Comforting a neighbor

[Mary Jane]

As some of you know, I commute to Manhattan. This morning I missed my train-let me explain why. My friendly neighbor and I do not see each other socially, but have met on the street for years while walking our dogs. She has an adorable Havanese, Molly, who I have known since she was a puppy. She's a loving little thing who in her enormous enthusiasm can almost reach my knees. She's dying of congestive heart failure, she now visits a cardiologist weekly.

My neighbor has a terrible option. Because of Molly's condition, there is a drug that can be administered orally for euthanasia. Her vet suggested that when Molly is really at the end of life, that my neighbor administer the drug herself at home. Of course, this would involve minimal stress for Molly. However, the burden of actually euthanising your own dog is very large for my neighbor, as it would be for me. So I missed my train because we were discussing this issue in some depth. As has been said here often, there is no single right answer to this dilemma.

MJ

[Brightelf]

Oh, MaryJane.. such a caring heart you have to feel for and with your neighbor about sweet little Molly. I too, think administering the med myself would be overwhelming, alone, or with family there. I think having the vet do it removes the owner just enough that we can then focus all our energies on the pet him or herself at that time. Such a dilemna for your neighbor. My heart goes out to her!

[arycrest]

I have a terrible time dealing with euthanasia. Like most people, the only reason I can have a Hooligan euthanised is because it's the only altherative I have because the dog no longer has a quality life. But I honestly don't think I could give one of them that pill even if someone offered me a million dollars to do it.

[shilohsmom]

OH my gosh, I could never do this. I just couldn't. My heart goes out to her as well.

I'm going back and thinking about this, and while I can understand that the Vet is trying to help-I didn't think it was legal to give out euthansia type things to unlicenced person??? Just a thought.

I'm glad you took the time to help this person rather than rush and catch your train-it says a lot about you as a person and you should be proud you have such priorities.

[DrDoom]

If the alternative was extra pain/anxiety (IE a trip to the vets) I'd do it, but I would need a long time alone afterwards to reconcilemyself emotionally.
Still, I would want to be the one who was there for him, and if he needed that from me, I'd do it.

[Betty]

It would be no more difficult for me that having someone else to do it.

[Mandalay]

Why can't the vet some administer the drug at her home? I think it is a good idea, a nice option, but oh my dog how hard it would be to give that pill to my own dog.

Unless Mandalay were lying in the middle of nowhere with no access to any kind of vet care and were surely suffering with obvious death at the end of the suffering, I would not be able to do it. I am actually getting teary even thinking about it.

I think that it needs to be pointed out to her that the guilt of having had euthanized her own dog may be very overwhelming after the fact.

[JenniferH]

I dont think I could do it. BUT I would also hope that somewhere in my heart and mind as a dog owner I would do what I had to do to keep my dogs from pain and suffering. I could only hope that I was strong enough to do it if the time came. I hope I never have to find out.

My other thought, and sorry this may sound morbid, but what if she's home alone, sick at heart with dealing with the fact that she just gave her dog this pill and the pill doesnt work but instead causes terrible side effects? I have never heard of a pill that does this so thats why I throw it out there.

Is she unable to do the drug by shot because of her heart condition?

I feel for her having to be faced with that situation.

[GunnersMom]

Oh boy, my heart goes out to your neighbor. What a difficult thing to have to consider.

I could never do it, personally. I have to be there with them when the time comes, but I don't think I could be the one to actually do it. Just the thought of my boys looking at me and knowing that I was the one doing it freaks me out way too much.

I would worry, too, about the pill maybe not working the way it's supposed to, or there being some kind of complication and then there you are with no vet present. Too scary.

[Mary Jane]

Originally Posted By: GunnersMom Just the thought of my boys looking at me and knowing that I was the one doing it freaks me out way too much.

Deni, that's part of what chills me to the bone. My big baby trusts me. When he is reluctant to eat from his dish, he will eat from my hand. How could I coax him to eat poison?