# Are there general standards of veterinary ethics?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-general-standards-of-veterinary-ethics/424751>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 31, 2007, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-general-standards-of-veterinary-ethics/424751 "2007-10-31T18:03:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2007, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-general-standards-of-veterinary-ethics/424751/1 "2007-10-31T18:03:12Z")

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In general, but specifically in regards to end of life care and risky treatments of older dogs? I started a [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=441780) about my 15 year old dog’s treatment for heartworms. He’s very healthy in most other respects, but pre-treatment x-rays show something that may be a heart-based tumor as well. When the heartworms were discovered, the vet presented me two choices - treatment or gruesome death. She seemed pretty neutral about it. The surprising thing to me is that some knowledgeable posters seemed surprised she wouldn’t push treatment, and some were surprised that she’d want to treat a dog that old and with the tumor issue.

So, are there anything like general standards there? I mean, if the dog lives through this he could live a few more happy years. On the other hand, the treatment isn’t free either, and may cause the dog unnecessary pain and stress. How does a vet decide how to advise an owner? Are there guidelines for when to advise somebody to have an animal put down? Or to what extent you should recommend _any_ course of action? Is continuing to do expensive treatments an issue, now that it seems like everybody’s a lot more willing to drop a ton of cash on a pet?

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**Author:** ![Will\_Repair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a698b9/32.png) [@Will\_Repair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Will_Repair)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2007, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-general-standards-of-veterinary-ethics/424751/2 "2007-10-31T19:10:36Z")

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[http://www.avma.org/issues/animal\_welfare/euthanasia.pdf](http://www.avma.org/issues/animal_welfare/euthanasia.pdf)