Making the call on sick pet.

[Rash]

Some of the thoughtful and most painful decisions I've ever made, concern putting a pet down.  I dated a veterinarian for about 7 years, and she would call me late at night, to assist her, when she needed help with euthanasia.  I hated it, but never refused helping her.  She used me for the heavy lifting of big dogs mostly.  I would carry them to the exam table with a lot of care, and they always looked at eye to eye as if they totally trusted me.  I handled them like they where my dogs. 

She would exam them again, and then decide to call the owners.  It amazed how fast they would show up.  It was like minutes.  I had to leave the area at that point.  To much emotion. 

I just read Mav's post and it made me remember all this.

He had a tough call.

Rash

[Dichotomy]

I've been there Rash and it's truly gutting. 

[Shuffler]

Been there and agree. Pet is a family member.

[kamori]

Another way to look at it is not a Loss for us but ending their suffering for THEM.... Its really not about US as pet owners, its about Giving them peace and compassion. The hurt of the loss will always be there But lessened when we realize they were suffering and we didn't prolong it for our own self serving desire to not face the pain of the loss.. Makes dealing with the loss more palatable(if there such a thing).

I had to put one of our dogs down on my own ..... Painful, but doing it for Them was best for me to deal with it.   

Kam

[cpxxx]

I was always stuck with that decision in my family. I was the animal executioner. No one else would bite the bullet. They always seemed to know and tragic look in their eyes haunted me as I left them with the Vet. But with one favourite cat, I couldn't bring myself to do it. In the end my Mother made the decision. They're only animals but you do get attached to them.

[Rash]

It's a tough one to make.  Last Friday night, I caught a rat in a trap.  Looked liked his both front legs where broken.  I didn't want him to suffer.  I though about plugging him with the shotgun.  But the dog wanted to kill him more.  A couple of shakes later, then a few days later, the flies.

[Rash]

It's a cool shotgun too.  L.C. Smith double barrel 1935 ivory sights.

[cpxxx]

Can't help thinking that a shotgun on a rat might be messy. There'd be rat all over the place!

[colmbo]

I used to mushdog sled dogs.  We had two litters born within 10 days...it was a blast having 16 puppies running around the dog lot.

It wasn't such a blast 10-12 years later when they all were being put down within weeks of each other...the summer from hell.