Whenever we’re feeling powerless it helps to remember that our pets have chosen to belong to us. They would rather belong us and have us love them than to belong to the richest person in the world.
As a holistic vet, I often get letters from folks whose pets are critically ill. The pet’s family finds it difficult to think clearly and make the right decisions. The same thing happens to me when my pets are critically ill. What helps me is to view the pet’s circumstances as nature would view it. In nature, pets that are not mobile, or cannot feed themselves, cannot defecate, cannot clear waste from their blood, or cannot interact with other creatures, are quickly eliminated. Because creatures with chronic illness did not survive, our pets have not evolved with skills to help them cope with chronic illness.
As I`ve watched dogs & cats & birds, most of them have been anxious and ill at ease when chronically ill. This is unlike humans, and perhaps elephants and whales, who have developed strategies for chronic illness. We have evolved to care for and to be cared for when chronically ill. Pets have not evolved with this approach and are often distraught when they cannot move about or care for themselves. Nature would not have allowed them to get to the point where they experience long periods of distraught helplessness. They would have been eaten or would have died quickly from their illness.
Fortunately, we can be kinder to our pets than nature would be by choosing to euthanize in a humane manner. From my experience with euthanasia, pets feel immense relief at being allowed to pass from this earth when they are ill. Euthanasia is often the kindest step we can take for the chronically ill pet that is in pain and there is no significant, enduring method of relieving their pain.
All holistic veterinarians are saddened by pain & suffering, but we are comforted by the ability we have to end a dog or cat’s suffering in a manner that honors them.
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