This is the fourth and last in a series discussing euthanasia. The first three installments focused on medical reasons that might result in a decision to euthanize a pet. In this blog, I will discuss behavioral reasons that might prompt this most difficult of decisions. Once before, I addressed the issue of human safety vs. animal rights. …
In human medicine, a patient may receive either palliative care or hospice care. Palliative care often leads to hospice care. For instance, a person with high blood pressure would still receive blood pressure medication under palliative care. In hospice care, a patient no longer receives medication for chronic diseases. The goal shifts from trying to …
In this second installment in a series, I am sharing some of my thoughts on euthanasia. My perspective comes from both sides of the exam table. I am a diehard animal lover as well as a veterinarian. In Part One of this series, I told the story of a client who asked, “What would you …
With few exceptions, most people become veterinarians because they love animals. That certainly was true in my case. I was five years old when I told my parents that I wanted to be a vet. I have lived with at least one dog since I was an infant. Under no circumstances could I imagine my …
In Part One of this series, I discussed the difference between more “black and white” decisions regarding a pet’s quality of life, versus the large gray areas where a decision is much less clear. In Part Two, I shared my “gray” experience with an Arabian gelding, as well as a couple of more “black and …
