"Christmas clear out"...sad

Landcruiser

Landcruiser

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It's a well known phenomenon in the veterinary sector that the month or two leading up to Christmas is particularly busy with regard to euthanasia, especially of dogs. This year seems particularly bad.

I work in a small animal, 4 vet practice. We seem to be averaging at least 2 a day at the moment, often more. It's tough on all of us, but I truly don't know how the vets and vet nurses hold it together, especially on the home visits where the whole family is there, sometimes children as well. Sometimes old people, who are losing their only companion. Often these are lovely pets that we all know very well, and have treated since they were pups. We all have our favourites, but every one lost leaves a mark and there are some that we never forget.

I guess I just wanted to raise awareness that vets and their staff will be dealing with this, on top of the usual stresses and difficulties. We all know how awful it is for the owners (we've all been there ourselves), but please remember your vets and their staff, who do their best to give as much time, space, kindness and respect to owners and pets, day after relentless day, that they possibly can.
 
Landcruiser said:
It's a well known phenomenon in the veterinary sector that the month or two leading up to Christmas is particularly busy with regard to euthanasia, especially of dogs. This year seems particularly bad.

I work in a small animal, 4 vet practice. We seem to be averaging at least 2 a day at the moment, often more. It's tough on all of us, but I truly don't know how the vets and vet nurses hold it together, especially on the home visits where the whole family is there, sometimes children as well. Sometimes old people, who are losing their only companion. Often these are lovely pets that we all know very well, and have treated since they were pups. We all have our favourites, but every one lost leaves a mark and there are some that we never forget.

I guess I just wanted to raise awareness that vets and their staff will be dealing with this, on top of the usual stresses and difficulties. We all know how awful it is for the owners (we've all been there ourselves), but please remember your vets and their staff, who do their best to give as much time, space, kindness and respect to owners and pets, day after relentless day, that they possibly can.
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When my T was PTS suddenly, she was a regular at the practice, they all cried. And the senior vet was away but when she got back she rang me and cried.
Doing it day after day, particularly apparently young healthy dogs, must be soul destroying.
 
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My parents had an awful situation a few years ago, their 3yr old Maine coon (who we thought was healthy) suddenly passed away on the examination table after being given his vaccination. My poor mum was there on her own, my dad had Covid at the time so they were isolating from each other.

The staff did everything they could to try and revive him to no avail. They were so kind to my mum.

I went in the next day (very choked up, not particularly able to talk) with chocolates, biscuits and a card for all of the staff. Partly to say Thankyou for taking such good care of my mum, but also because it will have been a horrible day for them all too and I really felt for them.
 
It's a multifactorial thing, and IME for the most part thankfully not people just 'getting rid' (although there can be an element of not being able to put elderly/unwell pet in kennels...)

People sometimes delay to get one last Christmas with a chronically ill pet that might otherwise have been PTS a bit earlier, cold/damp weather can exacerbate conditions like arthritis, family who haven't seen the pet for a while arrive for Christmas and are able to point out the deterioration since their last visit, etc.
 
I see the above suggestion. Someone has to go away and can’t leave in kennels. We have one really old bordering/getting there and no I’d not dream of kenneling him.
But shit, I’d just give up my plans. It’s his last Christmas for sure and he has presents under the tree and a dinner waiting to be eaten.
He also will cuddle up for his yearly snuggle with my dad on the floor in front of the fire and I’d not miss that for any holiday away.
 
Instragram Reel that sums up my December

I sent this to a few people when I saw it, including the BF who I had phoned from the car this week to say that I genuinely didn't know if I could take anymore more home euthanasia bookings before Christmas and be ok. So of course I did 2 more as emergencies today when I wasn't planning to work. One a perfectly healthy 7yo dog belonging to a good friend that was behavioural (killed another dog, this was it's second chance home). A dog I've helped train and seen the owner go from strength to strength with. And life goes on, I have another booked on 26th.
 
