Vet makes heartfelt plea to dog owners putting their pet down
The hardest part of having a dog is that they'll spend their entire life with you, but you won't spend your entire life with them.
The difference in lifespan means that at some point the inevitable beckons, and you will most likely be left with the decision of when it's time to say goodbye.
A vet has made it clear that when that time comes the most important thing you can do is be in the room with them, because otherwise your dog is going to spend its last few moments looking for you and wondering why you aren't there.
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They added that they understood how difficult it was for people to go through and why they might not think they could be there, but had to acknowledge that for your beloved pet you could do this one last thing for them.
In a Reddit thread, the anonymous animal doctor explained that although it may be extremely difficult for people to deal with, they need to remember it is just as horrible for the pet who is going through it.
They explained despite the practice trying to 'give grace and save judgements' on how owner's deal with the grieving process, saying it was 'depressing to have a dog spending it’s final moments looking for where their owner went'.
The post read: "I feel like it’s the very last comfort you can give your friend, just being there by their side to comfort them.
"Uggh. We had one recently that hit me hard, I just wish it could have ended differently."
The vet explained that some people believe their canine will just think that they have 'stepped out for a moment', but said they are missing the point.
They continued: "Even if that was the case, they still stress out.
"Y’all, this dog we euthanised literally tried so hard to walk himself out the front door with his leash after his owners left and continued to cry and stress out until the propofol got him. We did our jobs and gave all the treats and love, but the focus was always, 'where did they go?'
"Say what you want, I just think it’s a bummer that those were his final moments. He was a really good boy and I wish he could have been more relaxed because I think he deserved it."
Another vet also chimed in on the topic, saying that: "It might be hard to say goodbye but it's hell for them."
She wrote: "They already don't like the vet, they're confused, they're scared, they're sad and they're looking for you when they take their last breath.
"I can try to provide them as much love and comfort as I humanly can but at the end of the day, I'm a stranger to them."
Loads of Redditors heaped praise on the pair for making the animals they treat as comfortable as possible before they pass away, while sharing their experiences of losing their pets.
One said: "I held my dog as he passed (at the vet). That moment will always haunt me. But I would do it again if I had the choice."
Another wrote: "People who ‘choose’ to leave their dog to die alone are absolute scumbags and didn’t deserve that dog."
A third added: "You’re an angel on our earth. Thank you for your kindness."
And a fourth commented: "My parents always just drop their dogs off when the time comes. I think they just can’t take it. I try to understand but I can’t."
Olivia Burke