Should vets be able to make calls?

Question

Regarding their patient...meaning animal....

I'll use 2 examples of what I'm talking about....

Example 1 : Had a dog come in having cluster seizures....we stabilized him and he went into acoma...we had that dog on life support with 24hr around the clock care...he had his own nurses assigned to him alone....we had 300 employees at the vet hospital I worked at...he stayed like that for 1 week, he crashed numerous times and we revived him numerous times, the Drs wanted to call it but the owners wouldn't allow it....he finally died a week later when he crashed and we couldn't revive him....the owners even had us open him up and do open chest   resuscitation...

Example 2 : I took this one a little personal....3 am the doorbell rang, I ran to open the doors to meet two men holding a black puppy in their arms, about 9 weeks old...one man was in tears and I couldn't understand him but the puppy started throwing up in his arms and shaking so I grabbed him and ran him to the back, first thing we thought was parvo so I was instantly in isolation with him since I didn't have any protective wear when I came in contact...parvo test was negative...we did a ultrasound and found a obstruction....the owner didn't have the money for a emergency surgery and the puppy would not make it because of how sick he was...owner opted for euthanasia but wanted to wait for his wife to get there to say good bye...I sat in isolation for 2 1/2hrs with said puppy who was bellowing in extreme pain the entire time, bloody vomit and stools non stop...we asked if we could give pain meds until the wife got there and he said no for money issues....id like to say I'm pretty desensitized to these things but something about having to hold him for those hours while he screamed in pain and had blood coming out of everywhere really got to me....he died 10 minutes before the wife got there who refused to leave work early and that's why we waited so long....

So my question is...should vets have the right to step in and do right by their patients when the owners can't?

On going debate I've had with co workers over the years.

Answer

Yes no one human or animal should have to suffer because of someone else selfish reasons.

Answer

I appreciate my vets giving me their advice. I dont know everything and I'm no expert on animals,  I didn't go to school for that and I don't have experience like they do.  A few years ago when I had to put one of my dogs down,  I kinda knew it was that time but didn't want to know it.  We went into the vets and they told me she was in to much pain and there wasn't anything besides pain meds good the rest of her life.  They said she would suffer every day she it may be time to think about putting her to sleep.  I didn't want to make her suffer for another year or so.  My vets look out for animals to the best of their ability and I like that.  I feel I can trust them with my animals if need be

Answer

Omg this is why I couldn't be a vet. I would do the surgery on the puppy to save his life then keep it since the owners only choice was to let it die. Awe so sad. I praise u hun.

Answer

It would depend on the situation. If the person is making a decision that is harmful to the animal or is refusing vital treatment for the animal (like the second situation), the vet should be able to override their decision. I don't agree with the fact that people can opt to euthanize their animals instead of treating them- frankly, if you can't afford to take care of your animals, you should not have them in the first place. Obviously there are exceptions (terminal cancer, incurable diseases, serious injuries, etc) but a puppy with an intestinal blockage is NOT one of them. As far as the second situation, I don't think that someone's wish to resuscitate their animal should ever be ignored or overridden, just as a doctor would never ignore someone's wish to resuscitate a human family member.

Answer

I recently had to put down 2 of my best friebds, a 10 year old St. Bernard and a 11 year old pit mix, the died 6 months apart :( I put them down so they wouldn't be in pain. I asked the vet point blank if they were his dogs would he keep them alive or put them down, he finally said that they were in pain but that was after I pushed very hard for an answer, he kept telling me about surgery and all the specialist I could use. I was broken up and crying but I love them so so so much and I chose to let them go for them not me.  By getting them out of pain I felt like I was slightly repaying them for the amazing life I got to share with them and the countless joy they brought to my life.

Answer

I feel like that's a hard answer. As a pet owner myself, I'm very attached to my pets, they're my babies and I'd want to make sure everything is done that could be done to help them and even if there's not many options left, I know I'd have a hard time letting go. At the same time, the vet is the professional and knows best.

Answer

Yes absolutely! If people cannot act in the animals bests interest then they shouldn't have pets. Sometimes you have to make really awful decisions but it's the right thing to do. It makes me so mad when people won't even give their animals pain relief because of the cost as well 😡

Answer

Hell yes.

Answer

I had to put my best friend down in March. He was the perfect dog. My family was two cities over while he was being kept over night at an emergency vet for examination. My family decided to put him down and I told them to wait for me. I rushed there and it was a horrid sight. He was in visible pain and had trouble breathing. I took a few minutes to say goodbye and I knew it was the right thing to do, I had to let him go. Him walking away with the vet and knowing I would never see him again has been one of the hardest things, especially since my son was born not long before and I knew how beautiful life was. If i had gotten there at the most more than an hour later, I would have wanted a vet to just cut it and say it's time. As hard as it is, i would feel better knowing that he would have been rested easy rather than waiting and him suffering longer while in pain.

Answer

That is sad, and horrible.
I had a bad situation once cat got stuck in my car I felt so bad cause I couldn't do it myself I called animal control and said it needed to be put down (I wish I never looked) however the animal control did not bring the shot and had to wait for someone else to bring it. The whole time that poor kitty was screaming in pain 😿. I'm so sorry I know this is terribly sad. I now beat on my hood everyday before starting my car, that was years ago now but I still hear him sometimes...

Should vets be able to make calls?

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