When and How to put a beardie down?

[beardieX2]

Spike, my 10 yr old male beardie was put down today. He was blind, could only eat out of my hand for last 2 years. He would eat every third day and was losing weight. I called my rep vet office yesterday and they said that the fee for putting it down was $15 for the med. Got to office today and they said they had to examine him so that it was not a convenience "kill". So it was really an exam fee and charge for med. Would you be mad that vet grabbed for my money at a bad time?

 

[Looneytoon]

Hell Yes! Sorry the world is ran by more money and less compassion.

 

[kimbasmom]

First off, I am so sorry for your loss. If this is a vet with whom you didn't have a relationship, I'd be very upset at the apparently money grab, especially since you no doubt told them the situation. If you did have a relationship with the vet (say for other pets), then I'd be doubly angry.

 

[TamiLynne]

I'm so sorry about Spike - he lived a long life and I'm sure you took great care of him. I just had to comment from the veterinary perspective.
Nobody likes to take money from a grieving pet parent. One of the hardest parts of the job is the fact that we simply can't treat animals for free. I've seen so many heartbreaking cases over the years that would have been very different if the owners had the money for treatment. Most clinics will have a good samaritan fund for emergency use, but outside of that, our hands are pretty much tied, for a few reasons.
A doctor simply cannot in good conscience put down an animal without knowing for sure that it is that animal's time. I've seen euthanasia declined before, for many different reasons. They have to examine the patient and get a good history from the owner so that they are all on the same page and we are indeed relieving suffering as opposed to ending life prematurely for "convenience" as your hospital put it. Unfortunately, a doctor's time costs money. That doctor is relying on a paycheck the same as the rest of us, to take care of their own pets and their family. (Contrary to popular belief, most of the vets I know are not "loaded" and do not spend money frivolously.) To say that they are taking your money maliciously or without cause is like saying that you would go to work for free because it would be silly to ask your employer to pay you for what you do. Just because we are passionate about the job, doesn't mean that we can make a living without payment.
I can say honestly that if you had brought your animal to my clinic before, and our doctors knew his history and his age and ailments etc.. they would not have charged you for an exam or "euthanasia consult" as it is termed. That is reserved for new clients, or those whose pets we don't know the stories of. I'm assuming that's what happened in your particular case. In a well-known patient, I agree, overcharging is ridiculous. When we have a good relationship with a client and patient, and things aren't going well, we will certainly not add on charges when we know that we are doing the right thing. I'm assuming that you didn't have that relationship with this doctor - and that is likely why they needed to make sure that they were indeed doing the right thing. Also, if they didn't have a previous relationship with you, they would be more likely to require "payment at time of service" regardless of how heartbroken you are at the time.. Had they known you well, they may have sent a bill later, or extended payment plan options, to lessen the blow in an emotional circumstance. But if you are new, they don't know if they will end up getting nothing once you leave.
I'm rambling now, but I think you get the idea. I'm sure your vet wasn't out to be a thief, just to ensure that they are living up to our mantra "first do no harm".

-Tami*

 

[beardieX2]

This is a vet that has seen Spike at least yearly, if not more often. This vet has taken good care of Spike and Ellie, who died of a hemmorage three years ago. She loved to climb and fell It just was a bad time as I was really emotional about his impending death out in the car before taking Spike in the office. It was a hard walk into the office. My 20 yr old sons say I treat Spike better than them. I can understand that there are bad owners, and convenience kills seem selfish and bad. An office staffer had given me a quote the day before that did not include the exam. So my grief and their oversight got to me. What counts now is Spike is up in heaven with Ellie, and that I am grateful.