Euthanasia - When is it right? And what can I expect?
Authored by James Horner
Euthanasia, putting your pet to sleep, is a very emotional subject. We know that every life must end, but can feel unprepared for when it does.
Questions we often get asked include:
Am I doing the right thing?
How will I know the time is right?
Are they suffering?
Are they in pain?
Should I be present?
They are all sensible questions and following this article I hope to help you consider these more fully, if not know yourself how to make a tough decision.
Key Points
Euthanasia is a kind act we are able to offer our pets
Always talk to your Vet or Nurse about your concerns
Don’t be embarrassed to ask questions as we will have seen much of it before
Quality of life is subjective and challenging to assess. Start by recording “good days” and “bad days” to track when the balance shifts from a positive quality of life to a negative
Regular checks help treatment and support to be tailored to each individual
Being present is a personal choice and we will support your decision
Am I doing the right thing?
When it comes to euthanasia, I am a big believer in the dignity of the process and the kind departure it offers our pets. Whilst it is a final and significant decision, saying goodbye in a controlled and careful way is so important. Wishing for a pet to slip away in their sleep is common, but it doesn’t often happen so gently. Pets can collapse, suffer severe distress, or take themselves away to die alone and cold. None of these I would wish upon a loved family member and so the tough choice must be made at some point. This will allow everyone to say goodbye, be able to be present if you wish, to help make sure the suffering is reduced to its minimum.
How will I know the time is right?
The right time is a very personal choice, and no two circumstances are the same. In sudden disease situations then it can often be clear what the kindest course of action can be, the hardest situations are diseases that have been slowly progressing. With each consecutive day being a little different, or worse, than the previous, it can be hard to spot when fair quality of life changes to poor quality of life.
The first task is to understand the clinical, physical and emotional health of your pet. Consulting and discussing this with your vet is important as ailments, such as osteoarthritis or heart diseases will have visible and predictable impacts that may influence your choice.
When you understand all the factors affecting your pet, we advise to introduce some objectivity into the feelings and recording the “good” days vs the “bad” days. Whilst a “bad” day is one which is not “good”, what we would consider a good day is dependent on the individual. Some guidance is to reflect on what your pet enjoys doing. For cats, would it be their ability to jump to their favourite spot high up, or to patrol their normal stalking grounds? For dogs, a good day could reflect their walks and if they are able to enjoy the normal length and play, or if they are able to jump onto the sofa.
Are they in pain? Are they suffering?
These are common concerns for every owner. We would never forgive ourselves for keeping our pets alive if they were suffering unduly and so it requires careful discussion about what we can do to minimise this.
Knowing what conditions are afflicting your pet helps us help you understand. In osteoarthritis, pain is a feature of the disease and cannot be eliminated. When appropriately managed, although your pet will not be completely “pain-free”, they will likely have a good quality of life and warrant continued care and attention.
In some cancers, the actual condition may be pain free in definition, but your pet may be suffering because of secondary effects. Lethargy from the low energy, muscle weakness from losing too much weight, are amongst changes that can cause suffering without pain.
Should I be present?
Being present, or not being present, with your pet is a very personal decision. If you would like to be with your pet then, if possible, we will make sure everything is in place to allow this to happen.
If you do not wish to be present, then this is equally understandable. We treat all pets with the utmost care and dignity so you can be assured they will have the best care we can give them until the end.
I’m still not sure…
Don’t worry if you are still not sure after reading this article. We are here to help, guide and discuss. Sometimes talking about it a long time ahead of when it may be necessary will help alleviate some of the emotions about euthanasia.
If you want to read more about the actual process then click on the button below: