Do vets tend to sell euthanasia?

[Faithful83]

We had an issue with a puppy who had a birth defect. Although not as healthy as most puppies, she was happy and had quality of life. However, when the vet determined that the defect would eventually kill her, he insisted we put her down and was steadfast that keeping her alive another minute would be just horrible. However anyone could look at her and tell that she wasn't yet suffering and very much enjoyed life. Yet that life was snuffed out because the vet was so persistent that the decision to euthanize her had to be made and carried out RIGHT NOW!!!!

So, do you think vets tend to sell euthanasia over quality of life in terminal cases? Or is it more usual for vets to advocate keeping the animal alive as long as it has quality of life?

 

[SnowOwlMoon]

My question would be, what was the nature of the birth defect? Did it limit her eating, drinking or breathing? In that case, yes, maybe euthanasia was the right thing to do.

If the puppy was able to eat, drink and breathe, and could have a decent quality of life for a short time, then the question would be, how much care can you devote to the puppy? Could you afford medications, if needed? If the puppy was immobile, would someone be at home, to make sure it could go outside to potty when it needed to? Could the birth defect be corrected with surgery? Were there other animals in the house that might endanger the puppy? How long could the puppy have a good quality of life? And how bad would the end be?

And finally, I would never let a vet make the decision of whether or not to euthanize for me. The vet can offer advice, but it is not his/her decision to make.

 

[Matrona]

What was wrong with your puppy, if I may ask?

Some vets do oversell euthanasia--one tried to insist that I put my kitty to sleep when he had cancer. No surgery, no medicine, nothing. I went to a different vet, one who wouldn't kill animals unless he REALLY had to, and my boy lived for two and a half more years until he passed. He was sore right after his surgeries, yes. But I know my baby, and he was happy through the end of his little life.

 

[Faithful83]

It was an esophageal and heart defect. She may not have been able to eat as much as normal puppies, but she tried, and she was able to eat enough to gain weight in the four days that we had her (pureed food went much farther than kibble). Other than that she liked to play with squeaky toys, run around, chew on fingers, everything a happy 8-week-old pup likes to do.

 

[Heidilein]

My vets have, luckily, never pushed putting one of our animals down. They've always given us other options and let us decide. Our new kitty has a heart defect, but it was never brought up to have him euthanized. I think it very much depends on the vet. Personally, I don't see why a vet would push euthanization because the more procedures the animal has, the more money he makes. Maybe that sounds cynical, but it's logic to me.

 

[Faithful83]

Here's another cynical possibility: Maybe this particular vet, realizing that there were no other procedures to do, pushed euthanasia because that is a procedure, thus he makes more money than he would if he just sent the puppy home.

 

[Mulutka]

In all honesty, I highly doubt that a vet would be in the animal business to rake in the money (that's was dentistry is for! LOL ). Really though, the majority of vets really love and care for animals and that's the reason why they're in that profession.

Have you ever thought of it this way?--> the vet didn't want you getting any more emtionally tied to the puppy than you already were? I mean, the dog was inevitably going to die at a really young age and all... He may even not have mentioned possible surgery options because he didn't want to rip you off (since the pup would only die soon anyways). He was most likly looking out for both you and your puppy's best interest.

With all of this said, I'm sorry you had to loose your puppy.

 

[Didymus]

depends on the vet. when you basset was so sick this past August i asked the vet what he would do if it was his dog--spend several housands on surgery or put her down. he said put her down. of course she was 10 and was in very poor shape. it s a tough call. been through it before.

 

[Faithful83]

Have you ever thought of it this way?--> the vet didn't want you getting any more emtionally tied to the puppy than you already were? I mean, the dog was inevitably going to die at a really young age and all...

We're all inevitably going to die, some of us will be young, some will be old. But we all will pass away. So why get emotionally attached to anybody? It's called life/love.

And she still had interest in living, so we owed it to her to me emotionally tied to her as long as she had interest in living. And we did not give her what we owed her because of a very, very cold-hearted veterinarian.

depends on the vet. when you basset was so sick this past August i asked the vet what he would do if it was his dog--spend several housands on surgery or put her down. he said put her down.

There is a difference between asking a vet for his advice and a vet pressuring you to do something with/without being asked for advice.

 

[TheOtherDude]

They would sell it? That stuff is dangerous.

 

[BeanMak]

A vet can suggest, but you can always pick up your animal and walk out. I on the other hand tend to think that vets do everything other than euthanize a pet because they make more money keeping you coming in for check ups, pills, special feeds etc.

 

[Faithful83]

They would sell it? That stuff is dangerous.

What I mean is do they tend to pressure people into euthanizing their animals. No, a vet will not let you buy the drug...I hope.

 

[KittiK]

I think it depends on the vet. I have known vets that will use the drug on a pet to save it from dying a horribly painful death, or from living a life that we would consider not worth living. But I have heard of vets that will put an animal to sleep at the request of the owner....regardless of the reason. Personal choice I guess. Whatever they see as an acceptable definition of life.

 

[Cranberry]

It's hard to know is a pet is in pain for two reasons: They can't talk and tell us (obviously) and animals instinctively hide their pain.

"Researchers say pets often hide their discomfort because they are genetically programmed not to show pain. Domesticated cats and dogs may not look much like the wild animals they are descended from — and do not live in the same harsh conditions — but scientists say have they have inherited the same instinct for self-preservation. That instinct tells them to never show weakness."

That's a quote from:
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/wnt/DailyNews/petpain_010702.html

Sometimes vets take for granted an animal has a poor quality of life because it has a condition normally associated with chronic pain.