Why won't vets euthanize clearly faltering pets?

[fordtraktor]

I see so many threads about people putting perfectly healthy horses down, etc. Where can I find a vet that will actually just put my dog to sleep?

I have an old JRT I have had his entire life. He is a good dog but his health has declined over the last six months. His bloodwork came back low thyroid and a little raised on Cushings but not enough to medicate. He is miserable, snappish, pooping blood, incontinent, wants to be alone, skin and bones and otherwise suffering. He has had cancerous tumors removed twice and the spark is just gone from him. The thyroid meds made him worse if anything.

The vet wants to incur another $1,000 in diagnostic tests on top of the more than $500 I’ve already spent this most recent round finding absolutely nothing. I just want to give the old man the comfort and dignity of a gentle end that he deserves. At this point I would shoot him myself if I could bring myself to do it. I am so upset and frustrated. I feel like all this waiting around is making this poor good elderly dog suffer and I think it’s cruel.

He is a shadow of his former self and I keep hinting around he’s suffering but the vet just suggests more tests. Even my farmsitter said, “I hate to say this but I think it is his time to go” out of the blue. Which has to mean it is past time if someone, a former vet tech, will say that unsolicited.

[Bluey]

Get a second opinion?

Our vets tend to say that many owners at times keep a suffering dog alive too long.
Guess that your vet is the exception.

[Laurierace]

That is just one vet. There are tens of thousands of others out there. Maybe an E vet? I found a mobile vet to come to the house and made the appt with him to euth. He didn’t ask any questions but I did have to wait a few days until he had time as I wasn’t a client. That wouldn’t work in an emergency obviously. Jingles for you both in this difficult time.

[concreteblond]

Look up at home pet euthanasia. There are vets that only do in home pet euthansias. I used one locally when the vets did the same to me. It was wonderful. I absolutely appreciated how understanding the vet was. No treatments offered or referrals required…just an appointment and my dog was at peace.

[oliverreed]

That’s ridiculous! Find another vet. Poor old fellow, he deserves to end his life with dignity and not be subjected to needless tests. My vet has come to my house for my last two kitties that had to be euthanized and did not even charge me.

[Simkie]

What happens when you tell the vet directly “This dog is a shadow of his former self. He’s not enjoying life. It’s time, and I’d like schedule some time put him down”? If the vet says no, then it’s time to find a new vet.

You can also look around for a service that comes to your house. We have Home to Heaven in my area: http://www.hometoheaven.net/ All they do is home euthanasia. They were very nice.

[ChocoMare]

Ditto the “new vet” time.

Makes so grateful for our small animal vet. Never ever tries to talk me into XYZ medication or test or whatever… she fully recognizes that it’s my animal, placed into my stewardship to care for and that I KNOW the animal and when it’s time.

(( hugs )) and BLESS YOU for doing right by your JRT :sadsmile:

[dacasodivine]

Time to stop hinting and tell your vet it’s time to euth. If he refuses, find another vet.

Or, you could use dry ice. You would need to put him in a rubbermaid container or something similar that is airtight and has a lid. Put dry ice in a bowl inside the container. Add water to the bowl and close it up. It will be over really quick. I used this method once for a chick that developed a crossed beak and couldn’t eat. It took at most 10 seconds.

[halo]

I pretty much dont ask vets what to do, I tell them what I want done. I have never ever had an equine or small animal vet refuse to euth any animal I asked them to. Definitely get a new vet.

[Event4Life]

Get a second opinion. We had a similar situation with my beloved kitty - our vet agreed with my parents that the combination of her age, bad health, and unhappiness meant euthanasia was kinder than prolonging her pain. It was rough, especially because I wasn’t at home at the time, but I am glad my parents were able to make the decision in my kitty’s best interest.

[andylover]

I believe if you feel in your heart it is the right time and you are doing the euthansia for the right reason, then find the right vet to perform the last act.
I dont agree with an earlier posting of dry ice and a rubbermaid container… sorry would copy it if i knew how.

[Bacardi1]

[QUOTE=fordtraktor;6396024]
I see so many threads about people putting perfectly healthy horses down, etc. Where can I find a vet that will actually just put my dog to sleep?

I have an old JRT I have had his entire life. He is a good dog but his health has declined over the last six months. His bloodwork came back low thyroid and a little raised on Cushings but not enough to medicate. He is miserable, snappish, pooping blood, incontinent, wants to be alone, skin and bones and otherwise suffering. He has had cancerous tumors removed twice and the spark is just gone from him. The thyroid meds made him worse if anything.

