Deciding on hospice care and euthanasia for a beloved pet can be one of the hardest and difficult decisions a person can face. It is a decision that even veterinarians struggle with; even professionals struggle with deciding when the time is “right”. Another veterinary friend of mine once said to me, “In retrospect, no one ever says ‘I euthanized my pet too soon’. Everyone with regret always states that they waited too long to euthanize their pet”, and I can’t help but agree. Those of us who live with this guilt have the best intentions, but are often too emotionally bound to make objective and necessary decisions regarding their pet’s hospice care.
It is for these reasons that I will never judge anyone when they apologize at euthanasia appointments. Deep down, they know that it is time, but our emotional attachments to those we love prevent us from making this decision in a timely manner. My reminder in times like this is that we are only human and we shouldn’t be too hard on ourselves for wanting the best for our beloved pets. I myself have struggled with making the decision to euthanize my own pets in the hopes of giving them a little more time. As a general rule, I tell people that if they know their pet is terminal, making this decision sooner rather than later is optimal. It is in your pet’s best interest to prevent pain and suffering by saying goodbye when they are still able to eat, drink, and behave somewhat like themselves. Dogs and cats are incredibly stoic animals; I have seen dogs with broken legs go charging after a ball that is being thrown, and cats with a broken hip limp for a few days and then walk and run as if they were back to normal. These amazingly resilient creatures feel pain and nausea as we do, they just don’t communicate pain and illness as a human would.
There are some important indicators to look out for that might suggest that your pet is experiencing pain or discomfort. When cats and dogs feel pain and nausea, they tend to sleep and don’t typically cry unless they are experiencing sharp, acute pain. When nausea is severe, they will vomit. Cats will often take on the position of a sphinx when in pain or feeling nauseous and will often sleep sitting upright, although I have seen many cats who are in pain sleep on their side. Increased respiratory rate can also often indicate pain or nausea. Walking to their food bowl as though they are hungry, lip-smacking, and then walking away is also a sign of nausea. Failure to groom, which results in a disheveled hair coat, is typically the first indicator that there may be a problem with your pet. It is at this stage that I strongly recommend that my clients agree to lab testing in order to determine the source of the problem. Weight loss when your pet is not on a diet is also a problematic sign. Increased thirst is also an issue; by the time your pet is too weak to get up and drink, we have gone past the humane period of euthanasia. Once an animal is displaying symptoms of increased thirst in conjunction with weight loss, they are deep into the stages of dehydration, which can result in nausea, ulcers, migraines, and other pain. Pets who are in pain and experiencing these symptoms will sleep often, leading their owners to believe them to be “resting peacefully” when in reality, they are suffering in silence. A dog or cat that has been lying on a bed and suffers bed sores is also likely beyond the ideal time to euthanize. Pets should never lie on one side for more than two hours if they are ill and must be turned, just as a human patient would be.
If you have any concerns that your pet may be in discomfort, nausea, or pain, please seek veterinary help and advice.