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Question 4:
How do I know when it is the right time to
euthanize my pet?
Answer:
This is undoubtedly one of the most difficult
questions we face as pet owners and as veterinarians.
Every case is different. The determination of an
individual pet's quality of life is complex and is best
determined by those who know him/her best. Issues to
consider include: 1.) whether or not your pet is in pain (pain
in pets can be difficult to determine but signs may include
abnormal vocalization, restlessness, increased heart and
respiratory rates, dilated pupils, muscle tremors and changes
in appetite and/or sleeping patterns), 2.) whether or not
he/she is able to get around relatively independently to eat,
drink, urinate, defecate, 3.) does he/she seem happy (does
your pet wag its tail, greet you at the door, enjoy his/her
treats, want to play). We strongly recommend that you
discuss your individual situation with a veterinarian before
making any determinations regarding euthanasia so that you are
fully aware of your diagnostic and treatment options.
To help evaluate your pet's quality of life, the Quality of
Life Scale is reprinted below. It allows owners to
quantify their pet's quality of life based on several
different criteria.
| Using a scale of
0 to
10 (0
= Unacceptable, 10 =
Excellent), patients can be evaluated for their quality of
life. |
| Score |
Criterion |
| 0 - 10 |
Hurt - Is the patient in pain,
including distress from difficulty in breathing? Can the
pet's pain be successfully managed? Is oxygen necessary? |
| 0 - 10 |
Hunger - Is the pet eating enough?
Does hand-feeding help? Does the pet require a feeding
tube? |
| 0 - 10 |
Hydration - Is the pet dehydrated?
Are subcutaneous fluids once or twice daily enough to
resolve the problem? Are they well tolerated? |
| 0 - 10 |
Hygiene - The pet should be kept
brushed and clean, particularly after elimination. Does
the pet have pressure sores? |
| 0 - 10 |
Happiness - Does the pet express
joy and interest? Is it responsive to things around it
(family, toys, etc)? Is the pet depressed, lonely,
anxious, bored, afraid? Can the pet's bed be near the
kitchen and moved near family activities to minimize
isolation? |
| 0 - 10 |
Mobility - Can the pet get up
without assistance? Does the pet need human or mechanical
help (eg, cart)? Does the pet feel like going for a walk?
Is the pet having seizures or stumbling? |
| 0 - 10 |
More Good Days than Bad - When bad
days outnumber good days, the pet's suffering is
appreciable and quality of life might be too compromised.
When a healthy human-animal bond is no longer possible,
the caregiver must be made aware that the end is near. |
| Total: A total of >
35 points is
acceptable quality of life for pets. |
| Adapted from Canine and
Feline Geriatric Oncology: Honoring the Human-Animal Bond,
Villalobos A, Kaplan L, Hoboken, NJ, Wiley-Blackwell, 2007
and Decision-Making Issues with Euthanasia, Villalobos A, Ethics in Practice, NAVC Clinician's Brief, May 2008,
pp 23-24. |
In the event that you
decide to euthanize your pet, the following Pet Loss and Grief
Resources may be helpful. This list was originally compiled by
Twin City Tails magazine.
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