Originally posted by LoudMusic
That's a really interesting topic. And a tough decision to some people. Personally I don't agree with it in regards to old age. But if the animal is in significant pain early in life it becomes more of a possibility - though I still don't like it.
I try to treat pets as people because most families grow to love their pets almost as family members. My grandmother is 92 years old. Would I ever consider euthenatia? NO. Why would I for any other family member?
Animals in the wild live to be old and die on their own (or get eaten ...). The only thing gained by putting pets to sleep is to put the owner's emotions at rest. If you want to love the dog, love the whole dog from start to finish.
LM,
I have to tell this story. Before I go any further
I want you all to know that at the time I found it to be pretty gruesome. If you can't handle that please just skip this post:
When I was first out of nursing school I had a job in a nursing home. A family had their grandmother in that home. She was basically in a persistent vegatative state. She was on a Gastric tube feeding because she could not swallow, without taking liquid into her lungs (aspiration). She had a Foley Urinary catheter because she was incontinent of urine, and was in diapers because she was incontinent of bowel.
Beyond this she had suffered a massive stroke, and was largely unresponsive. She never looked at anyone. She never spoke. Never made a sound. She never even resisted or helped when we were rolling her around in bed to change her diaper.
Eventually, her family made the decision to turn off the feeding pump, and to withhold water from her. Because her
quality of life was non-existent.
I went to my director, as at that time, I thought that that was incredibly cruel. She sat me down, and we talked about it for a very long time. She educated me to the fact that it wasn't a painful, lingering death. She educated me to the fact that by continuing to feed this resident, we were only prolonging her suffering.
I must admit that I never did fully come to terms with this. The little lady died about two days later. Do I believe that the family did the right thing, yes. But, I'm glad I'm not the one that had to make the decision to withhold water and food.
I'm now one of the biggest advocates of "Living Wills" and "Advance Directives". Let your family know under what circumstances you want them to just "let you go." And what measures you want taken in the event you have some event (Stroke, Traumatic Head Injury, etc) That puts you in a position that you cannot make your own decisions, or into a persistant vegatative state, that can only be maintained with tubes down your throat, and in/out of your various orifices to keep you alive.
Sorry for that gruesome aside, but I feel very strongly about "actively" seeking a sick person's death. (a la Dr. Kevorkian) But I understand now more about "passively" letting a loved one go.
