The Final Act of Love

Over the years, I have witnessed many different opinions, questions and requests regarding the end of a beloved family pet's life. Some owners have firm ideas about exactly when they are going to say good bye, others are desperately conflicted and need guidance. Occasionally an owner will want to hospice their loved one until the final end. Euthanasia, which is of Greek origin and means eu “well” + thanatos “death”, is an option for the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable or painful disease or an irreversible coma. Although most countries prohibit euthanasia in humans, it is widely practiced in small and large companion animals.

Because the decision is irrevocable, choosing to end a furry friend's life is probably the most difficult part of pet ownership. Your veterinarian will offer you support and advice, and friends and family will often have helpful opinions, but ultimately the decision about when to euthanize is up to you, the pet owner. What you want is to make the “right” decision; one that you would repeat on another day, at a different time, if your pet's situation was the same. Simply put, you don't want to regret your action.

So how do you know if it's time? My first inclination is to look at the pet's quality of life, which is evidenced by several things. Is it eating (quality of life is affected by food intake!)? Is it comfortable (nothing like a housebroken dog becoming incontinent and lying in its urine)? How does it move? Can it enjoy any activity anymore if it has chronic disease? Can its current illness be treated to alleviate pain and suffering (some owners physically cannot give insulin injections to their diabetic pets)? Do the bad days outnumber the good? Quality of life combined with lifespan and the prognosis for recovery all end with a firm decision of when to let go of your family pet. In any case, I advise owners to have a conversation about their particular situation before they make their final decision. This can avoid the awkwardness of euthanizing a pet who has a curable, fixable disease that family members were uninformed about.

How and where is euthanasia performed? Some people like to say goodbye at home, some at the veterinary clinic. At our hospital, we will perform euthanasia wherever requested, often suggesting the least stressful environment for the pet and owner. A light sedation is given in a peaceful area of the hospital (or home) before the final act which is an injection into the vein. In a very short while, your pet is asleep for the last time.

Helpful books are available for more information:

• “Final Farewell: Preparing For and Mourning the Loss of Your Pet,” by Marty Tousley and Katherine Heuerman. 85 pages; illustrated. Our Pals Publishing Co, 3629 N 40th Ave. Phoenix AZ 85019. 1997

• “Healing the Pain of Pet Loss: Letters in Memoriam,” edited by Kymberly Smith, The Charles Press.

• “Absent Friend: Coping with the Loss of a Treasured Friend,” by Laura and Martyn Lee, published by Henston Press, High Wycombe, Bucks, England, 1992.

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