Is there a right time for euthanasia?

Trying to decide if euthanasia is a valid choice for your sick or aging pet? This is one of the most common questions that I would be asked in practice. It is very difficult for a family to make a clinical decision of euthanasia because we love our pets and want them to be with us for as long as we are alive.

The ideal time for euthanasia is to intervene before suffering occurs, however this is rarely able to be predicted. If possible emotionally preparing in advance can save your pet from unnecessary suffering, but again this is not possible in every case. We often don't expect to have to consider euthanasia until our pet is elderly, but unfortunately younger pets are also susceptible to accidents, cancer, and other disease processes. Often in our senior pets they have some type of discomfort or mobility issue which can sometimes be addressed through supplements, medications, surgery, or rehabilitation. However other times it is just the aging process or a terminal diagnosis which leaves limited options for intervention. If you are unsure the first step should be an examination with your primary veterinarian to see if there is anything that can be done to help your pet become more comfortable, mobile, and to have a better appetite. In addition I generally recommend that people start with quality-of-life markers for their pet such as eating, engaging in activities that they enjoy, and whether they appear to be in pain or distress. Keeping a two week calendar of good and bad days helps owners to have more concrete information to make decisions. It can be as simple as using smiley faces where a good day equals most quality-of-life markers being met such as eating, engaging with the family, and being pain free. When the good days and the bad days become equal, or when the bad days outnumber the good, then euthanasia needs to be considered. Unfortunately I do find that families will sometimes second guess themselves after euthanasia regarding whether it was the right time or not. This can be caused by many factors however the most common is that on the day of the euthanasia their pet had a good day which makes them feel guilty. That reaction is just human nature because we love our pets so much and obviously want more time with them. In my experience most owners tend to wait too long to euthanize and rarely euthanize too soon. If the owners are even contemplating euthanasia then it is usually time, as the family is emotionally so close to the situation that it is difficult to see things objectively. Sometimes it is helpful for a family friend to also give their viewpoint of the pet's quality of life as they are sometimes able to be more objective. There are multiple books and websites available that discuss this subject more in depth. Please visit my Resources page for some specific examples. If you still have questions about your companion please consider setting up a consult with me to discuss your concerns.