Is this standard for the end of life appointment?

[CrazyGuineaPigLady]

@S1969

I got the impression that it was a potential 2nd vet opinion for treatment if the owner felt they wanted to try.

I’ve always had them ask for a history and do a quick exam but no one has said they might refuse to proceed.

Long story but we had a barn party in the mid 90’s and my Basset got into the trash. Major surgery to get a blockage of chicken bones, hay string and hoof clippings out of him and the recovery wasn’t great. (Emergency) Vet finally had me take him home because we thought depression might be contributing. My mother later on used this vet and he would talk about never expecting my dog to recover.

Ten years later he was back at this office with dementia, hearing loss and a failing back end. (It was unplanned but I was visiting my mother and he was having severe panic attacks on the drive there so I decided not to take him back home) The vet on call for the euth came in the room and said “I’m looking at his records and have to ask… is this THE dog Dr. B always mentions as his toughest case?” So we ended up talking about what made him famous for 10 minutes before saying goodbye. Sounds weird but it ended up being a great distraction.

[candyappy]

My Aunt ( lives in CA) called a service where they euthanize pets at home. No vet appt or approval needed. She knew it was time and got it done and said it was a wonderful experience( well as wonderful as it could be).

Maybe see if something like that is offered in your area?

[Alex_and_Bodie_s_Mom]

Jingles and hugs to you, your kids, and your kitty.

[emeraldcity]

I have only skimmed the comments, so please forgive if I’m misreading anyone, but I want to react to a number of people who seem to be implying that it’s mean/out of line/whatever for a vet to want to examine the pet and expect you to pay- perspective from a former clinic employee. You being general.

My clinic most of the time would do euthanasias for our existing established patients for no charge as a courtesy. If someone wanted to bring in an animal we had never seen before for euthanasia, we would do that, but it would not be free- and there would be an exam/conversation. In ALMOST ALL cases, this would be a quick conversation with the owner about the animal’s history/QOL, and that would pretty much be the extent of it. But it is reasonable to allow the veterinarian you are asking to perform this service for you to make sure they are comfortable doing so. Every once in a while, it would be “I want to PTS my cat because she pees outside the box”, and that might turn into a surrender conversation rather than a PTS conversation, because the vet in such a case might not feel that euthanasia is warranted.

Also, it is only fair to expect to pay for the vet and staff expertise and time, whether for an exam or the euthanasia procedure or whatever- again, some may not charge you if you have an existing relationship, but even then, it shouldn’t be the expectation. You wouldn’t expect to work for free and neither should your vet.

As far as timing, my clinic would bend over backwards to fit in an established patient for PTS whenever it was needed. But again, it isn’t fair to expect a vet who you have never used before to extend the same courtesy- you are a new patient to them, and will be booked wherever in the schedule they are able to book a new patient. Just as with urgent medical issues, this is the biggest reason you should have an established vet you take your pets to annually.

All that to say, most likely no one is planning to argue with you about whether it is time. The receptionist or whoever answers the phone is just warning you that you won’t just walk in the door, euthanize, and leave, as you might if you had an established relationship with the vet- there will be a conversation with the vet at minimum.

[CrazyGuineaPigLady]

@emeraldcity

I have only skimmed the comments, so please forgive if I’m misreading anyone

@emeraldcity

My clinic most of the time would do euthanasias for our existing established patients for no charge as a courtesy. If someone wanted to bring in an animal we had never seen before for euthanasia, we would do that, but it would not be free- and there would be an exam/conversation.

I do think you are misreading and I don’t think anyone expects a free euth. This cat has 10 years of vet history being provided. I have no issue paying for an exam fee on top of the euth and private cremation costs. What I do have a problem with is a vet looking over all his records that show he gets thoughtful care and denying a 20 year old cat who is wasting away a peaceful ending because he might have a bad tooth. And then trying to convince me to extract it, where he might die under anesthesia.

ETA: The price will be more than $600 tonight. I’m not trying to get anyone to “dispose” of this cat on the cheap.

[jvanrens]

So sorry you have to say goodbye, but relieved you got the appointment. Hugs to you all.

[Simkie]

@emeraldcity

If someone wanted to bring in an animal we had never seen before for euthanasia, we would do that, but it would not be free- and there would be an exam/conversation.

I recently euthanized a young cat with a history of congenital kidney disease. I contacted a home euthanasia vet, laid out the history (via email) and asked what information they needed to schedule the appointment. I well understand that putting down a 3 year old cat was an ask and happily would have coordinated whatever required from the vet who managed the bulk of his care, so the home euth vet could decide if she was comfortable with it.

