For those of you who have not had the experience of euthanizing a very sick, old pet, please believe me that it is a kind and peaceful death. And for a little extra money you can find a vet who will do it in the animal's home, where he/she is happy and not afraid. I experienced a nasty vet trying to guilt me into treating my beloved 13-year old shepherd's cancer. Puhleeze. I called another vet and after a few last days together and a big rare steak for her, had her put to sleep painlessly.


Yeah, give your old buddy pancreatitis right before you put her down. That's my biggest gripe as a veterinarian. I'll suggest it's time to put a dog down - it doesn't even know it's a dog anymore, there's no quality of life on the part of the pet, or the owner. Anyway, in two weeks, or a month, undoubtedly on a Saturday night, or Sunday during church, they'll bring the dog in to be put to sleep.

The abridged version of this is - "Hurry up and kill it before it dies, Doc!"

These are the ones that sometimes don't go particularly well. When the animal is in renal failure, the euthanasia solution isn't transported so effectively, so the dog dies seizuring, yelping, sometimes biting. They also pee and poop, but that's really the least of my worries, as that is essentially the life I chose.

So, instead of getting a low cost euthanasia as suggested, they pull me away from my family on a weekend - because that's when the realize the pet is done - and are offended when they get charged an emergency fee.

There are 2 terms I haven't seen on here and all you whiney asses need to learn them.

1. Compassion Fatigue. Veterinarians burn out from this most often. It gets difficult being compassionate about your pet dying, when you're bitching about the bill.

2. Asshole Fee. I do believe several of the posters on this thread are griping about receiving an asshole fee. This is a fee designed to fire the client. If you're too difficult to work with, you'll get charged for it. There's a secret to avoid it - DON'T BE AN ASSHOLE!