Pets do
not live as long as humans.
Thinking about euthanasia is
sadly a decision that many pet
owners may eventually have to
face. Taking responsibility for
this decision is the kindest
thing you can do for a much
loved pet.
MAKING
THAT DIFFICULT DECISION
Talk it
over with a vet and your family
and friends.
-
Can your pet still eat,
drink, sleep and move around
comfortably?
- Do
they respond to you and
greet you?
-
Are they interested in
feeding times?
You and your family
know your pet better
than anyone else and
will be able to
judge their quality
of life. Your vet
can help you with
this and can make a
recommendation.
If you are hoping
for an improvement
it is a good idea to
set a time limit and
reassess.
Sadly few pets die
peacefully in their
sleep at home but
they reach a point
where their quality
of life is
unsatisfactory, and
the decision to put
to sleep needs to be
made. |
 |
PLANNING AHEAD
-
Consider the options
available regarding
cremation or burial.
-
Most people opt for general
cremation where their pet is
cremated with other pets and
their ashes buried in a
remembrance garden.
-
There is the option to have
individual cremation where
the ashes are returned to
you in a cask or in a
scattering box.
-
You can take the body home
for burial.
- We
use
Green
Pastures Pet Crematorium.
There website features their
remembrance gardens.
-
Explain the situation to the
receptionist who can then
suggest a quiet time for you
to come to the surgery.
-
Bring a family member or
friend with you to help and
support you.
- If
your pet is hospitalised you
can arrange to come and
visit to say goodbye if you
would like to, it is
entirely your choice.
- If
your pet is under
anaesthetic it may be kinder
to let them go to sleep
without waking and perhaps
see them afterwards.
WHAT
WILL HAPPEN
You
will need to sign a consent
form.
Euthanasia is carried out by
injecting an overdose of
anaesthetic into the vein of the
front leg, although can be given
to other areas of the body as
well. A small patch of fur will
be shaved off to make the vein
more visible. A nurse will hold
your pet to raise a vein. All
your pet will feel is a tiny
prick of the needle the
injection is painless there is a
brief feeling of dizziness as
the drug takes effect. Your pet
will become unconscious within
seconds, often before the
injection has finished and death
will occur within a few minutes
when the heart stops beating.
This
may take a little longer if your
pet is extremely ill or has poor
circulation and in these
instances it may prove difficult
for the vet to find a vein.
In the
few minutes after death you may
see a reflex muscle movement or
an involuntary gasp. These are
not signs of life they are
reflexes denoting that death has
occurred.
SHOULD
YOU STAY?
This is
entirely your choice and you
should not feel guilty if you
are unable to do this.
If you
are upset you may well upset
your pet as well. You can be
assured that the vets and nurses
will treat your pet
sympathetically in your absence.
If you
wish to spend some time with
your pet afterwards do not be
afraid to ask you will always be
able to spend time alone to say
goodbye.
It will
take time to recover from the
loss of your pet and you will
experience many emotions often
sadness, loneliness and even
anger. All are quite normal. Try
not to blame yourself and
question if you made the right
decision. You made this decision
with your pet’s best interest at
heart and to prevent their
suffering.
We have a Book of Memories if
you would like to share a
picture and story about your pet
which will in turn help others.
 |
It can be helpful at
times to talk to
someone who
understands how you
are feeling. If you
feel you would like
to talk to someone
we now have a
trained Pet
Bereavement
Counsellor who will
be happy to discuss
things with you.
If you would like to
speak to her please
ring the Chaddesden
surgery 01332 661554
and ask to speak to
Vicky. |
