Our question for Wisdom Wednesday comes from Anita.
My husband and I have a 12-year-old pitty who has been diagnosed with doggy dementia. He eats and does his business outside just fine. However, he tends to wander and loses his balance more often than when we first adopted him. We are very happy to take care of him until the end in his condition. How do you know when it’s time to let him go? We have lost three dogs in the past and we are in no hurry to let him go since it is a very hard process.
Thank you for your question, Anita!
First, let me say how lucky your sweet boy is to have you and your husband – two people who love him deeply and are committed to his care, no matter what. Watching a beloved pet decline is heartbreaking, and knowing when to say goodbye is one of the most complex decisions any pet parent will ever face. There is no perfect moment, no flashing sign that tells you “it’s time.” Instead, it’s about the balance of his good days versus bad. If he still finds joy in his meals, enjoys your presence, and isn’t distressed, he still has time. But if his world becomes more confusing than comforting, if he is frequently distressed, in pain, or unable to enjoy the things he once did, then it may be time to let love guide your decision. You’ve done this before, so trust your heart – you will know. And when that time comes, take comfort in knowing he had a life filled with love, security, and the best care.
Key Considerations:
- Your pet’s comfort: Ultimately, the most important factor is your pet’s comfort and well-being.
- Your own feelings: It’s okay to feel grief and sadness. Allow yourself time to process your emotions.
- Making the decision: It’s often a gradual process, and there may not be one clear moment. Trust your instincts and your vet’s advice.
It’s important to remember that euthanasia is a compassionate choice that can prevent unnecessary suffering.
Deciding when to let a beloved pet go is one of the most difficult decisions a pet owner faces. It’s a deeply personal choice, and there’s no single “right” answer. However, there are some key factors to consider that can help guide you:
Quality of Life:
- Assess their daily life:
- Are they still enjoying their favorite activities?
- Are they able to eat, drink, and sleep comfortably?
- Are they experiencing more bad days than good days?
- Are they still interacting with you and your family?
- Pain management:
- Is their pain manageable with medication?
- If not, are they suffering?
- Mobility:
- Can they move around comfortably?
- Are they able to get up and go to the bathroom without assistance?
- Hygiene:
- Are they able to keep themselves clean?
- Incontinence can greatly reduce quality of life.
- Happiness:
- Does your pet still show signs of joy and engagement?
Veterinary Guidance:
- Consult your veterinarian:
- Your vet can provide valuable insights into your pet’s health and prognosis.
- They can help you understand your pet’s condition and discuss treatment options.
- They can also help you assess your pet’s quality of life.
- Palliative care:
- Your vet can discuss palliative care options to manage pain and improve your pet’s comfort.
Tools and Resources:
Pet caregivers can use this Quality of Life Scale to determine the success of pawspice care. Score patients using a scale of 0 to 10, with 10 being ideal and 0 being the worst-case scenario.Hurt: Score from 0-10
The biggest concern that most carers have is that their pet does not have pain. Adequate pain control and breathing ability are of top concern. If the pet can’t breathe properly, nothing else matters. Is oxygen supplementation necessary? Is the pet’s pain well managed? Bone cancer pain, for example, is often under treated. If a dog has bone cancer, it is important to use multimodality pain control, which means several medications, with some being given every eight hours. If pain can’t be adequately controlled, life is no longer worth living for the pet.
Hunger: Score from 0-10
Evaluating hunger and assuring adequate nutrition is essential to maintain a good end of life pawspice program. Is the pet eating enough? Does hand feeding or syringe feeding help? Does the pet need a feeding tube? When the pet refuses nutrition, the quality of life will decline rapidly toward death.
Hydration: Score from 0-10
It is essential to know if the pet is dehydrated because that becomes another condition that ruins quality of life. For patients who are not drinking enough water, it is very convenient to give subcutaneous fluids daily to supplement fluid intake. Ask your veterinary team to teach you how to give subcutaneous fluids at home.
Hygiene: Score from 0-10
Sick animals may soil themselves and lie in their waste for hours. To maintain quality of life, it is essential to keep frail pets clean during end-of-life care. The pet should be brushed and cleaned often, particularly after going to the bathroom. Avoid pressure sores by using soft bedding. It is also essential to keep all wounds clean.
Happiness: Score from 0-10
The human-animal bond is a treasured relationship that should be maintained during pawspice. Does the pet express joy and interest? Is the pet responsive to family or toys? Is the pet depressed, lonely, anxious, bored or afraid? Can the pet’s bed be moved closer to family activities? A non-responsive pet no longer enjoys the human-animal bond, a big driver for continuing life. If there is no tail wagging, no happy facial expressions, no snuggling and no two-way exchange of love, the pet is enduring a poor quality of life.
Mobility: Score from 0-10
Providing care becomes very demanding, especially when larger dogs lose their mobility. Can the dog get up without assistance? Does the dog need a floor mat to keep from slipping? Does the dog need human or mechanical help to walk, such as a ramp, lifting harness or a wheel cart? Does the dog feel like going for a walk? Is the pet having seizures or stumbling? In the case of bone cancer, for example, some caregivers feel that euthanasia is preferable to amputation. However, animals with limited mobility may be very alert and responsive, and can have a good quality of life as long as caregivers are committed to meeting their pet’s extra needs. Lack of mobility in large and giant breed dogs is often the quality of life tipping point for the decision to help them transition.
More Good Days Than Bad Days: Score from 0-10
When bad days outnumber good days, quality of life might be too compromised. Animals do not live for the future. Animals only know the now, and if that means continuous pain or suffering, it is too frustrating and inhumane for them to go on living. When a healthy human-animal bond is no longer possible, the caregivers must be made aware that the end is near. The decision for euthanasia needs to be made if the pet is enduring prolonged, futile suffering. It is ideal when a pet’s death comes peacefully and painlessly at home, but this is the exception. End-of-life pets often need the helping hand of their primary veterinarian or a house-call veterinarian to pass away painlessly.
Add up all the scores for the seven criteria. A total of over 35 points represents an acceptable quality of life to continue with pet hospice.
In the past we would usually have to take our pets to the Vet office for euthanasia but now there are many in-home choices. This is often a much less stressful process as your pet is comfortable in their own surroundings. Contact your local vet for recommendations on in-home euthanasia services.