Where do you personally draw the line on life-saving measures vs. palliative care? I've been "lucky" so far that euthanasia has been the obvious choice for all of my dogs so far, but I am facing the choice of possible spinal surgery for my 8 y/o dog as a treatment for lameness (which has been mild so far). My gut is telling me that something as invasive as spinal surgery would be extremely traumatic for an animal who doesn't know what is happening or why. I sort of think pain management and physical therapy is the better choice, though it will probably shorten his life. Then I feel like an asshole.
I know vets don't like to advise their patients' caretakers on such personal decisions, but what would you say to an anonymous stranger?
incompetentbeing28 karma
Where do you personally draw the line on life-saving measures vs. palliative care? I've been "lucky" so far that euthanasia has been the obvious choice for all of my dogs so far, but I am facing the choice of possible spinal surgery for my 8 y/o dog as a treatment for lameness (which has been mild so far). My gut is telling me that something as invasive as spinal surgery would be extremely traumatic for an animal who doesn't know what is happening or why. I sort of think pain management and physical therapy is the better choice, though it will probably shorten his life. Then I feel like an asshole.
I know vets don't like to advise their patients' caretakers on such personal decisions, but what would you say to an anonymous stranger?
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