EUTHANASIA........HUMANE?

[tantricia44]

When people say euthanasia, they say it's a humane way to kill an animal b/c they can't help it anymore medically & to end suffering. Today, euthanasia is a humane way to kill an animal b/c there's no more room in the shelters. My question is, how do you know euthanasia is humane? Unless you, yourself experienced it & some how lived, what is the criteria that calls it humane? Ya, I know, the pet just falls a sleep & stops breathing. I mean, how do you know it just falls asleep & dies? What if, it's like being paralyzed & you can't move, your not asleep, you can't make a sound even thought you scream into your mind for help nobody can hear. You lay there helpless as you wait to die as you feel each & everyone of you're organs begin to shut down......So, how do we know euthanasia's humane unless you've tried it & lived to tell? And I don't know anybody who went through it & lived.

[Jamey311]

I think it is humane only if it is absolutely necessary.  It is good when an animal is pain or a person and they are suffering.

[Jamey311]

I meant to say that it is acceptable to use euthanasia for animals who are in pain and that are suffering.

[tantricia44]

I just wish that science would come up with a way to truly prove that Euthanasia is actually painless & the animal just goes to sleep.

[tallicadude]

are you kidding? they know it doesn't hurt is because the stuff they use is used for a reason. they pick chemicals that does it in a way where they know exactly what it's doing and how it's doing it. have you ever had a pet suffering with no chance of recovery? it's horrible having to make the decision, but we know it's the only option and because we love them and don't want them to hurt anymore. 

[PMZ908]

how about a bullet to the brain its is quick painless and easy.......is that humane? because ur making it sound like it is.........now would u want to euthanasia ur pet or should we blow its head off?

[mrisha]

I think its the humane thing to do if there is nothing more that can be done for the animal and if the animal is in constant pain.

[tallicadude]

I just wish that science would come up with a way to truly prove that Euthanasia is actually painless & the animal just goes to sleep.

they do know it doesn't hurt! just like when someone is dying of cancer and they pump em so full of morphine that they basically go to sleep instead of sitting there struggling to breath. those people don't tell us if that hurts or not but we still do it because they know how morphine works and that it doesn't hurt. the same way they can tell you that dogs are colorblind or that cats can see in the dark, these animals didn't tell us these things, there's ways to know what an animal is experiencing without the animal telling us.

[SherylsShado]

It was the most humane choice for my cat.  My "Tony" was adopted from a local cat rescue's "infirmary".  I didn't adopt a sick cat on purpose.  (It is never recommended that anyone adopt a sick cat because many times they don't make it and the expense of a sick cat's medical care can be expensive.)  But the "heart wants what the heart wants" and it was "love at first sight" with my "Tony".

He had five close calls his first two years where he almost died: he had seizures, bronchitis/respiratory issues, he was accidentally over-vaccinated due to a mix-up at the shelter, and he had serious urinary blockage three times in less than two weeks.  After all that, I told his vet to test him for everything because I had a feeling something was still not right.  He was always "scrawny" but always full of energy.  The tests came back and the vet told me the results were near perfect, she told me to take him home and enjoy him.  I did.

I never expected to find him less than a year later in the emergency clinic because out-of-the-blue, he couldn't walk---his back legs were dragging.  He howled out in pain a few times but when I picked him up, he seemed to be ok.  I thought maybe he just pulled a back muscle playing with the dog or perhaps fell and hurt his back.  I thought I would take him to the emergency clinic...pay a "million dollars" and bring him back home.  (He had a tank top that says "Million Dollar Baby" because his medical bills had already costed me a "million dollars"...lol)

When the vet said he had a blood clot, I was in shock...I couldn't believe my vet didn't know about his heart.  Blood clots like his are typically the result of underlying heart disease.  The er vet had tested and said Tony had an enlarged heart and most likely was born with it.  The choices were to either have the vet work on him trying to dissolve the clot (most cats don't survive the initial 48 hours).  If Tony did survive then he could go home but because of the heart condition, there would be another blood clot in 3-6 months which could happen when I was at work---causing him to suffer for hours needlessly until he died on his own...or euthanasia, because there is no cure for his condition.  Another clot or total heart failure was inevitable.

I held "Tony" while the vet administered the solution.  It was the worst day of my life to have to watch my little guy that had been so full of life, always so happy and full of love...to die.  The vet took his time and monitored Tony very closely.  Tony first was like in a deep sleep, then the vet said he was unconcious.  After a few seconds the brain would cease and after that the heart and lungs would stop working.  He checked for a heartbeat and said there was none.  He died quickly and easily, there was no struggle...he'd always been such a good boy.

