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A Vizsla, an Osteosarcoma and an Emergency Vet all walk into a bar…

Nov 25

Don’t worry….it’s thankfully not Hank’s “time” just yet (however, there have been some recent changes, but we have still been busy loving life on three legs…hence the tardiness of this post…more to come soon), but as a veterinarian, I am asked this question by clients on a daily basis when their beloved pet is nearing that moment.  And, I have always had a good answer.  But will I be able to practice what I preach? I hope so. So here I sit, at work, with Hank next to me in my office…..and I write….and I cry….

If there is anything I have learned from being in emergency veterinary medicine and dealing with illness, sickness, death and dying all the time, it is that being able to make the decision to end the suffering of those pets that are so very important to us is not only a blessing, but a curse. When I first started practicing, being able to provide humane euthanasia was probably one of my favorite parts of my job. Not to sound morbid or anything, but there is something very satisfying about ending suffering and being able to provide a terminally ill/injured/old/sad dog or cat a feeling of euphoria and painlessness while being surrounded by those that love them in the last few minutes of their lives. How cool. The majority of people dont even get that opportunity when they are terminally ill. However, something it took me a while to learn was the effect that having that power to make the decision to end a life (human or not) has on people. The guilt, the shame, the sadness….it goes home with everyone (including myself) no matter how prepared you think you are to make this decision. So, then, how do we know? How do we know when it’s the right time? The right time to minimize suffering and maximize quality of life? The right time to be able to be strong and say good-bye? How do we know if its too early? Or too late? I have realized that this type of thinking will send most down a rabbit hole they don’t want anything to do with. But, really, it is very, very simple…..

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Whack-a-Mole at its finest...he literally had his head in this hole for a solid 3 minutes

Whack-a-Mole at its finest…he literally had his head in this hole for a solid 3 minutes…

My first experience with euthanizing a pet was my childhood dog, Roscoe. He was a 90-lb pitty from the “pound” that belonged to our neighbors and good family friends during my adolescence. They had three dogs (including Roscoe), and they had a swimming pool. Two things I definitely did not have, so as you could imagine, I was at their house constantly as a kid. Well, it became evident very quickly that Roscoe took a liking to me and I to him. But my mother had asthma and I grew up with the understanding that dogs and cats were not going to ever cohabitate with us in our house unless we wanted our mother to suffocate to death on pet hair and end up sounding like one of those people on the anti-smoking commercials that have to talk and breathe through a hole in their neck. But…it got to the point that when I would leave from a visit, Roscoe would literally lay by the front door of my neighbors house, with his nose pressed to the gap between the bottom of the door and the floor until I returned. He wouldn’t eat, he wouldn’t drink, or even move for that matter. So, the neighbors begged us to take him when I was ten for fear he would starve to death during my upcoming horse-show season when we would be traveling a lot and my visits to Roscoe would be few and far between for a few months.  Thankfully, my mom was a sucker for my pouty face and agreed to give it a try….and then I had a dog.

Roscoe was with me for thirteen awesome years and my mother even shipped him out to Colorado to be with me when I went to college. He was my companion, my protector, my first dog. He came with me just about everywhere and, since I lived in the worst ghetto of my college town (it was bad…drug dealing, questionable characters on every corner, random toddlers walking down my street in nothing but a diaper with no adults anywhere to be found, but hey, the rent was super cheap!), he was a great reminder to all the creeps in my neighborhood to never mess with me. He was always healthy, but his last year I watched a slow decline. His mobility was terrible thanks to typical big-dog arthritis as he aged, he developed several tumors on his rectum and near the end, he would have accidents in his sleep on his bed which mortified him. But, he was still happy as ever. This was before veterinary school, so I remember expecting him to just die in his sleep one night, as many people with geriatric pets do. And then, “the day” came. I still remember that day not only because of the profound impact it had on me at the time, but also for the unknown impact it would have on my entire veterinary career.

