When is the right time to say goodbye?
People often ask me if putting animals to sleep is the worst part of the job. I find it is a very difficult question to answer as it can be a very heartbreaking task some times, particularly when you have got to know the animal and the owners well, while other time you know the animal is “ready” and you almost feel a sense of relief knowing you have stopped its pain. It will never be a part of the job I like, but to be able to stop animals suffering is one of the greatest things we can do.
Although as vets we can guide people on the decision to put an animal to sleep, the owners are normally in the best position to judge the animal’s quality of life. I feel this is the most important consideration – quality of life. As a vet my focus is never on prolonging life at all cost. It is to give the animal the best quality life we can for as long as we can, as long as it is in the animals best interest.
The points I feel people should take into account when it comes time to make a decision on euthanasia include:
- Is the animal in pain? – Animals will rarely cry out or yelp in pain. Pain normally shows itself in other ways such as reluctance to move or play, poor grooming in cats or becoming aggressive to other animals and people
- Can the animal do the things it loves to do? – Can the animal chase the ball, follow you around or go to the beach like it always loved to do?
- Does it have more bad days then good?
- Is the animal showing signs of dementia or seeming confused?
- Can we treat a condition to give it quality of life again
Euthanasia is never an easy decision. If you are concerned about your pet’s quality of life, please talk to your vet. We won’t judge you when it comes to such decisions. We can also talk you through the euthanasia process so you can be prepared when the time comes.