Crying like a big softy!

Re: Crying like a big softy!

xxserahxx — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:00:27 GMT

I try not to get emotionally attached but for one dog was really hard.. His name was charlie and was a cocker spaniel- came to us in June at 2 months old :) for 1st vaccines etc... such a lovely natured puppy and well behaved...

Came back to us in January with lethargy and quite pale mm etc.. Took bloods and was such heart breaking news to hear he had kidney disease at just 7 months old.. Did some infestigations and he had a genetic disease passed on from birth ( but his dad was tested for this and was negative)

So we saw him every other day for the past month for injections and weight checks and bloods- no improvement.. i got so attached to him seein him 3 times a week tail still wagging and sittin there looking at you to give him a liver treat with those pale eyes :-(. So we saw him on monday n hed lost nearly a kilo in a week v depressed n not eating and decided to PTS.. . I was over at the other branch when this was happening so in a way i was glad i wasnt there as we was soo emotionally attached to him.. owners were devistated and didnt know how to break the news to their 2 young granchildren... :( so a verrryy sad week for me!!

On the up side we took a swab from him for DNA testing to send abroad to see if anything can be done for future cases.. which the breeder paid for which i thought was very helpful.

Sorry to depress you call but i thought id share my story of the week..

Re: Crying like a big softy!

Claire Cameron — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 09:12:24 GMT

[quote user="Vicky SVN"]

[quote user="Kimbo1985"]People often ask me if it's the worst part of my job but I always say no as the worst part is when you see neglected animals. [/quote]

That's true, euth is your last chance to help that animal and relieve suffering, it's your final kind act.

[/quote]

I second that Vicky. At least we can end their time with dignity and end suffering

Re: Crying like a big softy!

Kim Buckley — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:43:00 GMT

It's a lot harder when it's an animal you have seen a lot of and grown close to. I helped pts a young mastiff who had lymphoma and she was the nicest dog ever and all the nurses loved her. She had chemo but it got to the stage where she was really sick and just skin and bone. I felt really sad when it came to putting her to sleep but I could see that it was the best thing for her and she wasn't suffering anymore.

On another note I helped with a really nice euth the other week. A white cat who was deaf had got lost in the snow for 7 days. We had him in the hospital and it turned out he had renal failure and the owner decided to have him pts. They came in to say goodbye and we were chatting about him and they were telling me all these lovely stories. He was purring whilst we put him to sleep and they were upset but we carried on talking about him and it was just really nice.

Re: Crying like a big softy!

albatross — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:29:41 GMT

[quote user="Vicky SVN"]

[quote user="Kimbo1985"]People often ask me if it's the worst part of my job but I always say no as the worst part is when you see neglected animals. [/quote]

That's true, euth is your last chance to help that animal and relieve suffering, it's your final kind act.

[/quote]

yes but it's so gutting - and knowing you can't help every animal.....and also wishing you could do something but can't when it's a case of client confidentiality.....

we had to do a pts this week on a dog who was 19 and who had been to us last over 2 years ago, almost at the same stage...but with more quality of life then.
there was no question this time of discussing treatment with the owner, the dog was at deaths door and in such a state the vet and I looked at one another without speaking, and went straight into the euthanasia process preparation..........

tis so sad tho.......

Re: Crying like a big softy!

Vicky RVN — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:25:27 GMT

[quote user="Kimbo1985"]People often ask me if it's the worst part of my job but I always say no as the worst part is when you see neglected animals. [/quote]

That's true, euth is your last chance to help that animal and relieve suffering, it's your final kind act.

Re: Crying like a big softy!

typolisa — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:25:08 GMT

It doesn't sound harsh - that's what I wanted to hear! I know it's for the best but at the moment my eyes aren't listening to my brain! And I've heard before that neglected animals are the worst part of the job. Thanks

Re: Crying like a big softy!

albatross — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:24:47 GMT

perfectly normal - show's you will be a good nurse when it comes to caring, and understanding life and death.

It gets slightly easier in terms of being able to cope when it's an animal you're not used to,and if the owners don't start....

3 1/2 years down the line (and not been a trainee for longer than 3 months in all that time-just as an aside), I get upset with animals I have been used to seeing, or if the client cries, or if it's a real shame because it's young, or the owners have no money for expensive necessary treatment (or I then get annoyed at such a waste of life!).

Otherwise I manage ok and just make sure I do the best I can getting drugs and equipment ready, raising veins, talking to the owners, arranging payment, signatures, and disposal as efficiently and with as much compassion as possible.
Sometimes though I need time out afterwards just to settle myself.

I find it easier to start talking to the owner if I am starting to well up. They then get distracted and (most of them) like to chat about when the animal was young, or if they'e tried all the right things, or just general obervations and wondering how other animals at home will react, so I can then discuss factual things rather than thinking about the animal.

It's ok to get upset if the owners are, but still keeping an even keel to help them if they need support.

Re: Crying like a big softy!

Vicky RVN — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:23:38 GMT

It's not something you ever get over, if you ever stop feeling the emotion it's time to change job, in my opinion! But you do learn to control it in front of clients...it's so much harder when you can see how devastated they are. I've been in the job for about 3 years now, did a very emotional euth on a little dog on friday eve. Both clients, myself and vet in tears! I try my hardest not to cry in front of owners, but not always easy! The clients phoned up today to say thank you to us, so they obv didn't mind that we showed our emotion!

Re: Crying like a big softy!

Kim Buckley — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:19:14 GMT

Sounds harsh but you do get used to it. I still feel sad but you know that it's normally for the best. We've got a new receptionist at work and she started crying when a dog came in to be pts last week. People often ask me if it's the worst part of my job but I always say no as the worst part is when you see neglected animals.