AT HOME HOSPICE CARE & EUTHANASIA
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"Life is full of unique joys and sorrows. For anyone who loves an animal and has been touched by a special pet, the loss of that beloved pet is a deeply emotional experience." - Dr. Jennifer Moulton A LETTER FROM DR. MOULTON ON CHOOSING EUTHANASIA FOR YOUR PET
Many pet owner's expect that "seeing the end in sight" or knowing that a pet's time is limited by injury or illness would soften the blow. Sometimes I think that can make the situation worse. At least with the sudden, unexpected passing of a pet it affords one the insulation of shock to accept the decision to humanely euthanize your family member and end their suffering. A pet's terminal illness does not afford you this insulation and instead leaves many to watch a dear friend and family member deteriorate over time. This is an extremely agonizing experience for everyone involved ( including your pet). Most owner's are stricken with intense feelings of guilt during this time. The guilt aspect of grieving the loss of your loved one is something which anyone who has been involved with a terminal patient often torments themselves with. Many will ask themselves... "Did we make decisions too early?"... "How much pain and suffering did our pet endure due to our lack of understanding and/or denial of their diminishing health?"... Pet owners who have confidence in, communicate regularly and openly with their veterinarians, and are willing to accept their "inner voice" are the most capable of making the best decision when it comes to the humane euthanasia of their pet. As your veterinarian, I view it as my most vita role to evaluate your pet's medical circumstances and guide in making the best and most humane decision for your pet. Quality of life is the key focus thing to focus on. Euthanasia is a last loving gift some of us choose to give to a suffering pet. It is swift and painless and affords your pet dignity in death once the quality of life has ebbed to an unacceptable level. I have never administered euthanasia to a pet without feeling an immense sadness, but I do not regret ending the suffering and pain of an animal in this humane way. I regret that it becomes the kindest option due to the circumstances of a pet's health once treatment/ medications are unable to adequately address a pet's health problems. I always hope that owner's are able to understand that they are truly doing something for their pet, not doing something "to" their pet. This is what so many pet owner's anguish over. Birth and death are the great inevitability's of life. The myriad of joys that come from having a special relationship with a pet should never be undone by the ending of that pets life. After 30 years of practice I have seen first hand not only the suffering and pain caused by an owner's inability to humanely euthanize their terminally ill pet but the permanent damage this period does to the happy and loving remembrance of the pet. Not choosing to humanely end your pet's life, sadly, diminishes the value of the companionship and friendship you cultivated with that pet over an entire lifetime. In making a decision to end life in order to end untreatable, disabling discomfort, you exercise the only real power you have left to help your pet. The decision is never an easy one, but in certain circumstances, it is often what most of us in veterinary medicine consider "doing the right thing". This is not becuase it is expeditious, but because an animals pain and suffering are real and we really care. |
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Cherished Companion MVS offers at home hospice care and euthanasia services to provide a safe, loving and comfortable environment for you and your pet during a very difficult time. Dr. Moulton takes exceptional care to provide owner's and their ailing pets with compassion, integrity and kindness in all aspects of the patients' care leading up to and at the time of humane euthanasia.
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CARING FOR YOUR PETS REMAINS
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CCMVS highly recommends and exclusively works with Agape Pet Services in caring for your pet's remains. Agape Pet Services is a pet cremation service that offers private pet cremation, private attended cremation and group cremation in their Boonsboro, MD, Sandston, VA, and Siler City, NC locations. They have a wide selection of pet cremation urns, pet cremation beads, pet cremation jewelry, pet cremation keepsakes. and helpful resources to grieving pet parents. Whether your family needs a private pet service or a personalized pet urn or keepsake, Agape Pet Services can help.
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