No longer needed. compassionate and understanding vet for euthenasia

Backstory.  Our dog is terrified of the vet.  Always has been.  Our first vet understood that her low growl and raised fur were just a bluff and he was fine with her, would pet her and talk to her, etc.  But then he retired.  We went to a new vet and the new vet heard the growl and saw the raised fur and she immediately muzzled her.  This only made Nanuq more scared.  At the next visit the vet had her muzzled as soon as we walked in the door (I didn't realize they had it written on her chart, I thought it was a one time thing).  Needless to say just walking into a vet now makes Nanuq shake uncontrollably.

Also, many years ago we had a very sick kitten who could not be saved and when she was euthanized (different vet than the two above) we tried to pet her and the vet told us were weren't allowed to touch her in case she tried to bite.

Nanuq is now at the end of her life and no longer comfortable.  I don't want her scared and muzzled for the last moments of her life.  I need a vet who isn't skittish around animals, and who is compassionate enough to allow the animal to be petted and comforted during their last moments.  When our one elderly kitty had advanced cancer she was treated and then euthanized at Village Animal on Springfield Ave, and they were great during a difficult time, but they closed.

I used Dr. Barnes when it was time for my old girl to be euthanized, She was wonderful and came to my house. I held my girl in my arms as she passed. There is another thread about this somewhere, with her contact info. So sad for you, Spontaneous

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I second Dr. Barnes. She made a heartbreaking situation as good as it could be. Our sweetie didn't have to go to the vet that last time. We could grieve alone. Such a sad day made better by a wonderfully compassionate vet.

So, so sorry for you spontaneous. It's such a heartbreaking thing to go through. I currently have a dog like Nanuq (temperment-wise) & I concur that she will NOT be muzzled when her time comes. At home seems the right fit for her...  

Dr. Barnes was wonderful with both of our dogs.  Because it was in the home it wasn't vet-like so lower anxiety for them.

http://www.eleosvet.com/

So sorry you are facing this.

Dr Levine, SO Animal Hospital, was wonderful with our rabbit and dog.  We held each animal as they were being put down.   Amidst our tears was relief, that each animal's suffering had ended, and in the most compassionate way possible.

Another vote for Dr. Barnes.  She came to our home when the time came for our cat.  Dr. Barnes was amazingly compassionate and didn't even try to move him from his favorite spot in the house.  She also offered to have us hold him the whole time.

Dr. Barnes is wonderful.

http://www.eleosvet.com/

My cats were patients at Westfield Veterinary and Wellness Center, and Dr. Borut (and wonderful Vet Tech Katie) came to the house when it was time for Simon. He is a very gentle man, and of course I was on the floor cradling Simon.  I felt his heart stop, and the last thing he felt were my loving arms.  I am so sorry it couldn't be that way for Sarabeth, but again, I held her and felt her faithful little heart stop.

Jeannemarie (just the aunt) was the first to have recommended Dr. Barnes, and I know @meandtheboys used them for her magnificent Pibble, shortly thereafter. Her experience was as good as this can be.

I am so sorry, Spontaneous, this is never an easy decision, but if it helps at all, I think having it done at home, surrounded by familiar sights and scents, and most importantly, all the people who love them, gives them some ease.  I have always dreaded that "last car ride"

i have heard great things about Dr Barnes and would have used her if my cat was terrified of our vet. She didn't like the vet. However, Dr Stack and the office became family with Zoe's illness that it felt right to bring her there so we could all say goodbye.

I'm so sorry that Nanuq has reached this stage in her life.  Sending positive vibes for a comforting time for you both as you face this difficult time.

oakland2 said:
I've had more opportunity than I'd like in the past few years to see the drs at Millburn Vet in action during euthanasia. All were tender and comforting to me and the animals, and I freely held my pets at their ends.

This was actually the vet who wouldn't let us pet Nougat when she passed. But that was over 20 years ago so maybe that particular vet is no longer with them. 

