As pet owners, one of the most difficult things we can do is to make the decision to humanely euthanize our pet. Most of us don’t make this decision lightly as our pets are beloved members of our family. I know firsthand the hardships pet owners go through in these situations, not only because a big part of my job is walking people through this process, but also because I’ve had to make this decision for my own pets twice in the last four years. I’ve learned a lot from both my personal and professional experiences with this. It’s hard for pet owners to know how to approach this difficult situation. I’m hoping many of you reading this blog don’t have to experience this very often, but I will share with you the things I wish pet owners knew or would consider before euthanizing a pet. In the very least, you can learn from my experiences. 1. No one else can make the decision for you. When your pet is sick and dying, it’s hard to know what to do. Pet owners are often presented with a slew of options depending on the condition. Many pet owners turn to their veterinarian and loved ones, asking for advice as to what they should do. As a veterinarian, I can certainly help guide you through the decisions, but unfortunately, I can’t make the decision for you. No one can. So many factors weigh in on this decision, including quality of life, the human animal bond, your personal relationship with your pet, financial considerations, and more. You know your pet better than anyone else. The other tricky part? Everyone has a different definition as to what “quality of life” means. For instance, I have patients that have completely lost mobility in their hind limbs, yet still have a great appetite and appear to enjoy life. Some of my clients have purchased doggie wheelchairs for their pets in these situations, and they get around just fine. For others, losing mobility is the ultimate loss of quality of life which leads to a decision of humane euthanasia. This isn’t a situation where one client is right and the other is wrong. Just different perspectives. When clients ask me how to know when they should put their pet down, my simple answer is to list five things their pet really enjoys doing (when they’re healthy). If their pet reaches a point where it no longer has the ability or desire to do three out of those five things, then it’s probably time to consider humane euthanasia. 2. Euthanasia doesn’t have to be a last resort. This may seem like an odd thing to say as most of us are used to viewing euthanasia this way, but euthanasia doesn’t have to be the final option at the end of a long battle with a disease or illness. Humane euthanasia is not a bad option just because there are other potential options available for your pet. Other treatment options could include treatments that could affect your pet’s quality of life. These treatments for certain conditions may prolong your pet’s life for a short amount of time. Some treatments that might prolong their life may be doable, but expensive.
There are possibilities, but even with these possibilities, the bottom line is this: Don’t feel guilty about your decision to euthanize your pet just because there are other options available. Other options might only help for a short time, be too expensive for your budget, and might not be best for your pet’s quality of life. Ultimately, you have to make the decision that’s best for you, your family, and your pet. That’s really all you can do. 3. It’s okay to cry and get emotional. I can’t tell you the number of times I have had a client apologize for crying before, during, or after the euthanasia of their pet. It’s okay. You don’t have to apologize for grieving the loss of a beloved family member. Men, this applies to you, too. As a veterinarian, I often see the men in the family get more emotional while I’m performing a euthanasia. They don’t call dogs man’s best friend for nothing. After being married for over nine years, I can count on one hand the number of times I have seen my husband cry. Two of those occasions were when we euthanized our dog, Bandit, and our dog, Shalane. It’s okay to acknowledge your emotions. Sometimes letting yourself feel broken is the key to feeling whole again. 4. Stay with your pet. At most veterinary clinics (including my own), you have the option to stay or not stay with your pet during the euthanasia. Most clients choose to be with their pet during this time; however, for some people, it’s just too painful to for them to be there. As hard as it is, I encourage you to stay with your pet and comfort them in their final minutes. When owners are not there, technicians often take on the role of comforting the pet as they pass on. It’s an incredible burden to bear in an owner’s place, and it can be emotionally exhausting. Also, for many pets, a veterinary clinic can be a scary place. They don’t understand why they’re there, the strange noises, and why people are poking them with needles. When the owner is gone, they essentially experience that fear alone. You being there to tell them it’s okay and reassure them can make the process better for everyone involved. 