Canine euthanasia when is it time

We grew up together. But by the time she was 14 years old, Veena was suffering from painful arthritis in her hips and back along with GI problems, and was having difficulty seeing. I had been a veterinarian for years and performed euthanasia for countless clients; however, now it was time for me to face that difficult, heart-wrenching decision.

Like all of my clients, I wished that when things got too hard for her, my dog would pass away painlessly in her sleep. I wanted to be spared the heartache of having to make that choice for her.

When Veena suddenly got much sicker and was in constant pain, I had to make that very personal decision of what was right for my pet. I had to either do my best to help her through an agonizing death or humanely end her suffering by putting her down. When your pet is suffering, euthanasia is a gift.

But how do you know when the right time to say goodbye is? If you do it too soon, you may miss valuable time together. If you do it too late, you may put your pet through unnecessary suffering. Is it possible for my pet to recover with a treatment plan that I can commit to both financially and personally?

If they are unable to get comfortable, they can become very anxious, which leads to pacing or heavy panting. Arthritis is the most prevalent issue related to a decline in mobility.

Luckily, there are many solutions to treat arthritis and subsequently improve mobility. Supplements such as fish oil can decrease inflammation at the source, which directly treats the problem. The effectiveness of these options increase when they are applied earlier in the arthritis process. As opposed to treating the problem of arthritis directly by decreasing inflammation, pain medications simply treat the symptom of pain caused by the joints.

When used in combination with the other options listed above, mobility can significantly increase for many pets. Providing them with easy access to their food and water is also very important. If you live in a house with stairs or a lot of rooms, it would be worthwhile to have multiple food and water bowls on each level or in different parts of your house. As a general note, it is important to keep your pet active, so their joints stay loose.

Short walks and low impact activities should be part of their daily routine to prevent their joints from getting stiff. If medications, supplements and other medical treatments are not effective or stop working, their quality of life will be negatively impacted.

While some pets never lose their desire to eat even right before passing, other pets who do lose their appetite may indicate an underlying medical issue, including organ failure. A decline in eating can be categorized into 3 stages:. Stage 1 — Your pet is eating less of their normal food. They are still eating their pet food but just not as much. Stage 2 — Your pet has to be enticed to eat their normal food.

Stage 3 — Your pet has stopped eating. There are also medications that can alleviate other symptoms, such as nausea, that may be causing a decrease in appetite. You should closely monitor their water intake in order to observe any irregularities. Any change in their normal drinking can be a sign of serious illness or organ issues.

In order to determine if there is an issue correlated to the increase in water consumption, blood work should be done. Based on the findings with the blood tests, medications can be prescribed to treat the disease. If your pet is drinking less water than usual, that typically indicates a more serious form of diabetes, kidney disease or other organ disfunction.

Many of those disease processes increase certain blood values, which causes your pet to be nauseous and drink less water. Blood work is definitely recommended to diagnose any underlying issues, so treatment can be provided. You can observe 4 different areas of interaction:. If they usually like being around everyone or in the same room as you but no longer follow you around the house or lay in the same room as you, that can be a sign of their declining health or happiness.

If they start hiding from you or trying to get out of the house, that can be a sign of a very serious health problem. Cats in particular are known to start fighting with each other.

More noticeable signs of interaction issues can include your pet getting angry at another pet or even a family member by snapping or growling at them. This is usually a sign that they are in pain and experiencing discomfort that makes them irritable or highly sensitive to things that normally would not bother them. You may notice signs in your other pets as well. You can see if other pets are interacting with them differently or leaving them alone when they usually try to play with them.

Sometimes pets that usually do not get along will be seen laying next to each other. This atypical behavior is usually a sign that your other pet can sense something is wrong with them. To help with any interaction issues, medications can be prescribed to alleviate pain or discomfort. As previously mentioned, euthanasia is meant to help animals pass on as peacefully as possible.

If you have never been present for a euthanasia before, your doctor will walk you through the process. You will be able to spend time with your pet in a private area beforehand. At Angell, if you are witnessing the euthanasia, a catheter will be placed intravenously by technicians in the clinic area prior to your pet being returned to you for visiting. If your pet is still eating, you may consider bringing treats including chocolate or ice cream, etc. So long as your pet is stable, you can visit with them for as long as you would like before the final stage, which is the administration of the euthanasia solution.

Most veterinarians use a solution of pentobarbital, a seizure medication. Like anesthesia, this solution will eliminate their conscious awareness of passing before their body shuts down and their heart stops.

This will be completely painless, and usually they will pass on within 3 seconds to a minute. If they are in your arms, a blanket with an absorbent pad will be provided in case of bowel or urinary movements when they relax. Many people are also concerned about how they should act during the process of euthanasia. Know that there is absolutely no judgment during this time. Most veterinary professionals have been in your shoes, and have lost an animal loved one in their past.

It is also allowed for you to laugh as you reminisce over the wonderful times that you have had with your pet. No matter what age your pet is when he or she passes, it is important to know that your love and care has made their life better.

Understandably, you may be emotionally overwhelmed after the event, and it can be helpful to have the conversation about final arrangements beforehand. Options available include the following:. Once your pet has been euthanized, you may wish to arrange for somebody a friend or family member to be present to support you.

Death, both natural and planned, is an emotional event, and it may be beneficial to have a supportive individual drive you home during this time of acute mourning. Grief is also a very personal experience, and, depending on the situation and the individual, the mourning period may take several months or longer. It is important to cherish your memories of your pet, and it can be helpful to create a legacy to celebrate the life of your pet by preparing a memorial, making a photo album, writing about them, etc….

Saying goodbye Once you have made this very difficult decision, you will also need to decide how and where you and your family will say the final goodbye. Before the procedure is scheduled to take place, make sure that all members of your family have time with the pet to say a private goodbye.

If you have children, make sure that you explain the decision to them and prepare them for the loss of the pet in advance. It is an individual decision whether or not you and your family want to be present during the euthanasia procedure.

For some pet owners, the emotion may be too overwhelming, but for many, it is a comfort to be with their pet during the final moments. It may be inappropriate for young children to witness the procedure since they are not yet able to understand death and may also not understand that they need to remain still and quiet.

Some veterinarians will come to your house, which allows both the pet and the family to share their last moments together in the comfort of their own home. What to expect Making the decision to say goodbye to a beloved pet is stressful, and your anxiety can often be exacerbated if you do not know what to expect during the euthanasia procedure.

Your veterinarian will generally explain the procedure to you before he or she begins. Small to medium-size pets are usually placed on a table for the procedure, but larger dogs may be more easily handled on the floor.

Regardless of the location, make sure that your pet has a comfortable blanket or bed to lie on. In most cases, a trained veterinary technician will hold your pet for the procedure. The veterinary technician has the skill needed to properly hold your pet so that the process goes quickly and smoothly.