Yes, I know

dturm wrote:

westernrvparkowner wrote:
...In my opinion, it is inhumane to allow a pet to suffer in it's final days...

I don't think you'll get anyone to disagree with this statement, but having to deal with this on just about a daily basis for 36 years, I've found that every person's definition of "suffer" is different.

To some the diagnosis of cancer is that point - even though the animal could have months of normal happy life with no symptoms even without treatment.

To others, a dog with a broken back, totally incontinent and in pain with zero chance of recovery wasn't the point of "suffering" - had to talk long a hard with that one.

The extremes may be pretty obvious, but there is a whole lot of gray area in between. I've learned to avoid TELLING people what to do and to give them options, sometimes with what my personal decision would be if it were my dog/cat.

It's pretty easy to stand on the sidelines in judgment for somebody else.

Doug, DVM

I agree with you 100%. However, I think I have been quoted out of context here. I was responding to a post that seemed to indicate euthanizing a pet was akin to killing a functioning adult. While this country has not embraced euthanasia for humans, it has taken steps forward in allowing people to make informed decisions regarding their own end of life with my mentioned DNR (do not resuscitate) and other living will provisions. Hospice care and other end of life strategies aimed at giving people comfort at the end of their life are a vast improvement over fighting a losing battle to add a few extra days to a person's life. Our pets deserve no less compassion.