How do you cope?

RE: How do you cope?

Sparky — Sat, 01 Dec 2018 13:16:11 GMT

Thanks guys for the advice.... I thought i might be the only one and there was something wrong with me, i always understood why we do euthanasias etc and i always knew it was part of my job its just recently they have been so hard-each time I've understood why it was time but its just been super hard not being majorly affected by everyone i've helped with. Usually it was one or two where it really made me upset either because it was a long standing client/patient you've known for ages or just something that was generally really upsetting...but at the moment it's every time!

RE: How do you cope?

Nichola231 — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 09:26:54 GMT

Been doing this for 8 years and every euthanasia hurts.

While it's a heart breaking for everyone involved, I consider it a kindness in most situations. I believe it's also a privilege to be there at the very end and help ease an animals suffering. I will need to make this decision with my own cat soon enough. It's going to crush me and I'll be grieving for months no doubt. But I want to be the one to do it.

If your struggling after euths, be kind to yourself. Do things that make you feel good and surround yourself with warm people. Might be worth chatting to your line manager and see if there is anything they can do to help.

RE: How do you cope?

apache — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 00:12:06 GMT

I put my own 14 year old dog down on Monday so I can sympathise.

I rationalise it simply that we are doing the best we can by these animals, and it's the right thing to do in the situation. I think what I find myself thinking about much more are the decisions I don't agree with - either leaving it too late or too early/unwilling to fix.

OP - is there anything else that could be linked to this? You don't have to tell us, but problems at home/other issues in your life that could make this worse? Could you speak to your boss and ask if you could just have a break from PTS appointments for a couple of weeks to get your head together?

Ultimately it is good that you care, and it's a perfectly normal reaction to such things. Have a cry. Talk to partner/friends about it. Talk to us about it (good that you've started this thread). If it's really bothering you talk to Vetlife 0303 040 2551. If it continues to bother you then maybe speak to your doctor.

RE: How do you cope?

Sal the 1st — Wed, 28 Nov 2018 23:54:48 GMT

I have found it harder going just recently - I can leave them at work luckily but have felt a little teary this week. We had 4 on Monday - one a house visit, all of them quite sad but animals that needed to go. The one that really got to me was a house visit on the Tuesday the cat looked so much like one of my own. I think for me its just the time of the year, coming up to Christmas, the 'Christmas clear out' and the anniversary of my dads death is never a good time. I cope by making myself busy so I don't have time to think too much about it