I know I made the best choice for my beloved Tony but the loss has been so painful.  He kept everything and everyone so upbeat and happy.  He was my "alarm clock" for getting to work on time...I've almost been late to work every day for two weeks now.  My yellow lab is going nuts trying to find him in the house, when she gives up---her face looks so sad.  The dogs knew he was howling in pain, they saw me put him in a carrier and leave with him...and that was it.  They never got to even say goodbye to him.  Nothing has been "normal" without him...I don't know how I ever managed before Tony.  I don't know why this had to happen to him when he had been loved so much.  I had counted on him so much to keep me upbeat because I have been currently having issues with my dog Shadow who hasn't been able to use her back legs for about 2 months now.  To have two pets with non-working back legs has just been unreal, even my vet has said so.  (Shadow's story will be posted below.)

If I had the chance to adopt him all over again, I would.  (Sick cats need good, loving homes too.)  I don't have any regrets about choosing euthanasia for him...it was the ONLY humane choice. 

I had always told my Tony that he was an angel...now he truly is.    

[SherylsShado]

This past week, I had taken my dog Shadow to the vet.  A month prior, she seemed to have some sort of episode that left her stumbling around trying to walk like she was drunk.  A few days later, she was unable to walk at all using her back legs.  She's been on meds and the meds caused her to bleed/leak urine 24/7.  At first the blood was light and on day 2 it was very bright red.  I took a urine sample to the vet and made an appointment for her at the same time but because I'm working 16 hours most days now, I wasn't able to get her to the vet for 2 more days. (There is noone that can take her for me and if I lose my job for missing work then there's no money to pay her vet bills so it was the best thing/the only option.)

By the time she got to the vet appointment, her gums were pale.  The vet said she was in very serious condition and she wasn't sure that she could save her and started talking about euthanasia because she said there was no way to know the extent of organ damage that had already happened.  She knows I had already lost my cat barely 2 weeks prior.

I know my Shadow and knew her gums had only been pale for a day.  I've been working closely with her and know she's been showing improvement day by day with the back legs situation.  She sat up in the car all the way to the vet...she hasn't been able to do that in weeks.

Shadow has been miserable for about 2 months not being able to walk...but wanting to.  I didn't feel that eithanasia is right for her.  She'll be 13 in October----if I can have her walking again for her b-day, that would be the best gift for her.  That will make these two months of sickness worthwhile.

It's weeks of excercising her back legs to prevent muscle wasting, doggy-diapers and ALOT of laundry, forcing food & medicine (and fluids) down her every two hours and daily baths for her.  It's alot of work but she's worth it, she's been the best dog and I'm in no hurry to lose her.  I could never euthanize a pet because it's convenient for me...some people do, but it's not for me.  She deserves great care for all the patience and love she's given me.

If the time comes when she's suffering for no reason, for no hope of getting better...only worse, then euthanasia will be considered.  For the time being...she's doing better than expected.  Her gums are looking much better, she's acting mighty spunky.  She has to go back to the vet in two weeks and they will be doing extensive blood work and tests to see how she is really doing...hopefully it all will look good.

[SherylsShado]

update to above:
     Sadly, Shadow passed away August 16 due to heart failure.  It happened quickly and she was in my arms when she died.  Her age and because she had so many things all working against each other, she just couldn't get strong enough to recover.  She's missed so much.

[jordandog]

update to above:
     Sadly, Shadow passed away August 16 due to heart failure.  It happened quickly and she was in my arms when she died.  Her age and because she had so many things all working against each other, she just couldn't get strong enough to recover.  She's missed so much.

Aww, I hate to hear that, Sheryl. At least it was quick and she had her best friend there. One of my dogs is going on 16, still very healthy and especially for large dogs, but I know once again that time is coming for me too. I worry about what my other 2 dogs will do when their group drops by one - I've been there and it has made me feel like the most helpless and useless 'lower being'.  I have loved and lost so many dogs over the course of many years, but would not trade the pain of the end for one minute I would have lost by not being in their lives.....gentle hugs for you.

[SherylsShado]

Thank you jordandog.  It's been a hard, sad and tearful past couple of weeks.   Gypsy (my yellow lab) isn't taking the loss very well, she keeps looking all over for the cat and keeps going into Shadow's room looking for her.  Her face looks so sad.  I've been doing extra things for her to try and boost her spirits, but she misses them.

Anyway, you are so right---I wouldn't have traded the pain of the end for one minute I would have lost by not being in their lives.  I would gladly adopt them all over again, if only I could...