Euthnasia


 

Euthanasia


    This week in my veterinary technology program I got to give my first injection to a cat and dog. Giving the injection was something I was excited but scared to do but in the end, was quite a bit easier than I thought it would be. I chose the topic of euthanasia because after giving my first injection I wanted to think about what other situations may scare me as I go into being a full vet tech. Euthanasia is a very difficult decision on many parts and it is a part of my job I am worried about because it is a very emotional situation. I have never had to make this decision with my pets but I have had to see others go through this and it is never easy. In my own opinion, there are points where it is probably better to euthanize an animal rather than let it suffer but it is also hard to watch and say goodbye by making this decision. 

When looking up information I went more of the psychology route and found a website discussing if an owner should be present for the euthanasia of their pet. The article made it clear that there is no right or wrong way to take care of your animal, especially at this difficult time. It gave statistics that more people opted out of being with their pets than those who chose to stay during the euthanasia process. The biggest reasons the article gave why people opted out were they did not fully understand they can be present if they like, they are afraid of what they might see, they feel their own anxiety will ruin a pet's last moments, and they do not want to get emotional in front of vet professionals. I think all of the reasons to opt-out of being with the pet are fair but it also explains how vet professionals are most times trained in grief counseling for this situation and if you have the right clinic there should be trust that they know what they are doing and comfort in this situation. 

I think this was a difficult topic to write about just because it will be something I have to deal with and having this discussion and doing it right is important because pets are best friends. What stood out most to me in this topic was how beneficial it was for a person to stay during the process of euthanasia. A statistic was that more people regretted not being present than those who were present. I think this article is very helpful in sorting out what people are anxious about when it comes to being present or not and how I can let them see both sides to make the best decision for their pet.