Many years ago I had my first horse PTS, it was a hard decision, they all are really but when they have a long term health condition there is never really a right time before it deteriorates and you end up with an animal in distress. My deal with myself was I would do it before we went on holiday, because with two small children I would not have time to mope. I took a month to prep myself to tell the children that he was no longer there, because I had to explain it so a child could understand whilst not getting upset. I am sure some people do it for convenience, but leaving an animal with problems for someone else to handle or you family to experience is tough for them and for you.

I have had two PTS whilst out on loan and I was unable to get there in time, logic tells you it was the right thing, but it still hurts. With house pets unless they are being sedated for a procedure and there is no realistic treatment I m always there.
I think you have to cut people some slack, IME the people who leave their animal to suffer until some crisis because they can not face making that descension is perhaps a worse outcome. A lot of welfare problems are caused by not taking responsibility, at least the animals that end up at the vets are not dumped.
 
honetpot said:
Many years ago I had my first horse PTS, it was a hard decision, they all are really but when they have a long term health condition there is never really a right time before it deteriorates and you end up with an animal in distress. My deal with myself was I would do it before we went on holiday, because with two small children I would not have time to mope. I took a month to prep myself to tell the children that he was no longer there, because I had to explain it so a child could understand whilst not getting upset. I am sure some people do it for convenience, but leaving an animal with problems for someone else to handle or you family to experience is tough for them and for you.

I have had two PTS whilst out on loan and I was unable to get there in time, logic tells you it was the right thing, but it still hurts. With house pets unless they are being sedated for a procedure and there is no realistic treatment I m always there.
I think you have to cut people some slack, IME the people who leave their animal to suffer until some crisis because they can not face making that descension is perhaps a worse outcome. A lot of welfare problems are caused by not taking responsibility, at least the animals that end up at the vets are not dumped.
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I feel like you are talking about a different thing. Your examples are ones of kindness and love not wanting an easy break.
You did the right thing and sometimes, and I did it myself this year you get an animal that could carry on with life but equally it’s not too soon. So that’s fine. I dont think anyone is disputing that. I’m certainly not.
 
I think sometimes it’s people holding on for “one last Xmas” and sadly the animal just can’t get there and it turns into an emergency situation (& with some of these the relatives arriving and being a little blunt with the owner about how things have progressed can definitely be a factor as sometimes someone who’s not seeing the animal every day can see changes that have crept up gradually more clearly), some of them if the animal is close to the end anyway and finds Xmas stressful they may choose to let them go before (& people with young children or with large, potentially pushy families don’t always have the option to just “opt out” of everything sadly even if in an ideal world they might have liked to), similarly if an animal is very ill and likely to need PTS in near future and owners plans mean they have to leave the country (& again that can be due to having family in another country/ other things that can’t be easily backed out of) they may choose to let them go before they need to leave so there’s no risk of things happening when they aren’t there and them not being able to say goodbye.

Sometimes none of the choices people have are ideal and they just have to do what’s least bad.

(And yes there’s also a lot of euthanasia immediately post Xmas of all the animals who’ve struggled through that one last Xmas but who can’t struggle on anymore)
 
I can totally understand how vets get attached to these animals. I’ve lost a massive amount of grooming dogs this year- quite a few elderly, some very sudden with unexpected things and a couple to cancer.
Each one has hit me hard. I see those dogs every 6 weeks and have done for years. You get to know their little quirks and what they like and dislike. Most of them love coming to see me and come up the driveway with waggy tails.
I feel each loss very intensely.

I couldn’t be a vet.
 
I remember an awful Christmas a good few years ago now when we lost our lovely little JRT. I remember driving back from the vets and all the Christmas lights were up in the town, and it was just terribly poignant somehow.

Sending love & hugs to anyone else in this position right now; and to the vets & vet-nurses as well. It isn't ever easy, not for anyone.
 
I also couldn't be a vet, my heart goes out to them all.

For different reasons entirely of course, I used to work for a group of high need care homes and we would routinely lose 28-37% of residents every christmas period. Often the cold weather related things, but I do feel as though often older people hold on for one last christmas, or to see visitng family, and then just let go. It was an awfully sad time every year and I felt for our staff on the ground as they were all very much loved.
 
