Field/specialties with the least amount of euthanasia?

[Minnerbelle]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Dogs and cats seem to tolerate chemo much better than humans and most of the chemo rechecks that I've seen so far have very little side effects (maybe 1 in every 5 patients will have vomiting/diarrhea).

This. The point of chemo in pets is not to try and beat cancer by all means possible. It's to prolong good quality of life as long as possible, whether that means complete remission or not. It's a very personal decision for the owners to decide if the finances and multiple trip to the oncologists is worth it for the 1, 2, 6, 9, 12+ months of extra time they have with their pet. Some say yes, many many will say no, but neither is wrong.

For very chemo responsive cancers like lymphoma, I always always offer chemo as some of those pets can live years often to the tune of something else killing them first. It's a little tedious, it's expensive, and it's not certainly for everyone, but the people who take their pets for treatment being fully informed are usually very very glad. I make sure they are fully aware so that they don't end up in the, "I spent $5000 on my dog for cancer and she died 8 months later. I would never do it again" camp.

I've had a few takers on splenectomy for bleeding mass that turned out (shockingly) to be HSA. The owners were made fully aware that that was more the rule than the exception and what a grave diagnosis that would be. They lived excellent quality of life until they sharply declined 6 months later and the owners were grateful of the time they got with their pet. They knew full well that the dog could die on the table, in the post op period, or get sick from mets very quickly.

I currently have a young dog with osteosarc who went through radical resection and is following through with chemo, living the life. Have had to delay chemo a couple times due to low white cell count, but the dog has not had a single bad day since maybe 1 week after the operation. It's been gosh, maybe 5 months now, and she is as happy as she has always been. The owners are cautiously optimistic and ready for the other shoe to drop any minute, but they are super glad with the decision they made.

I also have an old dog who came in to me circling the drain in shock a few days after a totally unrelated anesthetic procedure. Like, had a BP of 40... with a temp so low out thermometer wouldn't read. Owner didn't blame me for it at all, and consented for me to revive him. He responded well and was stable when I shipped him to another facility 20 min away. During the transport, he crashed again. Turned out to be a bleeding tumor in the lungs. Owners consented to pup being revived again rather than putting him down, and he went home. I'm amazed every time a med refill request is in for that dog. It's also been 5+ months with him. He's on vit k and yunan baiyao, no chemo. The owner took him home so that his grown kids could all come home and say goodbye.

While there are plenty of other cases where if I didn't euthanize the animal shortly after diagnosis even with Cadillac treatment, I'm sure outcome would not have been fab. But I'm amazed all the time by how well many of these pets do when given the chance. So for that reason, I don't discourage it. I make sure the owners are fully informed, but I am not the one to say, well your dog has cancer so we should stop, or make it sound like chemo is this out of the world thing that only crazy people go for, or that chemo is a selfish decision for the owner. The second the owner says it's not their thing, I fully support them with their end of life decisions and never question it, but I have them make it.

 

[CalliopeDVM]

Like I have heard on this forum as well as from a veterinarian whom I adore "The day euthanasia no longer effects you, you should retire from vet med"

Very true - not caring is a very bad sign. But don't mistake "not caring" for "not being upset by the euthanasia" or "not being sad about euthanizing your patient".

 

[CalliopeDVM]

So for that reason, I don't discourage it. I make sure the owners are fully informed, but I am not the one to say, well your dog has cancer so we should stop, or make it sound like chemo is this out of the world thing that only crazy people go for, or that chemo is a selfish decision for the owner. The second the owner says it's not their thing, I fully support them with their end of life decisions and never question it, but I have them make it.

I tell owner that these are their options (for example: chemo, palliative care, or euthanasia), and tell them I will help and support them in whichever option they choose. The only thing that isn't an option is to do nothing (this presumes the pet is currently feeling/doing badly, so ignoring that is not an option I offer).

 

[Sciencenerd10]

Very true - not caring is a very bad sign. But don't mistake "not caring" for "not being upset by the euthanasia" or "not being sad about euthanizing your patient".

Oh I definitely don't. There is a huge difference in no longer caring versus feeling at peace about a euthanasia.

 

[jmo1012]

I am thinking more of a situation where the owner is begging me to treat their animal, and money is the only thing in the way. It is this type of situation where I would want so badly to treat at no cost because I would have the skills and the resources, as well as permission from the owner. It is in this type of situation I feel like I would be flooded with guilt.

I think I really need a lot more exposure to the field.

If you still feel like you will be flooded with guilt once you get a lot more exposure in the field, i urge you not to go down the veterinarian's path. you will likely cause yourself such unbearable and unrecoverable debt from this. the average graduate today is coming out with $170k+ in loans. if you are going to be putting yourself into a position to give away goods and services for free, you will not be able to live. the emotional and financial toll will be very heavy. regardless of specialty or general practice, there are clients every day that cannot afford services or that will beg for free care. every. single. day. i work in a large referral hospital right now, and i cannot think of a single day where money isn't an issue for at least one client, and usually my clients have been referred and give a verbal estimate of what to expect. even in zoo medicine, every day will be about money. maybe not from a needy client, but a board of directors and budget will be looming over head. even in rehab, when a pet would greatly benefit from a specific treatment plan but the owner can't afford the therapies. these might not be life or death situations every day, but are you going to feel guilty when the limping dog's owners cant afford the treatments and therefore the dog suffers from chronic degenerative disease potentially for the rest of its life? what if you are an ophthalmologist, and someone desperately wants to save a glaucoma eye, but cannot afford the meds and time dedication? are you going to feel guilty if you have to take that eye out?