5. Veterinarians were not trained to kill your pet. This header is somewhat misleading because, yes, we were trained extensively in how to perform humane euthanasia. However, the brunt of our training and what most of us enjoy doing the most is diagnosing and treating your pet’s condition and thus, improving their quality of life. Many veterinarians get frustrated by clients that simply want to treat us like the grim reapers of the pet world. Nothing is more frustrating than seeing the following appointment on the calendar: New patient, has been going downhill for six months, owner wants to euthanize. If your pet’s health is deteriorating, please seek us out earlier in the process. Even if it’s a terminal illness and you’re not wanting to break the bank, there’s probably certain simple interventions we can do to improve your pet’s quality of life during that six months they’re going “downhill.” As a veterinarian, that’s really our goal. And when the time comes for your pet to cross the rainbow bridge so to speak, we can guide you through that as well. 6. Advice to fellow veterinarians: Don’t euthanize your own pets! This probably seems self-explanatory to most of my colleagues, but like with many things, I have to learn things the hard way. Being a veterinarian, I made the decision to euthanize my own dog, Bandit, in my home a little over four years ago as a new graduate. I will never make that decision again. My advice to veterinarians when it comes to your own pets is to have a colleague perform the euthanasia itself. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I felt a lot of guilt for a long time for “killing” my own pet. The image of my dog looking up at me with trusting eyes as I pushed the drug through the syringe that ultimately killed him stuck with me for a long time. I don’t regret my decision to euthanize Bandit. It was the right thing to do. I do regret my decision to perform the procedure myself and will never do so in the future with my other pets. When you’re a veterinarian, it’s easy for the lines to blur between your role as a professional and a pet owner. The pet owner’s role during the euthanasia process should be to comfort and to hold your pet. It’s okay to take your veterinarian hat off for a little while and allow yourself to grieve and process everything not as a highly trained medical professional, but as a human being. 7. Be prepared. If you know the time is coming soon for your pet to be euthanized, call your veterinary clinic so you know what to expect. Ask as many questions as you need to ask to feel comfortable with the situation. When you come in knowing what to expect, it allows you to focus your attention on your pet. I encourage you to also take care of all business aspects before the euthanasia, like signing paperwork, paying your bill, and deciding on the aftercare of your pet. This will allow you to leave the clinic after the procedure and you can avoid doing these things in the lobby after a very emotional experience. Do what you need to do for self-care after the procedure as well. Order a pizza and rent a Rom Com, invite friends over, whatever you need to do to jumpstart the grieving and healing process. Know that the emotions will come in waves. With time, those waves will get farther and farther apart. It is a hard experience to deal with and to assist in, but sometimes it has to be done to prevent more pain and suffering. If you have recently experienced the loss of a pet or are preparing to lose a pet, the following are great websites and resources for people who are grieving from pet loss:
8 Comments
Rebbecca Fenton
9/28/2016 07:18:05 am
Well said Jessica. Thank you.
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Nelson Norbury
9/28/2016 07:34:35 pm
I have had for many years and have had to euthanize a few of my pets. I always stay with them. One vet came to my home because my dog was so big and he wanted to minimize his pain.
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Kayla Page
9/30/2016 08:45:41 am
Great post, Dr. Stroupe! We've had to put down a couple of our dogs. It's the hardest decision to make.
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Pat Cornine
9/30/2016 03:04:44 pm
Thank you Dr. Stroupe for this information. When I have had to put one of my precious babies down in the past I felt so unprepared for what was going to happen. Not wanting to make that decision but wanting what was best for them. You have done a wonderful job with making Linus's life a good one. And I will never forget the day I believe you saved his life. I don't look forward to when I have to make that decision again but I feel better after reading your post. Thinking of you and Patrick as you both start a very special new phase of your lives. Your friend, Pat
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8/19/2022 02:59:13 pm
Really informative article, I had the opportunity to learn a lot, thank you. https://guvenbozum.com/
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10/25/2022 02:15:42 pm
You made an interesting point when you mentioned that pet owners are presented with a lot of options when it comes to euthanasia. It would probably be a good idea to consult with a veterinarian if your pet is reaching the end of its life. It seems like you would want to make euthanasia as comfortable as possible.
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12/16/2022 09:08:14 am
I love how you reassure that losing a pet is losing a loved one and worth tears. My childhood cat is getting old and she's in pain. We've talked about it a lot and are starting to need to prepare to euthanize her. We'll have to look into finding a clinic we like to help us do that as humanly as possible.
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5/30/2023 11:44:16 am
It makes sense that you should stay with your pet during their final moments. Last night, I was at my aunt's house for dinner, and she was talking about how she thinks it might be time to put down her dog that she's had for a long time, so I wanted to know how I could help her prepare. I'll pass these tips along to her once she finds a vet to help her.
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Jessica Stroupe, DVM
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August 2017
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