You know what they needed? Nothing.

A conversation? Fine. An exam? Sure. Pushback when asking to end the life of a 20 year old cat? Are you kidding me? The cat is 20. The cat is ill. The owner knows it’s time. The answer here is clear, and it’s not “let’s discuss your options, and run some tests, then maybe we’ll consider euthanasia.”

@CrazyGuineaPigLady I’m so sorry about your kitty. He had a good long life

[Alex_and_Bodie_s_Mom]

I don’t think anyone suggested the vet’s should do the euthanasia for free? I think the only thing we were aghast about was that no vet seemed willing to do it, or to do it without fear that it might turn into a guilt trip for the OP.

I have never had a vet second-guess me on a euthanasia call. I don’t know what I would do if one did. I’m the one who knows the animal, its health and history, and it’s current quality of life. The idea that a vet would want to run tests and argue with me about what is the most difficult decision any pet owner has to make is frankly appalling to me.

[Larksmom]

I have never had a vet do a euth for free.

[dressagetraks]

I’ve never heard of a free euth. I don’t think a quick conversation is out of line either. However, a sell for “we need to do $$$$ of tests and diagnostics on this critter first to make sure we agree it’s time” is too much. That’s what my dad and stepmom were facing the morning they found their Chi with long-established and treated heart problems hiding under the guest bed panting with glazed eyes. She called the clinic where they had been going for a few decades, where this dog had been treated for years for heart problems, and she asked for a euth appointment if possible that morning as the dog was much worse. Instead, she got the big speech on the phone about how they needed to do all sorts of other expensive tests (cardiac ultrasound was mentioned) to verify that the dog was in fact getting much worse. It ticked stepmom off, and she has a high tick-off limit. You have to work to get her annoyed at you.

I’m so grateful for my vet clinic. Just a few months ago, my Cory cat, who had a history of cancer and in fact had had surgery at my clinic a few years before, was getting worse, and I feared the cancer was coming back. I called and made an appointment for diagnostics in the next week. That Friday morning, Cory was so much worse that morning that I called the vet clinic, cancelled the appointment for tests and evaluation the next week, and asked if they could please euth her that morning. The receptionist put me on brief hold, then came back and said sure, bring her right in, 45 minutes. When I got there, they were still in their morning surgery roster, empty waiting room, but one of the vets came out inside of five minutes and took us into a room (I went along). She already had the needle in her hand and did not ask one question. Now, she probably saw in her first glance at the cat that she was indeed declining, and they had the cancer records and surgery records from a few years ago. But no pressure, no questions, no suggestion for $$$$ tests or further steps to verify. Cory went quickly with me and the assistant scratching her ears while the vet gave her the shot. Elapsed time just under an hour since I had first called. They charged me 40 bucks. I gladly paid.

[jherold]

I actually have been granted a free euthanasia. It was my years ago, but it was for a barn cat that had badly mangled his leg. We discussed the price of fixing it for an outside cat and I decided that I couldn’t afford it. The vet said he understood, thanked me for bringing on the cat and told me that they would take care of it and that I should leave. He waived off my attempt to pay. Maybe they fixed the cat and found him a home. Either way, the cat was humanely dealt with at no charge. I was a long time client so I’m sure that entered into it. Plus the vet was the owner which gave him latitude for those types of services…

[McGurk]

Dear @CrazyGuineaPigLady,

I am so sorry you have had this experience, and so sorry also that you are paying what I think is a premium price for the service.

But I am glad you’ve gotten your sweet old cat the appointment, and glad you are giving him a good end,

Go ahead and cry buckets. Losing a dear animal is one of the very few times in my life I truly let all my emotions out. Or need to.

XOXOX

[CrazyGuineaPigLady]

It went perfectly and he charmed everyone as usual. They took him in back to place the catheter and gave us all the time we needed after that. The paperwork was ready so I only needed to sign and hand over my credit card. They listed his age as 20 years and 4 days so we laughed about how specific that was. I didn’t want any pictures but he was too darn cute lounging around and acting like he owned the place. Nicest, easiest, most chill cat I’ve ever had.

[emeraldcity]

@Simkie

A conversation? Fine. An exam? Sure. Pushback when asking to end the life of a 20 year old cat? Are you kidding me? The cat is 20. The cat is ill. The owner knows it’s time. The answer here is clear, and it’s not “let’s discuss your options, and run some tests, then maybe we’ll consider euthanasia.”

