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How do you deal with putting down animals in the veterinary career?

I want to go into this field but I don't know if I could handle putting down animals. #veterinary-medicine

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Michael’s Answer

Dear Makenzie, this is a very thoughtful question. The short answer on veterinary euthanasia is that it's something you will learn how to do. Maybe you can already figure out if you are okay with the sight of blood. I remember the first time I dealt with the sight of copious blood during a surgery and the room became very small all of a sudden and I had to step out. Luckily I was not the one performing the surgery! I am lucky to have had exposure to this question with my Dad who was a practicing veterinarian and who always, always took euthanasia seriously. It's a professional act that requires full attention and time dedicated to the owners/rest of the family. When I went to vet school in the 1990s, we got professional training from a psychologist, putting in place a student-run hotline that would be available to grieving family members. This hotline dealt with dead pets, and I think if you view euthanasia as fitting into a broader picture of animals dying, it's a little easier to handle. Euthanasia should always be an act of last resort, and never for the reasons that owners have grown tired of their animal. Euthanasia may be performed in a clinic or at the pet's home. I would encourage you to ask if a veterinarian in your area will allow you to let you view one (I'm sure if it is handled thoughtfully, an owner will not object) so that you see how it is done. Not all veterinarians go into private practice and hence not all veterinarians will have to deal with it in their careers on a regular basis. These are difficult questions and best addressed with the help of others so thanks for asking.
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GABRIELA’s Answer

Euthanasia is actually honoring your pets live when done to avoid suffering and whenever their quality of life is compromise. i love animals and i know exactly how you feel as at one point i thought about becoming a vet....helping animals isa great way of living!!!! good luck
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