Trouble is, like giving horses ‘one last summer’, Christmas is a shitty time for a pet anyway, especially if elderly and a bit sore.
Excitement, strangers, noise, changes in the house. Fun for us, but not for an old dog.
No way could I be a vet nurse or a vet. I see from my niece just how awful it can be.
 
pistolpete said:
And spare a thought for all the ‘present’ kittens and puppies thrust into chaos. I know of one little kitten for sure being given as a present today to then be carted across the countryside tomorrow so it’s not left home alone. Dogs in house it is visiting! People!!
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But again to plays devil advocate again - whilst there’ll always be idiots (like this person!) - I know people whom simply make the most of having the two weeks off to settle new pets in. I must admit as a kid, this was often the time my parents went for cause they were not only off but it was guaranteed there’d always be at least someone home.
 
P3LH said:
But again to plays devil advocate again - whilst there’ll always be idiots (like this person!) - I know people whom simply make the most of having the two weeks off to settle new pets in. I must admit as a kid, this was often the time my parents went for cause they were not only off but it was guaranteed there’d always be at least someone home.
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We did exactly this 2 years ago. Both home for a fortnight, knew it was just us - as his daughter away (so no obligations to visit). We back onto a junior school so garden was pretty quiet too.

Sad note, met a lovely older gent, 80 next month, this morning when dog walking, have met him many times over the last 14yrs, mostly when riding and we had got to 1st name terms when his eejit dog tried to chase us. His dog had 3 irregular minor fits this last month and was on various treatments for this, arthritis too. Sadly had a major fit on Monday morning and was pts on vets suggestion. He was out walking on his own today as habit hard to break, he had tears, I gave him a hug,
He said how lovely his long time vet had been and she was visibly upset.
RIP Teddy x
 
I think with credit cards maxed out at this time of year then it becomes a PTS rather than treatment decision for many sadly. I do remember seeing my parents cat one Xmas after 4/5 months though & being horrified - they hadn't spotted the weight loss seeing him daily. (Thyroid)

Tough job being a vet and even when PTS is absolutely the right call it isn't easy, but so very hard if a vet feels it is done for "convenience". My vet friends have a motley crew of rescues from the pets they've had signed over.
 
I remember looking at my lovely rescue lurcher, who had helped me get through my first 5 year bout of ME and was my dog of a lifetime, Boxing Day morning 2002. His heart murmur had got much worse, to the point where he was lying on my bed and rocking from side to side, looking tired and sad, and I knew it was time. Broke my heart, but I owed him that kind end, and my lovely vet agreed - worst Christmas ever. RIP Monty
 
I mean I kinda accidentally brought this home on Xmas eve with no pre planning so I have precisely no moral high ground here (& kittens / puppies are basically chaos gremlins anyway)

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Definitely would NOT encourage gifting of any live animal for Xmas but I think done thoughtfully it’s not a terrible time of year to welcome a new addition

That would obviously mean ideally not dragging the poor thing from pillar to post visiting a squillion family members and making sure they have a safe space to escape the festivities if required

I will say that as an adult Horrid is now a fan of all the noise and chaos and prefers to hide upstairs/ outside depending on weather whilst unwrapping is in progress whilst the Hooligan tends to get overstimulated. The only pet I’ve had that truly LOVED and embraced Xmas was Zeb the 3 legged cat.

He used to think the whole thing was arranged especially for his amusement during that dull, damp bit of winter where going outside becomes a bit meh. He thought the tree was his own personal climbing frame, all the baubles were his new toys and all the cards and ornaments were especially for him to repeatedly lob on the floor. He loved being in the centre of any kind of chaos and used to claim the biggest box or bag to preside over the festivities from whilst stealing as much wrapping paper and bits of ribbon as possible. (He also used to climb up the chair backs to invite himself onto the Xmas dinner table if we were too slow in presenting him with HIS turkey!)




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