i dont say any of this to be mean or harsh, but you will need to figure out if you can move past this and not feel guilty. if the answer to that is no, then you need to save yourself and not head down that road, because it will not have a happy ending. people will do and say anything to try and guilt treatments from you, its amazing. it happens every day. they will turn around and lie to your face. they will be angry when the happily ever after cost more, because you recommended gold standard care and they accepted and then regretted their decisions. it feels terrible to be treated this way, but you have to be able to cope and move past it. if not, you will end up stealing from your employer (giving time and services away for free) and/or digging yourself into an emotional and financially unmanageable hole.

 

[shortnsweet]

10 horses? Why? 🙁

Like I have heard on this forum as well as from a veterinarian whom I adore "The day euthanasia no longer effects you, you should retire from vet med"

Variety of reasons.

 

[DVMDream]

Variety of reasons.

Let me guess.....

At least one had to do with the limbs and at least one had to do with colic... 😛

 

[Sciencenerd10]

i dont say any of this to be mean or harsh, but you will need to figure out if you can move past this and not feel guilty. if the answer to that is no, then you need to save yourself and not head down that road, because it will not have a happy ending. people will do and say anything to try and guilt treatments from you, its amazing. it happens every day. they will turn around and lie to your face. they will be angry when the happily ever after cost more, because you recommended gold standard care and they accepted and then regretted their decisions. it feels terrible to be treated this way, but you have to be able to cope and move past it. if not, you will end up stealing from your employer (giving time and services away for free) and/or digging yourself into an emotional and financially unmanageable hole.

Yes, this is the main reason I need more exposure to the profession. What I have already experienced I have loved. But I do need to see how I will react to certain situations. If I feel as though I would not be able to move past the guilt or gain a different perspective, I will not venture into this career. I don't want to work so hard to get into my career and then become depressed and guilt ridden daily. So if I still feel like I can't move past the guilt, I wont pursue vet medicine. I am hoping that I will gain a new perspective after shadowing in some new settings. We shall see!

I don't know if anyone read one of my questions in a previous post on this thread, but do you know any other options of working with animals and improving their lives? I have to do something to help animals in my life. It is a passion/calling. If I were to go into a different career field what are some things I could do on the side to help animals?

 

[jmo1012]

Yes, this is the main reason I need more exposure to the profession. What I have already experienced I have loved. But I do need to see how I will react to certain situations. If I feel as though I would not be able to move past the guilt or gain a different perspective, I will not venture into this career. I don't want to work so hard to get into my career and then become depressed and guilt ridden daily. So if I still feel like I can't move past the guilt, I wont pursue vet medicine. I am hoping that I will gain a new perspective after shadowing in some new settings. We shall see!

I don't know if anyone read one of my questions in a previous post on this thread, but do you know any other options of working with animals and improving their lives? I have to do something to help animals in my life. It is a passion/calling. If I were to go into a different career field what are some things I could do on the side to help animals?

people work with animals in research settings (not necessarily just laboratory testing type stuff), work/volunteer with shelters, rescue organizations, animal control, behavioral modification, etc. rescue doesnt have to just be dogs/cats, there are marine rehab centers that need volunteers, you can volunteer at a zoo or aquarium to get your fix, volunteer with search and rescue. fostering helps animals, trap/neuter/release programs can always use a helping hand, all animal rescue organizations need funds. there are many ways to help without being a vet. i think being a vet is more about enjoying medicine in its application to animals and working with people then it is about actually helping animals. as others have mentioned, providing medical care is ALWAYS contingent on what the owner dictates. this can be the owner of a dog, or the board who oversees a lion. your hands are tied way more often than you'd like im afraid. i know people who wanted to be vets when we were in college who now instead have done other things. one girl has a small farm that she cares for and sustainable makes products from her herd (i know a vet who has a sustainable farm that does this too-she doesnt work as a traditional vet anymore, the farm supports her family). another girl i knew started a riding program for disabled children and cares for horses. the possibilities are endless

 

[Sciencenerd10]

people work with animals in research settings (not necessarily just laboratory testing type stuff), work/volunteer with shelters, rescue organizations, animal control, behavioral modification, etc. rescue doesnt have to just be dogs/cats, there are marine rehab centers that need volunteers, you can volunteer at a zoo or aquarium to get your fix, volunteer with search and rescue. fostering helps animals, trap/neuter/release programs can always use a helping hand, all animal rescue organizations need funds. there are many ways to help without being a vet. i think being a vet is more about enjoying medicine in its application to animals and working with people then it is about actually helping animals. as others have mentioned, providing medical care is ALWAYS contingent on what the owner dictates. this can be the owner of a dog, or the board who oversees a lion. your hands are tied way more often than you'd like im afraid. i know people who wanted to be vets when we were in college who now instead have done other things. one girl has a small farm that she cares for and sustainable makes products from her herd (i know a vet who has a sustainable farm that does this too-she doesnt work as a traditional vet anymore, the farm supports her family). another girl i knew started a riding program for disabled children and cares for horses. the possibilities are endless

Thank you!!! 🙂