Caring and Compassionate Pet Euthanasia
Euthanasia is something most people would rather not think about, unfortunately, many diseases can be treated, but not cured, and can eventually lead to suffering. Sometimes pet euthanasia is the most caring and compassionate thing a pet owner can do for their pets.
Understanding When It’s Time to Say Goodbye
It can be difficult for pet owners to determine when it’s time to say goodbye to their beloved pets, especially if your pet has good days and bad days. If you are unsure as to whether it is time to say goodbye, Branch's Veterinary Clinic can evaluate your pet’s health and answer your questions in order to help you make a decision.
Factors to Consider to Determine if a Pet is Suffering
The following list may help you decide if your pet may be suffering:
Mobility: Is your pet able to walk normally, is assistance required to get up or walk or is your pet unable to rise or walk at all?
Appetite: Does your pet still have a normal appetite, is appetite decreased with hand feeding required, or is your pet unable to eat without a feeding tube?
Hydration: Does your pet maintain normal hydration or is support with subcutaneous or intravenous fluids require to maintain hydration?
Pain: Does the disease state that your pet is suffering from cause any pain and if so, can the pain be adequately managed on an outpatient basis (outside of the hospital).
Respiratory: Does your pet struggle to breathe, show labored breathing with minimal activity or require supplemental oxygen in order to survive?
Neurologic: Does your pet have seizures that are unable to be controlled with medication, disorientation or a lack of awareness of his or her environment, or suffer severe imbalance that is not expected to resolve with time or treatment?
Interaction/Attitude: Does your pet interact normally with the family or other pets in the household, or has he or she become increasingly reclusive or aggressive to others in the household?
Favorite Things: Does your pet still participate in his or her normal activities, play with their toys or show interest in routines that they previously held?
