Margaret Washburn Contributing Columnist
Last week my daughter called and asked my opinion about her friend’s dog. She was upset because the puppy had developed glaucoma and one eye was scheduled to be removed. The worst part of this story is that my vet friend warned me that the other eye could be affected in the future. Glaucoma is a nasty disease and extremely difficult to treat in animals. Perhaps that’s because pets can’t tell us when headaches and other symptoms occur in the early stages of the disease. The disease is usually progressing when the eyes become red, watery, and your dog squints in response to pain.
This little dog reminded my daughter of our family dog, whom she grew up with and lovingly called her sister. She could empathize with her friend’s sadness at learning what his pet had to go through.
This reminded me of the many times I have had to break bad news to clients about their beloved pets. It could be a cancer diagnosis, or another progressive, incurable disease. Veterinarians don’t want to break bad news to patients, especially if their pet has been a part of their lives for many years. Often it belonged to a growing child or was the last link to a deceased family member. This kind of connection makes the grief even worse.
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I shared with my daughter what I often say to clients in similar situations.
Remember that pets don’t have the same emotional baggage that we do. Her friend’s dog has no idea what will happen in the future. All he knows is to enjoy being together with his family, good food, and bed. Our dogs, cats, horses and other pets live for the day. They don’t worry about the future. What a fun way to live! No wonder they always have a happy time.
Obviously, some symptoms require painkillers and other treatments to keep the patient comfortable. As someone who has a strong bond with our pets, I understand that we are never ready to part with them. However, trying to understand from your pet’s perspective may help you get through sad times.
I remember Mr. Strong. He happened to be a former police officer. He was a man of few words, but I could sense that his dog had a special place in his life. The setter had a cancerous tumor in his front leg. The tumor was in a difficult location where surgical resection was not possible.
When I started talking about amputation, Mr. Strong said, “Absolutely not!” I explained that I wouldn’t look at her dog the same way I did for my daughter. Unlike people who have been amputated, there is no psychological damage to dogs. In fact, the dog will feel as if a burden has been lifted and will recover. So Mr. Strong gave me permission to proceed. He knew that amputation was his only chance to save his dog’s life from the progression of the cancer.
Two days after the surgery, Strong came to pick up a companion. As I approached the dog to greet him and maneuvered him fairly well on his three legs, Mr. Strong became emotional and began choking. I walked with him to the truck. He opened the door and turned to pick up the dog. He hesitated, worried about how to lift his companion without hurting him. Suddenly the dog jumped from the ground into the truck as usual. We both smiled and Mr. Strong began to understand what I was saying about projecting your emotions onto your pet.
I shared this with my daughter and she said she would pass this along to her friends. I’m sure this little dog will enjoy special pampering along with frequent use of eye drops and medication.
Goochland resident Margaret Washburn is a retired veterinarian who spent most of her career working with small animals. In my free time, I enjoy gardening, painting, cooking, and visiting with family and friends.
