending the animal's life.They will mindlessly allow their pets to breed and turn a blind eye to the puppies who are being euthanized in the local shelter because no one adopts them. At the same time if they are looking to buy a pet they will go to the local pet store that gets their animals from a puppy mill or from the local breeder who interbreeds siblings and feel that they are getting a better quality of dog, when in reality so many of these dogs end up euthanized at  local shelters because of serious neurological and other medical problems. The question of euthanasia is bigger than just whether or not one should humanely end a pet's life, At the core, it comes down to what value we place as a society on an animal's life.

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5. 100

   Dreamhowlposted 10 years ago

   Last month we had to put our oldest fancy rat to sleep. She had a mammary tumor that was getting so bad, it was scabbing over and at the risk of being punctured open. Rats are very good at hiding pain, so to us she seemed otherwise strong, but her teeth were growing in crooked (I had to mush up her food every day) and she began having trouble walking without falling over.
   
   Putting her down was tough, but we didn't want her to go out by bleeding out, or suffering anymore than she must have been. She was a good girl and we still miss her incredibly, but I feel we made the right decision in the end. Rats only live two to three years, and she was almost hitting three herself.

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6. 0

   Grey Templesposted 10 years ago

   My beloved Daiziemae whom I had for 15 years I had to put down 2 months ago.  She had developed a very bad heart murmur and would have terrible seizures when she got over excited when she saw me when I returned to the house and was in congestive heart failure.  She traveled the country with me, flew on planes and loved to go camping. 
   
   I could not allow her to suffer and I had a long talk with my Daiziemae.  At the vet's office he gave her a check up and did agree it would be best to put her down and allow her to pass over Rainbow Bridge.  I held her head and spoke to her and told her how much I loved her and how I would some day see her again.  I told her she was going to a place where there were fields of flowers to run and play. 
   
   I kissed Daiziemae on the nose and she kissed me back.  I felt her take her last breath on my cheek and held her in my arms.  She passed very quietly and peacefully as I talked to her and stayed with her until her heart stopped a few seconds later. 
   
   I could not not have been there for my very best friend when she left this world.  I have memories which I will never forget of my best friend.  I could not and would not allow her to suffer.

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7. 60

   fpherj48posted 10 years ago

   It's painful to recall.  My male cat, "Fluff," who was my loving buddy for 10 years, became lethargic and thin.  He was not interested in eating and I took him in to the Vet.
   The Dr. decided to keep him overnight for tests and xrays, etc.  I never expected the call the next day that explained Fluff had congestive heart failure.  The Vet assistant was very kind and gentle in telling me that the Dr. suggested euthanasia to avoid slow and painful death.
   I was shocked and sad (crying) but knew I surely didn't want him to suffer.
   The Vet I went to has their own pet cemetery (at no cost)......which I feel is a comforting benefit. They even sent me a sympathy card for the loss of my beloved pet.  I think that is a special gesture and I appreciated it.
   I grieved for a long time and I still miss him.   After a few months, I adopted a kitten who reminded me a lot of Fluff.  I poured my love into him ("Tommy").....and he's a joy, but of course, no pet is ever "replaced".  They are as unique as humans.............

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