Christian, Veterinarian, Pets, Animals, Nature
Joined April 2023
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How do you know when “it’s time” to let a beloved pet go?
One of the questions I was asked most frequently in veterinary practice was “How do I know” or “when should I let them go.”
It’s a tough, tough question with no good answer as every single case is different and so much depends on the pet and the people.
In my opinion, when you have a pet, you become a steward of a little soul. A living , breathing, feeling creature that is dependent on you for everything, food, water, love, enrichment etc.
Your final act as that steward is often making the decision for humane euthanasia, one of the hardest decision you will ever make. One, as a veterinarian, I have struggled to make for my own pets.
Many veterinarians tell people “you’ll just know” but that isn’t always the case. Here are a few of the things I think about when struggling with this gut wrenching, awful decision.
Quality of life is always more important to me than quantity of life. Are they having more good days than bad, can they eat, go out to the bathroom or use the litter box, are they in pain, is the pain manageable or not, are they able to do activities they enjoy, is their demeanor normal or depressed etc.
One of the hardest questions I ask myself (and asked my clients) is “am I keeping this pet with me selfishly for my benefit?”
This question is often the hardest one to answer. We love them so much that we can’t bear to let them go but we also can’t bear to watch them suffer. If your honest answer to that question is yes, it’s probably time to let them go.
Humane euthanasia is the hardest decision you will ever make as a steward for that beloved, little soul, but it is often the kindest decision you’ll ever make for them.
Best of luck if you’re struggling with this decision right now. I know how hard it is. I hope this helped at least one person.
God bless you and your pets 🙏
We’ll have to keep a watch on this.
More years with our dogs could become a reality. 🥹🐾
Scientists are developing a daily pill called OY-002 that could help senior dogs stay healthier as they age and potentially extend their lives by one to two years.
The treatment is intended for dogs 10 and older weighing more than 14 pounds and is still awaiting FDA approval.
📸:Getty
Can some smart Grok Bot person tell me how to delete files from the library?
My Bot says it’s not allowed to delete them and I can’t figure out any way to remove them.
Any @bot help appreciated.
Bots for Beginners
I had zero experience with Grok Bot until this week. I just created Prada, my shopping Bot as I hate shopping and searching for clothes. I had Grok help with a job description and rules, made a new bot, uploaded a picture of an outfit and Prada found it and checked for my size. It also gave me alternatives. Brilliant!
I’m in love with my new @bot ❤️
I have a Grok Bot! I’m not technical at all but have really wanted to try it. I asked Grok to walk me through setting it up, downloaded SuperGrok, and now I have a Bot. I explained to Grok what I wanted it to do and it helped me create a “job description” for my Bot and away we went. It’s done its first pass of research, created documents, downloaded documents and will update every Sunday. Amazing!
This week I’m studying the book of John with @Grok. I ask Grok about different versus and passages and to explain them from the perspective of a conservative Biblical scholar. As someone who is relatively new to Bible study it’s a fun and interactive way to learn.
This resonated with me this morning.
John 8, verse 12
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
Read your Bible, it will transform your life 🙏
My heart and soul are full today after going to church and seeing all the young college age men coming in holding their physical Bibles. I counted 18 sitting in the front row with many other groups scattered around the church. I pray daily about how we reach the young women.
Young men are moving to Jesus in record numbers. How do we reach the young women?? I feel like they are so spiritually lost but don’t know how we reach them?
There is a spiritual revival happening in this country. Join Team Jesus and watch your life be transformed in unimaginable ways 🙏
Dog hero 🐾❤️
The Dog Who Wouldn't Stop Searching
On September 11, 2001, Apollo disappeared into a hole in the rubble at Ground Zero.
Then a fireball erupted.
Seconds later, the German Shepherd came running back toward his handler, NYPD Officer Peter Davis.
Apollo was on fire.
Davis brushed the burning embers from his thick coat.
And Apollo went right back to searching.
Apollo was nine years old—an age when many police dogs had already retired. But that morning, he and Davis became the first canine search-and-rescue team to arrive at Ground Zero.
The conditions were brutal.
To reach the rubble, Davis later recalled wading through water that came nearly to his waist. Apollo searched across jagged concrete and dangerously hot debris. His coat was singed. His paws became cracked and bruised.
Still, he searched.
Apollo had been trained to find the living. But as the hours passed, the terrible reality of the site became clearer. Eventually, Davis had to physically pull Apollo away from the debris when the dog refused to stop looking.
And Apollo wasn't alone.
Search-and-rescue dogs and their handlers worked through wreckage, dust and toxic fumes in the aftermath of the attacks. Apollo became a symbol of all of them.
On March 5, 2002, he was awarded the PDSA Dickin Medal for courage and devotion to duty. Apollo had been selected by ballot to receive the honor on behalf of every search-and-rescue dog that had worked at the World Trade Center and Pentagon.
Apollo lived to be 14.
Twenty-five years later, we remember the people who ran toward danger that morning.
Apollo reminds us that not all of them ran on two legs.
❤️🐾
As I read the Bible, I’m astounded daily how true words written so long ago are today. To me, this so accurately describes our modern day, social media driven culture. I’m glad I’m on Team Jesus 🙏
2 Timothy 1-5
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
When you start to view the world through the lens that it is controlled by Satan after the fall, everything becomes much clearer. As the evil grows exponentially each day, your faith in Jesus must out pace it. Go Team Jesus 🙏
This is what I’ll always remember about Dolly. Her commitment to children and reading, sending each child a book. For some it was the only way they ever received books. She was always thinking of ways to give back in her community.
I’m seeing lots of posts about peptides in pets which I think is great but please realize that most vets have likely not heard of peptides, have no idea about dosing and are going to be very reluctant to give you any advice about using them as we took an oath to “first do no harm.”
Anecdotally, it looks like there might be some benefits in certain situations and I would recommend trying to find a vet in your area that is familiar with peptides and may be using them if you’re interested (possibly a holistic vet).
I’m retired, but would like to learn more about anything that may improve the life of pets.
Praying that these two precious girls are reunited in heaven tonight. I lost the one on the right in 2016 when she was three. The beautiful girl on the left was a gift for my nephews in 2013. They lost her today at almost 13. A heartbreaking day for our family 💔
