Here are some signs that may indicate your pet is suffering or no longer enjoying a good quality of life: He is experiencing chronic pain that cannot be controlled with medication your veterinarian can help you determine if your pet is in pain. He has stopped eating or will only eat if you force feed him.
He is incontinent to the degree that he frequently soils himself. He has lost interest in all or most of his favorite activities, such as going for walks, playing with toys or other pets, eating treats or soliciting attention and petting from family members. He cannot stand on his own or falls down when trying to walk. He has chronic labored breathing or coughing. 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. 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….
However, it is also important to give yourself time to grieve and to care for yourself during this time. Although it may be tempting to immediately adopt another pet to fill the void, the Humane Society of America actually recommends not jumping into a new pet relationship until you are emotionally ready.
It may be beneficial to reach out to trusted friends who have similarly expressed pet loss or even professional grief counselors. Angell clients may also use our staff grief counselor. Unfortunately, our furry friends and family have a limited lifespan. When they become very sick, it is natural for family members to feel sorrow, guilt, stress, and even anger. It is important to plan for the end of life before that time arrives. Although it may feel impossible to say goodbye, euthanasia can sometimes be the final act of caring for your pet.
Privacy Search Site. More Ways to Donate From an online gift to a charitable gift annuity, your contribution will have a significant impact in the lives of thousands of animals. Learn More. When Is It Time? Most pet owners do not realize that not being able to breathe is one of the most painful experiences for an animal, and it is ranked at the top of the pain scale.
It is also important to note that our pets can be stoic or not display pain in ways humans may anticipate. While many animals can survive for numerous days without eating much, malnutrition can develop quickly in sick animals and contribute to progression of illness. Appetite stimulants, hand-feeding, and feeding tubes can help with decreased appetite. Fluids injected under the skin can be a very effective method to help a pet feel better without being too invasive.
Is the coat matted? Prolonged exposure to bodily waste can cause skin scalding, which is very uncomfortable and can lead to systemic infections in severe cases.
Your pet will just go to sleep. On rare occasions there may be a brief vocalization or cry as consciousness is lost; this is not pain although you may misinterpreted it as such. Within seconds of starting the injection the anesthetic overdose will cause the heart to slow and then stop, and any circulation in the body will cease. As the heart stops and the blood pressure decreases, the unconscious animal will stop breathing, circulation to the brain will cease and your pet will die peacefully.
Once your pet has died, you might observe involuntary muscle contractions or respiratory gasps about one or two minutes after the loss of consciousness and circulation.
Again this is not evidence of pain or consciousness, but instead, it represents a physiologic response that occurs whenever the brain is deprived of circulation. The unconscious animal may also lose bladder or bowel control.
This preserves good memories and lessens the potential of the animal suffering. There is no one perfect moment in time to make a euthanasia decision about your pet. But being able to make an informed choice when the time does come makes it easier on your pet and yourself. Here are five things to consider as you determine your next steps. What do you know about euthanasia? Going for walks Playing with toys Enjoying meals Responding to the presence of you and other pets and family members who share your home Here are some behaviors that suggest your pet might be suffering: Hiding Losing weight Sleeping more than usual Is your pet experiencing these things?
Are they likely to get better in the future? Is your pet in pain or anxious?
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