English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Free Plan

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

In the morning there is a cat with a man, or perhaps I should properly say a man with a cat. He is crying, or trying not to cry. I have long ago expanded my definition of this basic human activity for relieving grief. The man thinks Whitey might still be alive. I listen closely, there is no heartbeat. I assure the man that Whitey has passed on. I know that Whitey is gone from this world physically, from my medical training. It may be some time before Whitey leaves this world spiritually. This I have learned with my soul. Later in the morning Mr. and Mrs. Sparkles come in. Sparkles, a dog, has advanced hemangiosarcoma, cancer of the blood vessels. She can no longer stand, but she bit Mr. Sparkles when he picked her up to carry her here, he tells me. He is proud that she can still fight. Mr. and Mrs. Sparkles cry. The veterinary technician places an intravenous catheter and Mr. Sparkles holds his friend's head as I inject the solution that will stop her heart. Halfway through the injection Sparkles relaxes and passes on. Mr. and Mrs. Sparkles tell me that I am merciful. I use most ofmy energy to keep from crying. I am trying to be professional, not to show any emotion. It is a mold I have difficulty squeezing into. In the afternoon Sam comes in. Her temperature is below normal, she has been sick for a long time, although her family do(~s not realize this. I can see she is dying and they art:: not ready. I tell them we will try to find out what is wrong, we will give her supportive care, make her comfortable. I bring Sam into the treatment area for x-rays, for fluids, for antibiotics, for hope. LouLou comes in the family recycling bin. I have talked to her family on the phone and reviewed her medical records. She has advanced breast cancer, something that is almost 100% preventable in dogs with early spaying. LouLou is ready to leave. In her eyes the flame is flickering, she no longer has the energy to live. I hold her head and leg while the veterinary technician injects Fatal Plus 3. The brand name ofa merciful death. When LouLou is gone I cover her with a clean towel in the recycling bin and return her to her family. X-rays on Sam show two kidneys that have become calcified, hard as bone. They are no longer functioning. Tests on Sam's blood show that toxins the kidneys would normally get rid of have built up very high. I call Sam's family and explain this to them. They will come in to visit her, to say good-bye. Then we will end her suffering, help her to die. I wonder how long I will be able to do this job, being merciful, delivering death. It is not the death that bothers me, as many who judge me claim. It is that this is all I

The Flickering Flame: An Essay on Companion Animal Euthanasia