Culture and religious differences.

Re: Culture and religious differences.

Phrin Vernon RVN — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 21:30:43 GMT

Wow

Thankfully I have never come across anyone who denied their pets treatment, or euthanasia when appropriate...

Being an atheist myself, but with catholic parents, I strongly believe in accepting anothers beliefs - we are all different, and belief is SUCH a personal thing (I have been there - I went through a 'born again christian' phase / experience a few years ago, and have experienced how people can judge you unfairly for your beliefs)

As an atheist now, although I have the upmost respect for people who 'live' their beliefs, I am not sure however, that they should be projecting them onto their pets... who, just for a start, in the case of cats are obligate carnivores!

Hmmm... food for thought indeed

Re: Culture and religious differences.

Nick Shackleton — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 17:51:37 GMT

[quote user="Debbie Summers RVN D32/33/34 MBVNA"]

In my training practice we had 2 Siamese belonging to an owner who was particularly religious (forget which one). One at a time they went into renal failure, but all we were permitted to do was nurse the first (no treatment allowed), and the owner insisted on lining the kennel with blue crepe paper to 'create the right aura'. They refused euthanasia, and the cat became severely dehydrated. Fortunately it died without seizuring, but throughout we had tried to explain the consequences to the owner. When the second followed a couple of months afterwards, they at least allowed IVFT, but again, euthanasia was declined, and it was the nursing team who watched it die in the hospital.

It was not a pleasant situation, but at least we made the cats as comfortable as was possible.

[/quote]

I recall that case too! I believe they were Scienetologists!!! Very sad!

Re: Culture and religious differences.

Debbie Summers — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 16:57:14 GMT

It was not a pleasant situation, but at least we made the cats as comfortable as was possible.

Re: Culture and religious differences.

Kim Buckley — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 13:52:16 GMT

Just a thought,

if a vet doesn't believe in euthanasia on religious grounds, what happens if they are on call by themselves and have an animal rushed in who quite clearly needs pts and the owners want it pts? Would this be going against their duty as a vet?

Re: Culture and religious differences.

Jo Mackenzie — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 13:32:57 GMT

Not had anything like some of the ones others have mentioned, but have had a few vegetarians or even more worryingly vegans who have had their animals on vegetarian/vegan diets - not good! Fair enough if you want that lifestyle yourself but it's not fair to impose it on your animal!

Re: Culture and religious differences.

Nicola Smith — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 08:26:21 GMT

I have workedn somewhere where we had a client who would not euthanase his dog with a # osteosarc as religion did not allow it, RSPCA got involved and unsure of outcome.

We also had a lot of clients who had a ritual if they were PTS or died. They hd to wrap body in a white sheet, and they used to put bead bracelets on their legs, sprinkle on some special water and put petals on them - to help them pass over I think - was fascinating!

Re: Culture and religious differences.

Sal the 1st — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 11:01:14 GMT

I have nursed two dogs with a disease which is preventable by vaccination - because the owners religion according to her interpretation did not permit the use of a vaccine that at any time has contained part of another living being.

I have also worked with a veterinary surgeon who refused on religious grounds to carry out euthanasia ( they had converted to another religion) and whilst it did make things quite difficult it was still important to respect their religious beliefs.

Re: Culture and religious differences.

Caro Laithwaite VN — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 09:15:58 GMT

He could carry a disclaimer in his wallet saying in the event of an accident he wants full resuscitation INCLUDING blood used that he is not a jehovas witness just his family. If there was an accident and it wasnt there and you spoke up l think they would follow your comments his mum would have to prove that he is a jehovas witness and she would have to lie if she did.

Re: Culture and religious differences.

fairy — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 09:14:45 GMT

It is such a huge topic and some of us worship our cats like other cultures worship cows. We eat beef which other cultures may find unbelivable, the same as we find eating dogs terrible

Re: Culture and religious differences.

Sally Seddon — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 08:58:13 GMT

Ive never come across anything like that where i work to be honest.

But.......my boyfriends parents and sister are jehovah whitness' and i have often wondered (and worried!) what would happen if he ever needed a blood tranfusion. His mum is his next of kin and although kev isnt religous at all i do worry that she would refuse a transfusion because its against her religous beliefs. What an awful situation that would be

Re: Culture and religious differences.

Dippy — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 08:55:34 GMT

I use crystals, reiki and massage on my furries BUT... in my opinion, the clue is in the name. They are "complementary" therapies and therefore they complement conventional medicine and aid the body in healing itself/becoming rebalanced and more receptive but are not a substitute for medical treatment. Having said that, my old dog had regular acupuncture and it got him off Metacam for about 6mths which was great as it gave him a bit longer.

As for cultural differences, I could waffle for hours about this but my knowledge and experience is based on the difference between British ex-pats and those who live in a certain other country. Don't get me started on that one!!!

Re: Culture and religious differences.

Claire Cameron — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 08:47:57 GMT

When I was at college one of my lecturers (vet) had a colleague who refused to euthanase animals as it was against his religion (I can't remember which religion this was) and other vets had to euthanase any of his cases, but he would also neglect to suggest euthanasia to clients

Re: Culture and religious differences.

Kim Buckley — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 08:45:41 GMT

I've seen a tiny puppy that needed a blood transfusion but the owners wouldn't let us because they were Jehovahs witnesses. It was touch and go but it did pull through in the end. Not being a religious person myself, I respect peoples beliefs but I don't know how fair it is to put them onto animals but there we go.

Re: Culture and religious differences.

SmegSlayer — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 08:42:35 GMT

indian business men will often have rottie's as guard doga and that is all they are- completely replaceable.

we currenly have a dog that was diagnosed with lymphoma, owners declined chemo in favour of a homepathic dog food. 2 days later they were back begging for chemo and the dog is bouncing off the walls with life