Pet euthanasia decision

PET owners faced with an older, sick cat or dog have to wrestle with a tough question: when is it time to euthanize my pet?

Unfortunately this is not a question with a clear-cut answer.

When considering euthanasia, pet owners ask themselves many questions.

What is the right decision?

How do I know when is the right time? Will I just know one day?

One approach to assessing an animal’s quality of life is to pick five things your pet enjoys doing. These activities can be as simple as snuggling on the couch, eating, going for car rides, or even looking up at you when you enter the room.

As your pet loses interest in these things, then you know its quality of life is changing.

Most people decide to euthanize their pet when the bad days start outweighing the good days.

Every situation is different, and each owner is unique in drawing the line. If there’s time, it’s important to say goodbye.

Take a few days or weeks with your pet. Spoil him rotten and cherish those times.

Chronic illness opens the door to anticipatory grief. This is when people begin thinking about the loss of a pet and what it will mean to them.

Experts encourage owners to write down their thoughts about the decisions ahead. Answer the tough questions, then put the answers away until it’s time.

This helps keep owners from dwelling on it.