“Stay With Them Until the End”: Vets Plead With Pet Owners to Offer Comfort in Final Moments

It may come as a surprise to some, but pets too have what could be considered a final will — though it’s not written in words, and only a few know it. Veterinarians, the ones who are present when beloved pets take their final breath, understand this silent will all too well.

In a now widely shared Twitter post, user Jesse Dietrich asked a veterinarian what the hardest part of his job was. The response was immediate and heartbreaking.

“The hardest part,” the vet said, “is seeing old or terminally ill animals searching for their owners with their eyes, just before they’re put to sleep.”

According to the vet, around 90% of pet owners choose not to be in the room during euthanasia. They step out, unable to bear the sorrow and pain of watching their companion pass away. But what many don’t realize is that for the animal, that exact moment is when they need their human the most.

Vets are now speaking out, urging people to stay by their pets’ side until the very end. These animals may have only been a chapter in your life, but to them — you were the whole story. You were their family, their world, their constant.

“It’s inevitable that most pets will pass away before their owners,” one vet explained. “When that time comes, they deserve to feel safe. They deserve to be surrounded by the ones they love and trust.”

Too often, veterinarians are left to comfort frightened and confused animals who are desperately looking around for their owners — the person they relied on every day, and in that moment, needed more than ever.

“They don’t understand why you left them,” the vet continued. “They are scared, and we, as strangers, try our best to comfort them. But it’s not the same. We’re not their person.”

While it may be emotionally overwhelming to witness your pet’s final moments, vets emphasize that this final act of presence is one of the most selfless and compassionate things an owner can do. Holding their paw, whispering softly, being there — it’s a gift of peace you can offer them in return for a lifetime of love and loyalty.

“Don’t let them die in a sterile room with a stranger. Don’t let their last moments be filled with confusion and fear. Be strong. Endure the pain. Do it for them,” one vet pleaded.

Veterinarians understand the heartbreak — they face it daily — but they also see clearly what animals go through when their person isn’t there.

So, when that inevitable time comes, remember the love your pet gave you. Remember the loyalty, the joy, the companionship. And return that love in their final moments, no matter how painful it is for you.

They stood by you. Now, it’s your turn to stand by them — right to the very end.