Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Fl.
Posts: 1280

I spent about an hour in the vets office this morning and got to see first hand what I read about on these message boards daily.
Please don't think I am exaggerating and if you do, go spend some time sitting around your vets office.
First dog that came is was a beagle---looked very old, at least 10 if not a lot older. Very overweight blind in one eye (swelled closed) and I don't think he could see out of the other one. On both sides where he can scratch himself with his hind legs there was no hair. Owner had him in for this medicated bath.
Second dog was called a hound/lab cross and looked the part. The problem was over activite tearing up everything in the house and digging up the yard. He also had the hair gone from behind his ears from scratching. Was discussing medications to calm the dog down. Third dog was a cross between a bird dog or dalmation and a small dog. It was medium height extremenly ticked up and very overweight. It chewed the hair off both hind ends and it was in for medicated bath.
OKAY CALL ME COLD HEARTED
I think the problem is the owners and not the dogs. IN MY OPINION the owners were selfesh and thinking about their feelings when dealing with their dogs and not about the actual well being of the dogs. The beagle should be put to sleep, no questions asked. Then again the little old lady would be lonely so the dog looks like hell and lives in hell to satisify the owners feelings. If you want a pocket poodle then get one but don't get a hound or dog that needs space and think everything is going to be just fine. Cause it ain't!!!

Spend a moring in your vets office and let me know what you see.

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Registered: Jul 2003
Location: Nu Acres, Idaho
Posts: 99

Yeppers, I bet neglect is #1 reason dogs see a vet. I went to a dog trial this past weekend and just some of the hounds I seen there needed some serious medical attention, 1 dogs inner thighs were completely wore raw and bloody from something, who knows what. For the most part around here houndsmen are some of the worse sad to say but true. I always figured the better you treat them the better they will treat you, some people just don't get it.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Warsaw, New York
Posts: 4242

I know what you are talking about.

I see the same thing here when we have the free Rabies clinics.
Hundreds of dogs show up cause people can get the free shots. The worst thing I see is so many overweigth dogs, some crippled up, some with bad hips, limping cause overweigth and flat footed, dull coats, winter hair coming off in clumps, hot spots, etc. Then you see some in real nice health. I realize some dogs have problems come up no matter how much care they are given, but most of the time what I see are results from poor care, lack of exercise, poor diet, etc., same as what you witnessed. Some time just old age.

I have been called cruel by family members cause of my belief to put an older family dog down suffering and unable to improve. I have seen people spend hundreds for care and medication on 13 and 14 yr. old dogs just to keep them alive even though they were suffering. My wife had a friend that had to hook their 14 yr. old cat up to an introvenous line every other day, it was skinny, losing hair, and in bad health. You or I would have put the cat down, others would call us cruel.

I guess that is their decision, they would no more put down their old dog than their Grandmother. I love my dogs but too many people give them human attributes and try to prolong an existence irregardless they are suffering or having a difficult time.
I see alot of older folks that absolutely love their pets but can't give them proper care, change bedding, or afford to feed good food, or overfeed with table scraps. They need and cherish the companionship like you said. There will always be controversy.
Some of my wifes family members think I am cruel cause my dogs stay outside, irregardless that they have insulated dog houses, large runs, plenty of exercise, fed quality feed, and have shiny coats. Yet my sister-in-law that believes that has a 12 yr old pug with hip displaysia, gland infections, smells terrible, staggers and falls, has convulsions at times, and has to be medicated. What quality life is that for that little dog? We all have to make our own calls and pray we are doing the right thing. Nobody likes to see a pet suffer.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: ALABAMA
Posts: 5183

I heard a Vet tell someone one time this;
"Are you keeping the dog alive for yourself or for the dog's sake"

Comes a point when the dog needs to be put down and not kept alive for selfish reasons.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Ontario
Posts: 35

The hardest thing to do and the greatest show of love and respect you can give a pet, or anyone/thing you love is:
1) LET GO when it is time - their time NOT YOURS
2) Give them a Death dignity - the same dignity that they lived their lives with
3) Respect - respect for their feelings and their circumstances

Humans are supposed to be intelligent - yet when you see an animal in pain, suffering and it is allowed to continue - where is the intelligence? In the wild - Mother Nature would allow these creatures to pass on. We have all this great knowledge to prolong life, to make disease that were one time fatal in animals now cureable - but why can't we apply the knowledge with compassion.

