It is never easy to say goodbye to a family member, including our pets. End-of-life decisions are uniquely challenging in our companion animals because our pets cannot verbally tell us how they are feeling. Normalizing the discussion around quality of life, the euthanasia process, and the deceased is an uncomfortable yet necessary step in attaining peace and closure.
Assessing Your Pets’ Quality of Life More Objectively
While a pet’s quality of life can never be measured in a truly objective way, keeping a daily journal or diary about your pet can be very helpful. As your pet gets older or develops a chronic illness, it is important to keep track of his appetite, thirst, energy level, and mobility. A daily journal will allow you to note whether your pet is experiencing any pain, vomiting, diarrhea, or incontinence.
Quantifying pain in our companion animals can be challenging, especially since the signs vary across species. I recommend referring to a veterinary animal pain scale to better interpret the severity of your pet’s pain.
Consult your veterinarian regarding what symptoms or medication side effects to expect given your dog’s current health issues so that you know what to monitor for.
Take a moment to identify your dog’s top three to five activities, such as eating breakfast, chasing squirrels, or neighborhood walks. If your dog loses interest in these activities or can no longer participate in them, it may be time to discuss your dog’s quality of life with your veterinarian.
By evaluating these factors, you may better compare your dog’s ratio of good days to bad days.
Reframing Euthanasia as a Compassionate End to Suffering
Euthanasia may conjure uncomfortable feelings for people. Our view regarding humane euthanasia of companion animals is influenced by many factors including previous pets, religion, and philosophy.
In Greek, “euthanasia” translates to “eu thanatos,” meaning “good death.” In veterinary medicine, euthanasia “is meant to bring relief to terminally ill and/or severely suffering animal patients.”
I strive to show pet owners that euthanasia is not something they should feel guilty about. People often equate euthanasia with taking away life from a loved one. I encourage owners to view euthanasia as a compassionate last gift they can give their loved one, especially if their pet is terminally ill or experiencing a great deal of suffering.
Considerations When Making Difficult Decisions About Your Pet
Owners have told me that euthanasia feels like giving up on their pet. One of my former mentors empowered pet owners by urging them to consider three main factors when making difficult decisions about their pet:
- Finances: Regardless of a family’s financial status, it would be unrealistic to say money does not play a factor.
- Prognosis: For a given disease or overall health status of your pet, what is the statistical prognosis? For example, if your dog has cancer, what’s the survival rate?
- Comfort: What are you asking your pet to go through? Unlike people, our pets do not get to decide what treatment they want to undergo. We make those decisions for them. I encourage people to consider potential adverse side effects (i.e., with chemotherapy) and compare them to the likelihood and potential benefits of prolonged survival time.
Ultimately, I believe much of the resistance and uncertainty that comes with euthanasia stems from guilt. Guilt is one of the seven stages in grief theory. I try to help pet owners see that guilt reflects their love and commitment to their pet.
Your “veterinarian may recommend euthanasia, because the loss of life…to the animal is not relatively worse compared with a continued existence that is filled with prolonged illness, suffering, and duress.”
No matter how much time we get to spend with a loved one, it will never feel like enough. As difficult as it may be to say goodbye, we must confront the difference between quality and quantity.
What to Expect During the Euthanasia Process
As a veterinarian, I always ask owners if they have gone through the euthanasia process before. Regardless of an owner’s previous experience with euthanasia, I give a brief explanation of the process because I believe being informed makes the process less intimidating.
We must allow pet owners to choose whether they wish to be present. More importantly, I support owners whether they choose to be present or not. It is not fair to judge owners who do not wish to present. Every pet’s situation is unique, and every family is in a different emotional space. For example, an owner may choose to say goodbye prior to the euthanasia process because they do not want to remember their pet in his current condition. This does not mean they love their pet any less.
How Does Euthanasia Occur?
Typically, the euthanasia process begins by placing an intravenous (IV) catheter in a peripheral vein, with the goal of minimizing the need for multiple injections. A sedative or anesthetic agent may be administered prior to the euthanasia agent to help decrease anxiety and stress.
Ideally, an overdose of pentobarbital (a common euthanasia agent) administered IV should render your pet unconscious and his heart and/or breathing should stop shortly after.
I prepare owners ahead of time that pets may occasionally experience an excitatory phase during euthanasia, where involuntary and unconscious vocalization or muscle activity may occur.
I describe euthanasia to owners as a peaceful passing during unconscious sleep, surrounded by loved ones — a death I think many of us would be grateful to experience.
How to Honor Your Pet’s Memory
I firmly believe you should tell and show your loved ones how much they mean to you while you have the opportunity. Furthermore, I believe our loved ones continue to live on as long as we continue to tell stories about them and live by the values they taught us.
Some of the most gracious feedback I have received from owners has been regarding the euthanasia of their pets. Saying goodbye is undoubtedly sad but it does not need to be a negative experience. I am grateful that owners trust me with helping their pet through this final transition, and I hope they feel supported during and after this process.