The vet wants to incur another $1,000 in diagnostic tests on top of the more than $500 I’ve already spent this most recent round finding absolutely nothing. I just want to give the old man the comfort and dignity of a gentle end that he deserves. At this point I would shoot him myself if I could bring myself to do it. I am so upset and frustrated. I feel like all this waiting around is making this poor good elderly dog suffer and I think it’s cruel.

He is a shadow of his former self and I keep hinting around he’s suffering but the vet just suggests more tests. Even my farmsitter said, “I hate to say this but I think it is his time to go” out of the blue. Which has to mean it is past time if someone, a former vet tech, will say that unsolicited.[/QUOTE]

Honestly? The only problem here is you. Uh - why don’t you just tell the vet that both you & the dog have had enough & you want him euthanized. Have you actually said that to the vet & the vet has refused? Or have you been hoping the vet will come to that conclusion on his own?

I don’t see any reason whatsoever to get a 2nd vet opinion if the only one vacillating here is you. Just open your mouth & say what you want done. I know it’s hard, but if you feel as strongly as your post here suggests, I find it hard to believe you can’t be equally strong with your vet.

[fordtraktor]

Thanks everyone for the support – it means a lot. I called the vet’s office back and told them straight out what I wanted. I have a little tramadol let over from his last surgery…I will ask if I can give him that in the meantime to make him as comfortable as possible.

Now if I can only manage to stop crying enough so I talk to the vet…

I don’t mean to vacillate, I am just used to my horse vets where when an animal gets like this we list the options, and euth is brought up matter of factly as one of our options. I feel like a killer having to bring it up myself/refuse treatment.

[Laurierace]

Taking their pain away and making it your own is the greatest gift you can give an animal. Godspeed.

[dacasodivine]

[QUOTE=andylover;6396117]
I believe if you feel in your heart it is the right time and you are doing the euthansia for the right reason, then find the right vet to perform the last act.
I dont agree with an earlier posting of dry ice and a rubbermaid container… sorry would copy it if i knew how.[/QUOTE]

Andy, if you the the “Quote” button, it will copy it for you.

I only mentioned the dry ice because OP said she would shoot the dog herself if she could. It is an option that is not violent. I was told of this method myself when I needed to euth that chick and couldn’t snap the neck as suggested. It would have been instant for the chick but would have traumatized me.

[dacasodivine]

Ford, don’t you dare let them make you feel bad! You know in your heart it is his time to go. Most likely the test will put more money in the vet’s pocket and will just confirm there is nothing to do.

[Ibex]

I feel for you… I did the same thing with an elderly cat. Sure, I know I could limp her along for a while longer, but she was 16 and not happy. I just called the office and said “this is what we’re doing”… as much as I miss the old girl, it was the right thing to do :sadsmile:

[moonriverfarm]

Mine will euthanize when the OWNER deems it time. No extra testing. She is very compassionate. Every vet should be.

[Equine_Studies]

[QUOTE=fordtraktor;6396024]
I keep hinting around he’s suffering [/QUOTE]

There’s the problem. Sometimes you can’t hint. Whether the vet is seeing dollar signs because you haven’t been assertive enough to flat out tell them them what you want, or whether they think you’re not ready because you haven’t spit out the word euthanasia and they don’t want to be the first to start the conversation doesn’t matter. Someone needs to grow a spine and say it. And it looks like that someone is going to have to be you.

I say this looking back at how my old Newf dog went beyond his time because my mother (who he lived with because he could no longer negotiate the stairs at our house) waited a few weeks too long (in my opinion) to tell me it was his time (she wasn’t ready I guess to let him go). He was yelping and whining when he laid down/got up, and didn’t make it outside at least once a day (which she didn’t tell me until after). When she called to tell me I probably needed to take him, I called the vet and told them I was bringing him down. Now. There was no questioning…they knew me well enough that it was needed. It was upsetting to see him in pain during the car ride and in hindsight I should have checked in more regularly but it was a relief in the end knowing he didn’t suffer because I couldn’t make a decision.

I don’t mean to be harsh at all as I’m sure it’s a hard decision and it appears that you don’t have the vet’s support. You need to do what’s best for the dog and you definitely know what that is. Good luck and I hope it all works out soon.

[Alagirl]

quit hinting and tell him like it is.

Then tel vet good bye and find another one.

I don’t know where you are, but where I live small animal vets are not a rare thing.