Exmos. Senhores,
This is the first time I have made any complaint in Portugal, but for the sake of saving someone else from my experience on March 6, 2025 I must share the following.
I contacted Hospital Veterinário da Bicuda because they are a 24-hour veterinary hospital and have a service where they will send a veterinarian to your home to put your animal to sleep. My regular veterinarian did not offer this service. My 18.5 year old cat slowly started to refuse food, only wanted to sleep and his organs were shutting down. His ears and gums were turning yellow from failing kidneys and my veterinarian said that I should put him to sleep sooner rather than later to prevent his suffering. Our whole family was grieving this beloved pet, but wanted to love him best by helping him in his final hour. This was when I called Hospital Veterinary da Bicuda to come to my home. They sent two very young women and before they even met my cat, they began telling me that age did not matter and they should bring him in for testing to determine what was wrong. After they met him, they agreed he was sick enough to put to sleep, but they insisted that I should still bring him in to their hospital and test to see what was wrong. I explained that he was in the top .03% of cats in age and that I felt it was cruel to bring him in and do testing and an IV and a tube down his nose for food. That it was selfish for me to do this and I did not think it was right. We argued about his for half an hour with me very tearful. They pressured me to do testing to determine why he was not eating. I told them that he would pay the cost for this testing in his suffering and I did not want this. Finally they agreed. Then during the procedure, they made a mistake with the IV and had to insert the IV in his other arm. He struggled weakly in my arms as I sobbed. Like salt in a wound, the veterinarian looked up and said to me "there is a cost he pays for this too.” During the brief procedure, with me crying holding him as he died, the two veterinarians giggled twice over something, I do not know what. Maybe they were giggling over awkwardness but it was so inappropriate.
This very difficult situation was made infinitely worse by their immaturity, self-righteousness and lack of situational awareness. If I was putting my animal to sleep because I was going on vacation or because I was bored of him, that would be different. But this was clearly a beloved pet and he had lived a very full life. In the end I know I fought for him to have a gentle end in my arms in our warm home. I have no regrets. But maybe by writing this, these young woman, at the very beginning of their veterinary careers, can have an opportunity to learn better end of life care. Unlike what they said, age does matter. Quality of life matters. There is a time when the most kind thing one can do for our pets is to say goodbye.
Cumprimentos.