It was an early summer Saturday in Western Colorado between my Sophomore and Junior year of college, which for me at the time, meant I would get up at 4am to head to the barn to ride the 5-6 horses I needed to train for the day before it got scorching, Western Colorado hot. Then I would get home around 1 or 2pm and nap for the rest of the day in my air conditioned apartment. Roscoe and I had a routine in which I would let him out and feed him quickly before I left in the early morning, then I would take him on a much longer walk in the evening once it cooled down. But this morning was different. I couldn’t get him out of bed for breakfast which was VERY abnormal for him. This is a dog that never missed a meal in his entire life and ate an entire one pound box of chocolate covered coffee beans the Christmas prior that was wrapped and under my Christmas tree- he even ate the packaging, so he was pooping wrapping paper and bows for a week.

That morning I even had to carry him down the stairs of my apartment building to get him to go to the bathroom and when I set him down in the grass, he couldn’t stand for long. I remember bringing him back upstairs, placing him on his bed and expecting he would be better once I got home from working. I wasn’t too worried until I pulled into my driveway that afternoon and for the first time ever, I didn’t see his goofy face staring down at me out of my second- story living room window. He knew the sound of my car and when he would hear me pull into the drive way, he would usually jump onto the sofa by the window (if he wasn’t sleeping there already) so he could watch me get out of my car and come upstairs. I even remember sitting in my car for several minutes and waiting to see if he was just moving a little slower that day….his face never came to the window. I finally made my way upstairs and he did not greet me when I came in the door. My heart dropped. I walked around the corner and into my bedroom where he was still laying on his bed- in the exact same position in which I had left him. I stood in my doorway for a while already trying to think which vet would be open for me to take him to that day….and then, without even raising his head, he looked right at me. And for a dog I had owned for 13 years, I had never seen these eyes before. Something was gone from them….something was missing. And before I could even begin to analyze what this look meant, he let out a big sigh and instantaneously, his eyes literally said to me…… “Mom….I’m done.” I ran to him and collapsed at his bed side, cried and tried to tell myself that this hadn’t just happened, that I was making it up in my head, but I absolutely knew in my gut that he had told me he was ready to go. He told me he was in pain, and tired, but that it was ok. A good friend of mine (who happened to be a veterinarian) came to my apartment the next morning and put him down as I sat with him on the floor in my bedroom, cradling his head in my hands as the wind blew through my curtains and the sun shone in on us. It was an absolutely beautiful experience that I will never forget. And I feel like every pet owner deserves a chance to have this type of end-of-life experience with their pet.

The combination of this experience and several years of practicing emergency veterinary medicine has taught me a lot about knowing the “right time.” And again, it really is quite simple. So in typical LP fashion, I have put my pearls of wisdom about this into a list:

