A very touching euthanasia

29/11/2008 by Arielle.

Everyday that we work as a vet in a small animal practice, we statistically will have at least one euthanasia. My day yesterday was statistically worse and I had 3 very emotional euthanasias of 3 very ill and old and loved pets - 2 cats and a dog.

One cat did something that I have never experienced before and maybe because of the strain of the day, tears welled up into my eyes when I saw it. I had to quickly wipe them away before the grieving owner (a man) noticed so that I did not appear too unprofessional.

Holly was a beautiful 15 year old silver tabby in the end stages of kidney failure. Her kidneys had shut down and all she could do was sit in front of a water bowl and drink but still she remained very dehydrated. I offered the owner the option of putting her onto a drip, but thankfully he declined as it is such a short term option with cats at the end of a very unpleasant and very common condition.

As Holly was so dehydrated and comfortable on the table (she lay down purring as her owner fussed and cried at her head); I chose to give the lethal injection into her kidney rather than her vein. It is not as quick an option as giving it into the vein, but it means no noisy clippers and holding Holly still to find a vein.

She did not even react to the injection but continued to purr as her owner told her over and over again how much he loved her. I noticed her slipping away, still purring and then she rubbed her cheek onto his hand and her head dropped and she went. It was as if she could sense she was going and she gave him a final affectionate farewell. Cats never cease to amaze me.

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