VETS VIEW: Knowing when to let go

It is probably the hardest part of being a vet, being part of the decision making process of letting one’s pet go or putting them to sleep. No other profession has such a delicate and profound element to their job description and this comes with great responsibility. Whether it is made on one’s own or in consultation with the owner/guardian, no other action has as profound an impact as putting a living creature to sleep.

I hate using the word euthanasia, as this can have such negative and sometimes terribly upsetting consequences, where-as ‘end of life’ decision making is somewhat more humane and can be somewhat less graphic. We generally categorise end of life decisions as resulting from one of the following situations:

Planned cases, where the animal has come to the end of their lives as seniors, or where no further medical or surgical interventions are possible, or sadly for economic reasons; Accident or traumatic driven cases, such as road traffic accidents, severe trauma or poisoning etc; Behavioural cases, where an animal has for example bitten a child, attacked sheep or other animal(s), or an unresolvable behavioural situation that cannot be dealt with successfully, such as aggression.

Each of these case types lends itself to a different form of grief for the owner depending on the individual circumstance. Whilst planned cases can and often bring terrible sadness and loss, there quite often is an accompanying sense of acceptance and a realisation that one is doing the right thing. Behavioural cases can and are often more troublesome for all individuals involved, owners and vets.

Whatever the reason, it is an important part of our job as vets, to fully inform the owner of all relevant considerations and to explain in some detail why the decision is being made. I have found over the years, that owners who are fully informed about end of life decisions for their pets, actually are in a better position to make the decision on their own and generally cope better after.

Nowadays, there are more options in terms of dealing with our beloved pets after death than there were years ago. Burying a pet in the back garden, with a little remembrance relic or stone over their resting place can be very beneficial for some people, especially families.

Cremation, with or without ashes back, is becoming a very popular option, especially for those in urban settings where home burial is not an option. Pet cemeteries are also becoming another popular option, and indeed the option of donating one’s pet’s body to research and student teaching is also becoming an option. More and more people are keeping a locket of hair, or perhaps a print in clay or paint of their pets nose or paws and these can be an added help in terms of dealing with grief and the loss of one’s pet.

Letting go, is always hard and is never a decision that should be taken without due consideration after considering all the relevant information, as this is one if not the hardest thing owners and vets make on behalf of pets.

Veterinarian Conal Finnerty MRCVS practises at the Skeldale Vet Clinic in Ballinrobe and Belmullet. Follow the clinic on Facebook, or call 094 9541980 or 087 9185350 to make an appointment.