Dear Second Opinion,
I recently received a euthanasia request for a dog that had never been a patient in our clinic. The request was behavior related, and although behavioral euthanasia is sometimes necessary, like in cases in which there is a serious risk to humans or other animals in the home, it can be difficult to know whether all interventions have been tried or euthanasia is truly the best option when it is a new patient.
I am also unsure how to maintain a safe and supportive environment for my team, the client, and myself. I feel uneasy performing euthanasia without thoroughly assessing the patient myself, yet I also fear denying a service that might prevent serious harm. I am also concerned about liability if I refuse the service and the dog later injures someone.
I do not know how to navigate this situation responsibly without feeling like I am failing either the patient and the client or my team. How do I protect everyone’s safety, honor my ethical responsibilities, and still sleep at night?
Sincerely,
—Caught Between Choices
Dear Caught Between Choices,
You are at a difficult crossroads where empathy, ethics, and professional duty converge. Behavioral euthanasia represents one of the most emotionally complex dilemmas in our profession and is made even more difficult when it involves a dog and client you do not have an established relationship with.
Remember, you have agency in these situations. You can choose not to perform the euthanasia, but it is important to weigh that decision carefully against the alternatives. If your clinic does not have a clear policy for handling behavioral euthanasia requests from first-time clients, this may be a good time to develop one. A consistent, supportive framework helps protect your patients, yourself, and your team’s emotional well-being. Declining any request that does not align with your ethics and core values is acceptable.
If you do proceed, find comfort in the oath you took to relieve animal suffering. That principle serves as your moral compass in everything you do.
First, honor the animal. Even in heartbreaking circumstances, you can find solace in giving the dog the gentle, respectful, and pain-free passing that every patient deserves. Safety should be prioritized by administering appropriate premedications and maintaining a calm, comforting environment. The patient can be offered their favorite treats, toys, and indulgences—whatever brings them joy in those final moments. This compassionate, peaceful end is a true act of kindness and grace, and you can rest easier knowing you helped make it possible.
Second, honor the client. This decision is likely deeply painful for the client. Understanding their perspective and the circumstances that led to this choice can help you find peace with the decision and recognize the compassion behind it. You may find it meaningful to reach out afterward to share in the grief and reflect on the patient’s life. These conversations can offer mutual comfort and remind you both that the dog was loved and every possible effort was made to do right by them.
Third, honor your team. Behavioral euthanasia can have a profound emotional toll on everyone involved. Creating a supportive space to debrief, speak openly, and acknowledge the range of emotions (eg, anger, guilt, sadness, helplessness, anything in between) can help. A sense of understanding and compassion should be offered to one another as colleagues who shared this difficult experience. Supporting your team fosters connection and can help when processing your own grief. Transforming grief into shared care can deepen resilience and strengthen your team’s bond.
Offering proactive behavior assessments, preparing client resources, and training and empowering the team to support pet owners with behavioral concerns can help the team have some agency in preventing future behavioral euthanasia requests. Early signs of behavioral problems in dogs should be identified, and intervention should occur before these issues escalate. If behavior is not your expertise, your local network of trusted trainers, veterinary behaviorists, and other clinicians with a special interest in behavior can help. Each time action is taken on a behavior case to keep a pet and family together, you honor the life that was lost.
Last, but certainly not least, honor yourself. It is important to give yourself permission to grieve and reflect on this hardship at your own pace and take time to engage in what helps you heal (eg, via exercise, hobbies, family, or faith). Connecting with others (eg, through online support groups) who understand this unique grief can help. If the emotional burden becomes too overwhelming or affects daily life, you can allow yourself to step back, take a mental health break, and seek guidance from a mental health professional. You deserve the same compassion you show to others.
Even through sorrow, please know you have helped a family through an impossible decision with compassion and grace. Hold gratitude for the care you were able to provide and for the love that existed between that pet and their humans, knowing they have both been changed for good. This is all part of the sacred bond we honor.
Sincerely,
Zenithson Ng, DVM, MS, DABVP (Canine & Feline)