Apart from a few minor deviations, including a short one Jurassic Park-forced obsession with being a paleontologist, always wanted to be a vet. One of my earliest memories is discovering the body of our cat, Bindi, on the side of the road and desperately wanting her to “wake up.”
When I was in high school, I started to worry about how I would deal with euthanasia. If I can’t even stand watching a movie where a pet dies, how can I be the one to put the animal to sleep? This worried me so much that I put off veterinary school for a few years until I felt ready to face the emotional challenges that come with the job.
Losing a pet never gets easier, but with time, dealing with death in veterinary practice becomes less painful. But it’s not because we’re becoming more sensitive; it is that in most cases, when we euthanize a pet, we are doing them a great kindness, and in many ways, euthanasia is a real gift. Vets are sad when they put a cat down, but we learn how to deal with that sadness in a healthy way.
What are the Reasons for Euthanasia?
In veterinary practice, the main reason for putting down a cat is to avoid suffering. Whether it is old age, serious injury, or terminal illness, euthanasia is the treatment for the incurable. This is a highly controversial issue in human medicine, but I have such sympathy for patients, doctors, and loved ones who face a future of pain, shame, and suffering, with no chance of recovery. In the veterinary world, we are able to save our patients from such suffering.
Times when euthanasia is less welcome are when cats are put to sleep due to overpopulation, minor behavioral issues, lack of money to treat an illness, or lack of willingness to continue treatment. Fortunately, this is not a situation I find myself in very often, but when it does, I feel more anger and frustration than sadness. However, I feel sad when I have to end a life that could have been saved.
Vets working in animal shelters unfortunately have to deal with this type of situation, not only every day but many times a day. By necessity, veterinarians in these roles often compartmentalize this aspect of their work, but the high suicide rate among these dedicated professionals tells us that the sadness and frustration that comes from doing this kind of work can easily lead to hopelessness and despair.
What’s the Hardest Part About Euthanasia?
The worry and anxiety I have about putting pets to sleep is always based on the death of the pet. What I didn’t realize is that it’s the people who are left behind that often make euthanasia difficult. Although we try to maintain a certain amount of professional distance in our work, it is inevitable that there are patients and people who make a big impact on your heart. The funny thing is that it’s impossible to predict which one will make you cry, and it’s not always what you expect.
I’ve had cases where I’ve treated a cat for months, even years, and gotten to know their people very well, but when it came time to say goodbye, I was strangely philosophical about it. Then there was the old gentleman, whom I had never met, who brought his old cat down. This kitten is ancient and clearly cherished by her human. He is a lovely old man who fights back tears as his best mate is gone. And knowing that, at his age, it is unlikely that he will have another pet, this is the situation that makes me cry.
Will I Know When It’s Right?
Knowing if and when you may need to put your cat down is a very personal and individual decision. It depends on your cat’s age, health condition, prognosis, and living situation. Here are some questions that I’ve found have helped others make this decision:
- Do they have a good quality of life?
- Are they suffering?
- Are they still getting pleasure from things that normally make them happy?
- Is there a chance for them to recover?
This is something you should discuss with your vet, as they will be able to give you a better idea of the prognosis of your cat’s situation. If you want to talk to a vet without leaving home, an online service like PangoVet can be a great way to get some advice about your options and whether your cat is likely to improve with treatment .
The Irony
When I was reflecting on my work and how I coped with daily stress, emotional stress, and compassion fatigue, I realized something quite ironic. I felt sad about how I was able to emotionally distance myself from the sadness of death in my work. Yes, you read that right. I was sad because I wasn’t sad!
By necessity, vets have to set boundaries so we don’t get overwhelmed by the emotions that come with caring for animals, and I started to worry about how successful I was at keeping my emotions in check.
While it is important—if not essential—to establish these boundaries to protect ourselves, we must be careful not to become completely isolated.
Final Thoughts
Euthanasia is an important part of pet ownership and veterinary care, and I am grateful to have access to it. The ability to end a cat’s suffering when all other options have been exhausted is a gift I would never want to do this job without. Veterinarians feel sad when we have to put down a cat, but we usually manage to keep enough distance from our patients that we don’t burn out emotionally.
There will always be cats and people who will affect me more than others, and I would prefer that to be the case. While a certain amount of detachment is required, I would never want that to slip into apathy, but I think the chances of that are very slim.
Featured Image Credit: Gleb Usovich, Shutterstock