Dr. Barnes is incredibly kind and supportive when we had to say goodbye to our family dog. She made a really difficult situation feel slightly less horrible. He tried to snap at her when they gave him the first shot to sedate him but she didn't flinch and handled it very well. No muzzles. 

So sorry you have reached this point. You, Nanuq will be in my thoughts and prayers. 

She's been sick for awhile, but didn't seem in distress, still ate, interacted with us, etc.  This morning she suddenly took a turn for the worse so while I knew it was coming eventually I just didn't realize it would be this soon.  I did some looking around and it turns out that Village didn't close permanently, they reopened in Union.  Since we had a compassionate experience with euthanasia there a couple of years ago with Caity, we decided to return to them for this. 

I can't speak highly enough of Dr. Campos and her tech, Erin. They were so incredibly kind when we had to say goodbye to our dog last fall. 

http://www.drpetlovermobileveterinarian.com/

wallflower said:

Dr. Barnes is incredibly kind and supportive when we had to say goodbye to our family dog. She made a really difficult situation feel slightly less horrible. He tried to snap at her when they gave him the first shot to sedate him but she didn't flinch and handled it very well. No muzzles. 

So sorry you have reached this point. You, Nanuq will be in my thoughts and prayers. 

Our original vet, whom we never would have left if he hadn't retired, was like this.  When our rottie was at the end of her battle with cancer and we brought her in she snapped at him when he was starting the IV, probably the only time in her life that she snapped at anyone.  He didn't muzzle her or anything like that, and we were all allowed to keep petting Miko.  I think she only snapped because she was surprised momentarily by the pain. Here she was, a 100 lb rottweiler, and he took it in stride.

The vet who decided Nanuq needed to be muzzled did so based solely on a growl and raised fur, Nanuq has never snapped at a person ever in her entire life. It is a shame, because we got good medical care from them, but to muzzle her just made me feel the vet was too skittish to work with animals.

Also know that Dr. Sarah Barnes is willing to talk with you over the phone about your decision on when to say goodbye. We were struggling over when to let go of our dog Sadie who was deteriorating of kidney disease. I called Dr. Barnes. She listened to me and we spoke for almost 45 minutes. Through our conversation she helped me to understand how I would know it was time to say goodbye. The following week Dr. Barnes and her wonderful vet tech came to our home to euthanize Sadie. We are eternally grateful for her compassion during the whole process from that first phone call to the sympathy card that we received after Sadie's passing. Sorry you and your family are going through this. It is never easy. May your dear Nanuk's passing be peaceful.

Dr Sarah Barnes was the most wonderful, compassionate person.  She was smart and with a heart of gold.  I could not have done what I had to do if not for her kindness and compassion.  I am sorry you are going through this

We, too, had Dr. Barnes come when it was time to say goodbye to our Hoodwink, and it was the best possible experience for something that was otherwise very painful for us. I miss her every day.

Sorry about Nanuq, spontaneous. These human/animal relationships burrow in deep, and it hurts to say goodbye. Wishing her a peaceful passing, and gentle healing for you.

I'm so sorry about Nanuq, Spontaneous.  We know how difficult it is to lose a pet.  Dr. Levine at South Orange Animal Hospital was wonderful and compassionate when we had to put our cats down. We were able to cradle all of them as they passed peacefully away in our arms.  I'm sure he'll be able to help you if you explain how traumatized Nanuq will be when she gets to his office.  

We took her to Village. She was pretty calm, so that was good, I don't think she fully realized where she was. They were great, let us let her and hold her.   

oh I am so sorry    My condolences 

How heartbreaking.  I'm glad her end was with you holding her. 

I'm so glad you got to hold her and she was calm...... very, very sorry for your loss.  

I am so glad you got to hold her, she felt your love and you felt hers, so sorry for your loss.

So sorry for your loss. May she rest in peace.

So sorry for your loss, Spontaneous.  May you and your family take comfort in memories of good times past with Nanuq.

I'm sorry.

My condolences.  How are the boys taking it?  Have Sunny and Chewie reacted to the loss of their friend?