  1. Dogs and cats are very, very good at letting their people know when they are truly “done,” exactly as Roscoe did for me; especially when dealing with old age or chronic illness. But each pet is different in how they will “tell” you and the kicker is you have to be open enough to see it and not fall into a pit of denial. Whether its a look (or lack thereof), no longer wanting to eat, go for a walk, etc., they will tell you. I had one client tell me she knew it was time for her cat because for the first time ever, her kitty didn’t bite the dog that morning when he came in from outside as she had every single morning for 16 years.  I have learned that this a common reason why people will often show up at my clinic at all hours of the night/morning to euthanize their dogs/cats that have been sick for several days/weeks/months.  This used to bother me (really? your dog has been vomiting ALL day and hasn’t eaten for a week but NOW its time at 3am?), but I have learned that that just happened to be the moment when that pet told their owner they were ready, whether the owner knew it or not. And now I am glad when those people come in because that shows they were open enough to not be in denial about the life stage of their pet and didn’t make them wait any longer or suffer.  This is the meaning of true love and selflessness when the decision to end a life is in your hands.
  2. People seem to never regret letting their pet go “too soon” when they are sick/elderly/have poor quality of life, but they almost always regret waiting too long. And that is the worst. The guilt that people feel when they all of a sudden realize that their pet may have been suffering and they were in denial about it is crippling and something I warn many about when they are contemplating the right time for their pet.
  3.  It is all about quality of life. ALWAYS. Our pets love us unconditionally and bring us so much joy in life. The least we can do in return is to not expect them to suffer the human condition of wanting to live as long as possible, even if completely miserable. A dog should always be able to do the things that dogs do- walk and/or play, eat, chase things, enjoy being around their people. Cats should be able to jump, snuggle, eat, play, groom themselves…and most importantly, they should all be able to do these things and not be in an unreasonable amount of pain. If your dog/cat no longer has quality of life….it is time.
  4.  If you wait until your pet dies at home without intervention, you’ve waited too long. In general, it is very, very rare that dogs and cats die peacefully in their sleep as most people expect them to do.  The diseases and problems that cause death in animals are not pleasant ones….and I guarantee are not ways in which you would want your pet to pass. And then you’ll never know for sure if they were in pain, if they were scared, if they suffered. However, when a pet comes to me for euthanasia, I can be 100% sure they were not in pain (thanks to the cabinet full of narcotics I have at my disposal and use without restraint in these cases), I can be mostly certain they were not scared (thanks to the shelf of Valium, sedatives and other good drugs I also have at my disposal) and that their last memory was most likely of you…their favorite thing in the world. What on earth could be a better way to cross over? I cant think of a single one…

    Recent fall day at the park

    Recent fall day at the park

In remembering all these things, I can only hope and pray that I will do right by Hank in knowing when its his time. I have already promised him. And that is the least I can do after all he has done for me. I can make 100% sure he wont be in pain anymore, he wont be scared, and that I will be right by his side.

Until next time (sooner, I promise!)

LP

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13 comments so far

  1. Jerry Zee
    1:24 pm - 11-25-2016

    Thanks for your article. I want to tell a story about my two rottis. My boy Thor is a tripaw he is also 10 months post-op. My girl Roxy who I lost on August 1 of this year also had osteosarcoma. She was 11 1/2 years old and there wasn’t much I could do for her. I could see that morning she was ready. It is one of the hardest things I ever had to do. Thanks for your article. Jerry

  2. dobemom
    3:00 pm - 11-25-2016

    Bravo, as always, a must-read. As I face this same inevitability , I too pray for strength, courage and wisdom. I mostly pray for the courage to make the ultimate decision while my heart is shattering; to remain calm and loving and peaceful. Thank you for sharing your journey with us.

    Paula and Nitro

  3. Alicia
    4:10 pm - 11-25-2016

    Lindsay that was amazing. I am still crying about your portrayal of our beloved Roscoe. You are an amazing writer and a wonderful veterinarian. Very special gifts.

  4. Lorraine
    10:16 pm - 11-25-2016

    Beautiful, thank you so much. I am a V mom too – Hank looks like an awesome boy, hope you have a long time left with him.

  5. midnighter94
    11:41 pm - 11-25-2016

    I always love the way you write, that in itself is a gift. But you also give us a gift of clarity. Like Paula and you both, I will eventually face this same decision with Murphy sometime in the future. There’s always that worry of missing the signs, of waiting too long. But right now he’s happy and hopping around. You bring to mind other pets I’ve lost, and I always try to think, “did I wait too long?” One time I might have, but Harley got sick on Thursday and we tried to nurse him through it, but then he passed at home on Monday … we were going to take him in that evening…so too late 🙁 The comment, though about the cat who didn’t bite the dog made me laugh because we used to have a cat who used to bop our dogs on their snouts (he was declawed, so it never hurt them, but they always backed down) … until one day not long before he passed, when he bopped Cassie & it didn’t hurt .. the look on her face was precious! I knew that Midnight’s time was getting close, but Cassie just looked at him ..I think she actually wanted to kiss him lol.
    Hugs to you & Hank,
    Donna

  6. neka03
    4:00 am - 11-26-2016

    hello,
    per a fellow friend on our blog site, referred me to catch up on your story and I am so glad she reached out to me to get back in touch. I just caught up on your Hanks story, and wow, did I love reading about him and you, and felt deja-vu in many ways. And the above post, well lets just say I pretty much cried for about 30mn. your portrayal and wording is perfect and well done. your boy is gorgeous and amazing, and you, a breath of fresh air.

