Euthanasia - the time to say goodbye

This column is dedicated to a lovely Golden Retriever with a golden heart named Kayda and his loving owner Ken. Kayda was suffering from an intractable problem in his mouth that eventually made him feel miserable. Ken did everything he could for his dog, but sadly nobody can stop time and nature’s course of aging. Ken had to face one of the most painful aspects in raising pets and make a heartbreaking, but yet very brave decision of letting Kayda go.

 

So when is it the right time to say goodbye to your darling pet? Well, that is probably the hardest question veterinarians get asked by pet owners. The decision to end a life is never easy. It is a personal, loving decision to euthanize a pet for which the quality of life has deteriorated. It takes courage to assume this last duty and it is our last responsibility to a pet which has given us love and companionship. One of the most difficult decisions people have a hard time with is making the decision for the animal that obviously can’t express its own wants.

Euthanasia is recommended by veterinarians when the pet is sick or very old and when its quality of life has deteriorated in an irreversible manner. When a pet is showing signs of illness your veterinarian will probably recommend performing some tests in order to evaluate the general health status of your pet and the extent of the damage caused by the disease. Some people debate whether it is worthwhile to invest money in performing tests on old animals. At times people are frustrated that they spent the money and still ended up euthanizing their pet. The decision of performing euthanasia is a very hard one for both pet owners and veterinarians, hence the tests are recommended. Euthanasia is recommended when a medical condition is uncontrollable, or is going to cause pain and suffering to your pet. Medical tests help veterinarians assess the severity of the pet’s condition and make it easier to reach the decision whether to try to treat the animal or let it go.

So when is it the right time to say goodbye? There is no one answer for this question. The answer is very personal and individual. Here are a few questions you need to ask yourself. Is my pet suffering? Is it in pain? Does it have good quality of life? Does it eat and drink well? Is it uncomfortable? Is treating and trying to prolong it’s life going to cause suffering to my pet? Can I afford the treatment my pet needs? Am I just holding on because I simply can’t say goodbye?

The legitimacy of ending one’s life has been a controversial issue for decades for both humans and animals. Many people believe in letting nature taking its course. Personally, as a veterinarian I feel privileged to be able to help animals and put an end to their misery in a humane manner.

So what should you expect when you have decided to euthanize your pet? At the vet’s office you will be asked to give written permission to perform the euthanasia. The euthanasia is done by intravenous injection of lethal dose of an anesthetic drug. Depending on your pet’s nature and condition the vet will decide whether sedation is needed prior to the euthanasia. The process is very quick and peaceful. As soon as the vet establishes access to the vein and injects the drug the pet will immediately relax and within couple of minutes will just stop breathing. The vet will listen with a stethoscope to confirm that the pet has passed away. Usually the procedure is very quiet, painless and peaceful. Rarely the animal will make strange sounds, express an excited reaction or take deep breaths. All of those reactions are just reflexes and are not signs of pain and suffering, it is just a side effect of the medication and the nerve system’s reaction to it. Some people prefer not to be present for the procedure itself and that is a very legitimate choice.

The last decision you will need to face is what to do with the remains.  Your options are either burial or cremation. There two kinds of cremation- either communal or private in which you will get the pet’s ashes back.

Deciding whether to euthanize your pet is probably one of the hardest decisions you’ll ever need to make for your pet. This decision should be taken very seriously. Please consult with your veterinarian when the time comes. Your veterinarian will support and guide you through this emotional process and will make the experience for you and your family as easy as possible.

 

Dr. Oz can be reached at www.KelownaVet.ca

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.