From the vets

What a lovely personal thing for your vet to do Alex. Our dogs still try to get outside for a wee etc however ill they are don't they. I remember our JR dragging himself across the floor on his tummy to get to the door.
I'm so sorry your lovely girl didn't make it after the treatment.

It's some time since a vet recommended euthanasia for one of my cats. Mostly they just seem to disappear when their time has come. This one went AWOL for a couple of weeks then came home to die. Aah! I remember it being sympathetic, quick, business-like and not particularly expensive. They disposed of the remains without fuss.
Maybe an older lady who was obviously grieving heavily after losing her 'baby' would have been treated differently.
My partner once bought a new car (Lord knows why, she does very few miles) and it arrived with a bunch of flowers from the dealer. My reaction was "You can't have negotiated hard enough over the price!"

Why so many who appear to view a card or flowers from a vet on the loss of their pet as unnecessary, or being OTT. because they want your custom? and would rather have' a kiss from the hunk of a vet'?.

I would rather have an immediate comforting hug from anyone at the time, than a card and single white rose 3 weeks later.

I'm very ignorant - what does PTS stand for?

PTS - put to sleep.

We got a lovely card from our vet a week after my gorgeous boy (14yr ginger tom) who had been suffering from cancer was PTS.

The vet came out to us and only charged €30 which I felt was very reasonable. They deal mostly with larger animals as it's a rural area so I was really pleased when she said she'd call round in the morning.

She gave me a little hug too.

Nannanoo............where is your vet?

Sadly, or not, our hunky Australian vet is female!

When I worked at a vets surgery we had quiet a few Aussie locums sadly none were hunky males

Put To Sleep! Of course! I really am thick, I was thinking it was something Latin!

It's horrible when that time comes when you have to play God and have a much loved furry friend put down. It's one of the reasons we've stayed pet free and only borrow Grand-dogs. We got a card when our last dog left us which was nice, but the hug from the lady vet meant much more and I think flowers is much to over the top and rather calculated.

I don't think we've ever had anything from the vet but when I've picked the ashes up from the crematorium there's always been a nice card.

ninathenana sorry that your cat had to be PTS....I am about to venture into adopting a cat from my local CP after 22 years with no pets, so don't know how I would feel three weeks after...

However a friend's veterinary surgery offer COMPANION PET LOSS COUNSELLING, and have engaged a full time qualified counsellor for same.

Has anyone on here ever tried this after pet loss?

When we had our very much loved Buddy PTS the down to earth vet let us out the back door so the people in the waiting room didn't see us in tears. Not a good advert for him! Cards and condolences from that lot?- No chance!!

I think it is extremely considerate to be allowed to slip out the back door. I have appreciated that on 3 separate sad occasions. DD and I were also encouraged to hold our lovely lab after she had been PTS as if she was sleeping. I chose to leave as she started cooling down, but it did help to reassure us that she was no longer in pain and with "closure". Oh dear, getting teary now I also appreciated not being approached for the bill until later and the card and little booklet on losing a pet which followed a week later. Our vets are now starting the lit candle at reception with a card bearing the message that someone is saying goodbye to their much loved pet. We all sympathise with the poor owners and I do appreciate anything the vet does to ease that pain.

I'm sorry, I love my dogs and cat but find the candle and flower things over the top. As for counselling well words fail me. ( dons hard hat )

MawBroon our vet wasn't being considerate. He didn't want his other patients to know of a less than successful treatment!!
The candle idea is nice. Just hope the staff remember to extinguish it when pets are in for routine vaccinations etc.