What in the World - When is the right time to put your sick pet down?

Download When is the right time to put your sick pet down?

A pet can bring so much joy to a person’s life. Usually, the owner will outlive their pet. But advances in modern veterinary care has made more treatments available to keep animals alive for longer. It can be expensive, with owners spending thousands of dollars to keep their beloved pet alive. But are these treatments worth it? And when does medical care for pets cross a line?

BBC Brasil journalist Julia Braun joins us in the studio to discuss animal euthanasia and why pet owners face such difficult choices. We also speak to Springer Svenja, a veterinary medicine professor at the University of Vienna and we hear from a vet in California, Sarah Cortright, on the work veterinarians do in navigating people through these sad times.

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Presenter: William Lee Adams
Producers: Julia Braun, Emily Horler and Emilia Jansson
Editor: Julia Ross-Roy

Published on Wednesday, 16th April 2025.

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