I actually think we agree here- maybe I missed something, but in the OP nothing says anyone was requiring tests. I would honestly be surprised if anyone ever requested that- even if there is something someone could do, I’ve never seen a vet “require” diagnostics for a pet that isn’t well. I would be expecting likely just a conversation or maybe at most a quick exam in a case like this.

As far as not being able to book it immediately for a non-client, well, that’s an issue that’s been discussed at length on these forums. They simply can’t. It’s a matter of protecting quality of life for staff, as well as protecting time so that they can see their own sick patients when needed, which many vets are already unable to do, to the legitimate disappointment of their existing clients. Again, that’s why it’s important to have that existing relationship, which it sounds like OP has- she just doesn’t want to drive that far. I completely understand that, but my guess/hope is that vet would be able to fit them in, whereas a new vet just can’t.

I think a home euthanasia service probably could do it sooner, as their business model is different- I hope that’s an option available to you, OP. I have not used one myself but have heard good things.

Edited because we posted at the same time- sorry for your loss and I’m glad it went smoothly.

[CrazyGuineaPigLady]

@emeraldcity

maybe I missed something, but in the OP nothing says anyone was requiring tests.

I did say that some testing was required.

@CrazyGuineaPigLady

He’s got a little bit of everything that goes wrong with old cats but one office straight up told me they would decline the euth if he had a bad tooth. Another wanted blood work more recent than October to see if his kidneys were declining further. Of course they are and not eating isn’t helping that one bit.

[CrazyGuineaPigLady]

@emeraldcity

she just doesn’t want to drive that far.

You are so very wrong and off point. I didn’t want the cat to travel that far if it could be done closer to home.

[shiloh]

Where I live we had three vet offices and each one couldn’t be more different. The older vet refused to charge for euthanasia and would only charge for the cremation/burial service they used. He thought that was wrong and didn’t want people to abandon their animals or let them continue to suffer. Sadly, he passed away and a new practice has taken over so not sure what they do. My other vet charges full price for everything. My last euth with them cost me nearly $300. But they did not ask questions. The other vet wants to ask a million questions and prolong everything so he annoys me. I try to stick with the other vet in his office who knows that I know when it is time, does not argue with me and is very good and kind to the animals.

Annoying vet nearly got an earful when I took my beloved Bonnie in. Of course, she loves the vet office and was sitting up and being her charming little self so he started arguing with me and insisting on more tests ($$$) and a ultrasound ($$$). He turned his back to her and she kind of collapsed and was laying there looking wretched at him (I guess she used up the last of her energy) and when he turned he actually double-taked her and then looked harder at her and went “Oh, uh…yeah, er. I guess you’re right.” No duh…He was a little too businesslike after that. (I get it - some people have lousy bedside manner.) but his techs were super sweet and hugged her and were very careful with her.

No-one needs to have this visit made even more of a misery than it already is.

@CrazyGuineaPigLady - I’m sorry about poor Mr Kitty. He will be missed. And I’m glad you fought for him and didn’t accept what were some pretty crazy answers from those vet offices.

[CrazyGuineaPigLady]

@shiloh

Of course, she loves the vet office and was sitting up and being her charming little self

Yes! I’ve only had one cat that hated the vet and all he did was grumble and make halfhearted attempts to swat anyone who tried to move him, including me.

I am 99% sure that if I’d taken this easy going, love everyone, always happy and eager to please cat to one of the vets mentioned above that he would have been denied today. And then the choices would have been $$/invasive testing to understand why he won’t eat or to let him starve to death.

[CrazyGuineaPigLady]

Because I’m drowning my sorrows tonight and I know this will hit me like a Mack truck tomorrow, there was something that made us laugh over and over again. One of the many add-ons you could get was a hair clipping for $15. Because he liked to be brushed, I threw one in the carrier in case he needed to be calmed. After reading about that option, we collected and pocketed every hair we could to save money.

Yes, the kids have inherited my warped sense of humor to get through difficult situations.

[emeraldcity]

@CrazyGuineaPigLady

You are so very wrong and off point. I didn’t want the cat to travel that far if it could be done closer to home.

I apologize, I didn’t mean that to come off the way it did. I did understand that it wasn’t about the distance, it was about the travel for the cat.

This topic struck a nerve, since I’ve had some experience of the incredible difficulty of careers in vet med, and just wanted to share another perspective for anyone who might be reading. I can see that it seemed directed at you, and that was definitely not my intent. I’m sorry.