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Making the Decision to Euthanize Your Pet
Like all vets I hated doing this, painless though it was, but to me there has always been a comfort in the
knowledge that the last thing these helpless animals knew was the sound of a friendly voice and the touch of a gentle hand.
From All Things Wise and Wonderful by James Herriot
Pets enter into our
lives and hearts and become part of the family. Over the next twelve years or so we probably experience many changes. These
changes are as varied as life itself but may include such things as children leaving home or the death of a loved one. But
through it all, if we’re lucky, our pets are there for us as a source of comfort. Then comes the dreadful news: our
beloved companion has an incurable disease.
Sometimes the decision to euthanize must be made quickly, as with
traumatic injuries after an accident. When death comes without warning, there is no time to absorb the shock. Most often,
however, you have some time to discuss treatment options with your veterinarian. It is always heartbreaking to get a bleak
diagnosis, but with just a little bit of time on your side, you have a chance to say goodbye to a great friend who has enriched your life.
It is common for grief to begin with
the fatal diagnosis. These sad feelings before your pet’s death are called anticipatory grief—the grief
before grief. Anticipatory grief helps you prepare for the end of life, but the extent to which you can prepare for your beloved
pet’s death is unknown. Because anticipatory grief becomes more intense as the loss approaches, it is important to discuss
euthanasia with your veterinarian and not delay the decision too long. You can also enlist the support of friends and family
to comfort you at this difficult time.
One of the hallmarks of grief is a feeling of helplessness. It is human
to want someone else to make the decision for you to euthanize your pet. Your veterinarian’s job is to provide information
and guidance about your pet’s changing condition and to offer you compassionate understanding of your agony. The decision
to end your pet’s life, however, is yours to make.
The choice to euthanize your pet may be one of the hardest
you will ever make, but a natural death, letting nature take its course, can be painful and prolonged. Often people are able
to accept the death of a beloved companion, but have great difficulty with being the one who must decide when that death will
occur.
Let the following questions guide you as you answer the painful question: Is euthanasia the right choice
for my pet?
Is there a reasonable chance for cure?
If there is no cure, can symptoms be managed?
In other words, is my pet's comfort a realistic goal?
How much additional time might treatment give?
What will be the quality of my pet’s time if I choose treatment?
Do I have the financial resources to handle
long-term veterinary care?
Do I have the emotional stamina necessary for my pet’s long illness or permanent
condition?
Is my relationship with my pet decreasing in quality as I anticipate this loss?
How many
of my pet’s usual activities are still possible?
Make a list and review it on a regular basis.
Is my
pet suffering?
Does my pet still enjoy anything about his life?
What do I believe my pet wants me to
do?
If I were in my pet’s place, what would I want?
What am I unwilling or unable to tolerate?
Write a contract with yourself knowing that you can always change your mind.
Think about the future. Ask yourself
how you will look back and remember this experience.
TopOnce you make the decision to euthanize, there are some steps you can take to ease the anguish for you
and your beloved companion.
Take the time to say goodbye. Assure your pet through words and actions how
much you love him or her. No one really knows how much a dog or cat understands (my guess is more than we suspect) but by
speaking to them gently and explaining very simply what lies ahead—one shot, followed by drowsiness, then relief from
pain and rest for a weary body—they can certainly intuit the love and caring behind the words.
You can let
your companion animal know that he (or she) is going to a place with no struggle or suffering. You can tell him how much you
love him, how much you will miss him and that he will always be with you in your heart. As you hug and hold him, you can thank
him for being such a wonderful and loyal friend. And if it is comfortable for you, tell your beloved friend that you will
meet again some day.
What you say, and how you say it, expresses your love for your pet rather than your need for a pet. This gives your companion permission to leave instead of trying to hang on for your sake. I believe that animals understand
more of these matters than most of us imagine. And even if they don’t, I will give them the benefit of the doubt. Of
this I am sure: Our pets will know from our tone of voice that we love them, that we will be with them to the end, and that
there is ultimately nothing to fear.
If you can, be with your pet when he is euthanized. This is too painful for
some and it is important to accept what you can and cannot do. Before you make the decision about being present at the time
of death, or not, please ask yourself this: As hard as it will be to observe your pet’s death, will it be even more
difficult to live with the unanswered questions of not knowing what the end was like? Were the last moments peaceful? Did
the end come quickly? I have always taken comfort in knowing that the last voice my beloved friends heard was my own. There
is no right and wrong here. Only you can decide whether or not to witness your pet’s death.
The decision
to euthanize provides a painless release from agony and can ensure us that the last moments we share with our pets are tranquil,
not tormented. The word euthanasia comes from the Greek words eu thanatos meaning good death. Euthanasia
is a compassionate response to prevent or stop the suffering of one who filled our days with joy. It is, in the end, our final
act of caring. Go to next page: Solo's Legacy
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