The "how will I know it is time" question is a common one for vets and one of the most common questions asked on this site. Of course, there isn't one clear-cut answer for this question. The nature of the disease or condition, the general health of the pet, and the household/living situation all play a part in this process. As can be expected, it is a very personal decision. A decision that I would never answer for anyone else, but offer these guidelines and resources.
If your grief is prolonged or interfering your ability to work or function, please consider calling a pet loss and support hotline. Many veterinary schools offer hotlines, and most operate at no charge.
Having to make the decision to end a pet's life is never easy. It is a subject that many people do not want to talk about until they have to, but then it becomes a decision made under emotional stress. The purpose of this article is to explore what happens when an animal is "put to sleep" and how to handle the grief from losing a pet.
Having to make the decision to end a pet's life is never easy, and rarely has a clear cut answer. This FAQ focuses on ways to evaluate your pet's "quality of life", and make a decision that that won't be filled with regret and guilt.
Welcome to the twilight time. That bittersweet time when you know that the end is near, the time to say goodbye is at hand, but you are left wondering: "how will I know when it is really time to put my pet to sleep?"
Euthanasia of a pet is often a very heartfelt and difficult decision to make, and at times feels very lonely. It may be comforting to know that veterinarians and hospital staff are not immune to the stress of this type of decision -- it can feel just as confusing and lonely to those who may seem "used to it".
Here are some questions to consider when evaluating the quality of life for your pet. A general rule of thumb is when "the bad days outnumber the good days", but that can be difficult to assess. Becoming familiar with these guidelines will help pet owners determine when it is time to determine the best course of action for a terminally ill, geriatric, or injured pet.
Dealing with the loss of a pet is never easy. When children are involved, special considerations must be made to help them understand what is going on and how to deal with pet loss and grief. This article will address planning for euthanasia, how to recognize signs of grief in children, and ways to start healing after loss.
Sometimes, after receiving a terminal diagnosis for a pet, the "waiting" time is the most painful time. Grief is a daily bittersweet experience.
From the VetMed Forum: CAROLEMU writes: "We just had to put our much loved dog to sleep and I am having tremendous guilt about how he died. We knew it was likely time to put him down because he was in pain so we were cleaning him up to take him to the vet and while we were cleaning his hind section we discovered that he was infested with maggots. I feel that I let him down when he needed me the most and I should not have let this happen to him.
There's always that "what if" chance that tomorrow will be a better day, our pet really isn't that sick, or the appetite will come back. But usually, deep down, we do know when it is time, whether we can admit it or not. How did you "know" it was time? Can you offer advice for coping with guilt or grief? Please share your tips.