I don't agree with shooting a dog but I know a lot of hunter do - and that is their choice when it comes to culling a dog. I am sure a lot do it ethically and humanely. When the time comes that I have to do that - I spend the extra money and have the animal euthanized at the vet. It was my decision to bring an animal into the world and be responsible for it's life, the least I can do when it has to leave this world is accept my responsibility and do it the best way I can for the animal.

When it comes time to say good bye to old friends - I pray I have the wisdom to do it when the time is right for my friend, as I have in the past, not when the time is right for me.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Comer, Georgia
Posts: 4724

and when it is time, I don't have a vet do it in a cold office that the dog never liked.........I do it myself, then bury him/her.....................then bawl for at least a week.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 1170

Bruce, umfortunately it happens all the time. It is even harder to be the vet and know there are ways to treat the problems and give the animal more and better quality time. But for selfish reasons the owner will not cosider euthanasia, and will not spend the money or effort to improve the life of the animal. The ones with skin disease can usually be easily treated by getting rid of the skin parasites ( fleas, ticks, mites). It is not the cheapest thing and it is not always easy, but it can be done. The next thing veterinarians battle in most all "pets" is obesity. People just do not want to see that 10 lb Fifi should not eat the same ammount of food as her 200 lb owner 3 times a day, and then desert and snacks at bedtime. The owners are obese and so are the dogs. In alot of these same families, the kids are opbese too. Then there comes the dysplastic arthritic old dog or the renal failure cat. These can be given a good quality of life for some time, but when it is time, it is time. One of the hardest things I have to do is let an owner take an animal home that is miserable and in pain when there is nothing else I can do to make the animal feel better. i could never shoot a dog, in fact I can not even euthanize my own old dogs. But when it is time, it is time and it is taken care of in the most humane way I can provide. I always ask myself how I would feel in the same position, and If I would prefer euthanasia to the pain and suffering, dang sure the animal would. I truely wish we had the option for people in some cases, but i can also understand the chances of abuse too.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Ontario
Posts: 35

Once hear that a dog/pet is a reflection of the owner. Seems like you see that it is fairly true.

I personally have always found it easier and cheaper to treat problems when they are first noticed rather than letting them fester.

Ask my vet... LOL... I am one of his best customers. But, you know, I gladly pay the money. Thankfully, he has payment plans LMAO.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Los Angeles, MN
Posts: 4236

Not that I disagree with any of this,,,,But, I have a hard time getting all worked up over a fat poodle.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: ALABAMA
Posts: 5183

Josh, you are an example of the people she was referring to in her post. Must have hit a nerve by the way you responded.

LongEars is a Vet. She has compassion for all animals not just hunting dogs. Like human doctors, she took an oath too.

Here it is.

THE VETERINARIANS OATH

"Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health, the relief of animal suffering, and conservation of livestock resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge.

I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity, and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics.

I accept as a lifelong obligation the continual improvement of my professional knowledge and competence."

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 1170

I always liked to read what you had to say. Now I am in love. lol
Thank you, I think too few people have ever heard of or knew what the oath was about. It is good to be reminded of it from time to time
Thanks again
Susan Lloyd,DVM

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"Drive a red truck, hunt a blue dog, and take plenty of extra clothes"
Or be really different
ON A MISSION
"Drive a blue truck, hunt a striped dog, and still take plenty of extra clothes."

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: illlinois
Posts: 1902

i'm in one at least once a month..or so my budget seems to show!! lol!! i am blessed with 3 local GREAT vets...who also care for large animals as well as lil birds, monkeys..you name it. lol! recently, i had a horrible experience with my blue female and dr zollar, in earlville, no doubt, saved her life. what would i do wthout a vet? and that's what the public probably feels also. i've seen some pretty sad and gross things..in a vet's waiting room. and will admit, it would be very hard for me to KEEP COOL on some of the pets miseries!! some pet people just don't have the education, let alone seem to realize that their pets need check-ups and vaccinations, etc. or proper housing and nutrition. animal planet has a new show and it's interesting to watch. want to see true cruelty? something that will just make you feel terrible? watch this show on the aspca animal cruelty officers. there are all forms of cruelty to animals in this world...and a vet has to deal with them with an open mind and an open door! hats off to mine...whatever it takes..i'm glad they are there to provide!! ps..i'm a "big" lady...but my cooners are trim...rofl!! sorry long ears...had to tease ya and say..."they look better than i do!!" rofl!!

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