By Dr. Elisa Sumakeris
Pets enrich our lives, giving us companionship, entertainment, and joy. One of the most difficult facets of pet ownership is that, for most pets, their lifespan is considerably shorter than the human lifespan. Pets age much more quickly, depending on species and breed. At some point, it is likely you will have to face the imminent loss of a pet.
Many people express the desire for their pets to pass away naturally, preferably peacefully and in their sleep. Television and films often portray death as quick and peaceful, as people say their last words, and peacefully close their eyes. This romanticized portrayal of the dying process is, unfortunately, not typical of the process that most pets experience. It is an unfortunate fact that most of the time, the dying process takes hours to days, and involves significant fear, pain, and anxiety for our pets.
The word euthanasia comes from the Greek words for “good” (eu) and “death” (thanatos). The goal is to provide terminally ill pets a loving, peaceful end to their lives, with medications to remove any fear and pain, and the family close by to alleviate any anxiety, and to ensure that they do not die alone, afraid and suffering. Many people struggle with the guilt of making this choice for their pets, feeling that they are “playing God” or “committing murder”. However, the reality is that we can not control the aging or disease process that is ending the life of our pets, but we do have the ability to control their fear, pain, and anxiety by providing our pets with a peaceful exit from this life.
A common question that we receive is, “How do I know when it is time?” There is not a single, simple answer to this question, as it is strongly influenced by the disease process, and by cultural and personal beliefs about end of life care. In general, the goal is to allow the pet to live as long as possible, while they still have a good quality of life that is peaceful and enjoyable to them. Pets that have a good quality of life can get around under their own power, enjoy interacting with their families and performing species-specific enjoyable behaviors, eat and drink readily, eliminate waste, breathe freely, have their pain controlled, and sleep peacefully. When illness, age, or trauma affect those general guidelines, it becomes important to carefully monitor their quality of life to ensure they are not suffering.
In some cases, the decision is more straightforward, as a sudden deterioration happens, and the pet is clearly in great distress. In other cases, the decline is more gradual, and it becomes difficult to draw the line of exactly when it is time. Often, pets that are gradually declining will have both good days, and bad days, which can cause an emotional roller coaster for their owners. When the pet is having a bad day, the owner often experiences anticipatory grief and sadness over the decision they are facing. When the pet rebounds and has a good day, the owner often experiences guilt that they were considering euthanasia the day before, and now the pet seems happier.
If you have any concerns about your pet’s quality of life, please make an appointment to have an individualized discussion with your veterinarian. We can help guide you through this difficult decision making process, with compassion and understanding.
In Memory of Lupin
2012-2021
