A call came in recently from a client with an ill pet. The client asked “How will I know WHEN it’s time?, “How do I know when she’s suffering?” and “How do I know when to let her go?”.
My heart goes out to this client who is struggling with making this decision and with this illness with her pet.
There’s no easy answer or easy way to make the decision. The client lives with the pet every day and is the one who knows the pet’s quality of life better than anybody. Each situation is different and the answer is often different for each one of us.
Anyone who has ever loved a pet dreads this decision. It is very difficult and painful. We all beg for our animals to pass peacefully in their sleep. This is the hardest decision we make when it comes to our pets. It never gets any easier. We can offer your advice and support but no one can make the decision for you.
Everyone makes the decision a little differently. Some pet lovers do not wait until their pet’s discomfort becomes chronic and they choose euthanasia much sooner than others. Some owners wait until their pet has stopped eating or has lost interest in normal things that they typically love to do. Some wait until there’s no doubt the time is at hand while others select euthanasia upon diagnosis of an illness.
There’s no absolute rule, and every method for deciding is right for some pets and some owners. As you live life with an terminally ill pet or geriatric pet, you enjoy each and every day and you do the best you can.
The advances in veterinary medicine have made the decisions even more difficult for many people. We can keep a seriously ill pet comfortable and even offer treatments such as chemotherapy. If you can have a realistic expectation that a course of treatment will improve your pet’s life — rather than simply prolong it — then those options should be considered. But you must also ask yourself: Am I doing right by my pet, or am I just holding on because I can’t bear to say goodbye?
Choosing to end a pet’s suffering is often the final act of love we can give to our beloved pet.
I unfortunately had to make this decision this weekend for my beloved Shadow. It is not an easy decision, and I tear up at any mention of his name, drive past the vet’s office, you name it.
But ultimately, his hips were so sore that he could not be the dog I had loved over the last 10 years. He could not run and play any longer. Although his eyes were bright and he had the heart and spirit of a 10 month old.. alas he was almost 10 years.
From the bottom of my heart I thank Dr. Lauron for how she helped me through the procedure. When you see tears of compassion in your pets doctors eyes, and she didn’t know him for 10 years like I did… you know she’s a good person who truly does have a passion for animals.
While it wasn’t easy – it was necessary, and it made it a little easier knowing she understood, and didn’t just think he was “just a dog”.
Comment by Tina — June 10, 2008 @ 2:06 pm