    I struggled with my final decision, not because it was done, but because the thought of missing something that could be done, for just a some more healthy moments.(type A, personality with a fix it complex)…too long of a story to to explain here, but many have followed her story.

    thank you for your stories… love, prayers and happiness to you and your Hank.

    Love Angel Neka and her guardian

  7. jerry
    7:21 pm - 11-27-2016

    Holy toledo I’m wiping tears out of gratitude for your honesty and helpfulness in this very, very tough part of being a pet parent. I wish you could be our vet and I have no doubt you will do right by Hank.

    Jerry had that look one day when he was too tired to enjoy life anymore, and just like that, my gut said “it’s time.” It wasn’t at 3am when we took him to a clinic that let us say goodbye on the lawn, under beautiful rural Montana skies, but the whole thing happened within about 10 hours. It was the most peaceful transition and we couldn’t have asked for a greater gift by the vet.

    Thank you so much. I have shared this in our “Coping with Loss” Forum and will pin it to the top for all to read.

  8. teri
    11:48 pm - 12-1-2016

    Thank you for this. I’m praying that when the time comes I can be brave and strong for Isa.

    Your writing is beautiful – wonderful clarity. And Hank is awesome. Count me into his fan club.
    hugs,
    Teri and Isa

  9. benny55
    5:24 pm - 12-3-2016

    Two very simple words, but very heartfelt: THANK YOU!

    And I’m sooo glad to hear Hank is doing well!! THAT is wonderful to hear!!

    And I’m so glad Roscoe picked you. I’m so glad he got to know what real love felt like.

    Oh,and Hank’s pictures…DELIGHTFUL and BEAUTIFUL!

    Love

    Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!

  10. timewillt3ll
    2:33 pm - 2-7-2017

    I am currently in the “is it time?” phase with my Spine. This has shed some light on our situation, THANK YOU

  11. rnbsmama
    1:09 am - 3-5-2017

    Thank you! My girl Rosie is done. We’ve scheduled sedated euthanized for next week. It’s time. It’s heartbreaking and the loss is going to be emense. She told me she’s ready. Her sparkle is gone and she won’t even squeak her new ducky. A sure sign that her journey is over. I so wanted more than 4 months post amp. I wanted her to be my travel companion in retirement. I wanted so much more time. Anyway-tears are running down my face. But I did want to say thank you for writing because it gave me peace, peace in knowing I have made the best and right decision for her.

  12. Jesh
    11:10 pm - 3-26-2018

    Thank you for the article. It was very helpful and informative. Wishing all you guys the best.

  13. jandb
    2:57 pm - 6-4-2018

    My fiancé and I have a 7 1/2 year-old French mastiff with osteosarcoma. We had her leg amputated when she was diagnosed, almost two full years ago. She did wonderfully as a tri-pawed pup, even for a heavier breed, and for a long time still enjoyed going for walks, chasing the ball, and wrestling with us. It’s been breaking our hearts now to see her slowing down so drastically, and we’ve been in touch this week with our vet, discussing The Decision.
    We are so touched to have stumbled across your blog. This is a beautiful, heartrending post, and I’m literally still crying–and if Riley weren’t sound asleep and snoring so loudly in her mid-morning nap, she’d be going crazy trying to comfort her quietly boo-hooing mom. Thank you for sharing this. It has illuminated some things for us, and in general its just comforting to know that there is so much support out there for these impossible decisions. We’re still trying to decide what to do, and it’s like having to rip our own hearts out of our chests.

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