Saying Goodbye to Your Pet

Deciding when to say goodbye to a beloved companion is one of the most difficult decisions a pet owner will eventually have to face. Sometimes these decisions loom on the horizon for a while, while other times they come on suddenly and unexpectedly. No matter how long you have to plan, these choices are never easy. While you are ultimately the only person who can make this decision for your pet, we’re here to support you however we can during the process.
​In this article we’ll be covering some of the most common questions pet owners have when dealing with end of life planning, offering our perspectives, and linking to resources that can help you navigate these challenges, all in hopes of helping you answer the question every pet owner dreads facing: How do I know when it’s time?

Quality of Life
Quality of life is a phrase you hear a lot in these conversations, but what does it actually mean?
Quality of life is a broad term used to describe and average a number of factors, such as pain, mobility, hygiene, appetite, and activity. It’s important to note that quality of life is a relative term, and a “good” quality of life will look different for different pets; if you have a lapdog who’s happy cuddling on the couch, low mobility is less detrimental than it would be in a retriever who loves hiking and swimming.
Some key quality of life indicators to pay attention to include:

• Mobility: Is your pet able to move around on their own? What about with your assistance, or the aid of a mobility device?
• ​Appetite: Does your pet still show an interest in their regular meals? What about different foods than usual, high value foods, or while being hand-fed? Do they still drink water?
• Pain: This is one of the biggest quality of life considerations. Is your pet experiencing chronic pain? How often and how severe is this pain? Can it be reduced through medications, surgery, or other means?
• Hygiene: Can your pet be brushed and bathed? Can they move themselves away from any accidents? Do they have any tumors, sores, or other growths that you are unable to keep clean?
• Happiness: It sounds obvious, but in the midst of everything else this point can be easy to miss. Does your pet still seem excited by their favorite toys or activities? Do they still seek out interaction with you or other members of your household?

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Book A Consultation

If you're unsure of whether it's time, book a consultation with us to review your pet's health and discuss their quality of life. This is something we've all been through as well and we're here to support you.

Measuring QoL
​Changes in quality of life are often the first thing owners notice, and this may spark other questions or considerations. It can sometimes be hard to tell whether a pet is approaching the end of their life, or whether their symptoms are a temporary low they may recover from.
Since this is a deeply emotional topic for any pet owner, it can often be helpful to use tools and outside resources to get a clearer, more objective understanding of your pet’s quality of life:

• The HHHHHMM Quality of Life Scale is a rubric used to assess a number of quality of life factors including pain, appetite, and mobility. When completing these activities we sometimes see what we want to see rather than what’s actually present, so to balance this it can be helpful to have each member of your household fill this rubric out independently. Please see a link to the "How Do I Know When it's Time" form below (credit for the form in this link goes to The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center).
• Alone or with your family, create a list of 3-5 activities your pet has always enjoyed, such as going to the beach, taking long walks, or playing a vigorous game of fetch. Use your pet’s ability to enjoy these activities as an indication of their overall quality of life.
• A common approach is to track your pet’s days on a calendar and differentiate the good days vs the bad days (some folks also prefer to split the days into morning and evening). When the bad days begin to outweigh the good, it may be time to consider euthanasia.
• Changes can happen slowly, and because of this can be difficult to notice. Revisit old photos or videos of your pet to see how they used to behave, and compare this to how they behave now. Sometimes a reminder of the way things used to be can provide helpful context for the present.
• Ask your vet. While they can’t make the decision for you, your veterinarian has a lot of experience with these matters and will always be happy to discuss and provide their insight. If your pet can still get to and from the vet reasonably well you can schedule a quality of life appointment, where your veterinarian can perform a physical exam, discuss symptoms and behaviors, and order other diagnostics they feel may be helpful in assessing your pet’s condition.

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How Do I Know When it's Time.pdf
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Making Arrangements 
Even once you’ve decided euthanasia is the next step, you’ll likely still have plenty of questions. When should you book an appointment? What will this appointment be like? Will your pet feel pain as they pass? What happens with their remains?
If you know in advance that it's time, you can call us to book your pet's final visit with us. We typically recommend that you schedule this appointment for the end of the morning or afternoon, when the hospital is a little more quiet. However, sometimes your pet declines faster than you anticipate and it becomes clear that they are in too much pain or discomfort. In this case you can call us to come in on short notice.
When you arrive for the appointment a technician will bring you, your pet, and any other friends or family present into our consultation room. An intravenous catheter will be placed; this may occur in the room with you, or your pet may be brought into our treatment area while the catheter is placed, then returned to the room with you.
Once the catheter is placed your pet will be administered a sedative to ease any pain and anxiety, followed by an injection that will induce loss of consciousness and death without causing pain or distress. The process is short and painless; it will be over in a matter of seconds. Your pet won’t be aware of their own passing.
We partner with Final Gift Pet Memorial Center for cremation and other aftercare services, enabling them to pick up remains from and deliver ashes and memorial products to our clinic or to your home, but this is only one of the many options available to you. Some pet parents prefer to make arrangements with other pet aftercare services, or to bring their pet’s remains home for burial, both of which we’re happy to accommodate.

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A Word on Grief
It’s normal and expected to feel grief after the loss of a pet, just as you would after the passing of any other family member. Indeed, grief is a healthy response and an important part of the healing process. Talking about grief is one of the best ways to work through it, especially if others in your household are feeling similarly; some family members may even be thankful someone else has broached the topic.
Of course, friends and family can only do so much. If you’re struggling with grief and need additional support, there are resources available. Tufts University operates a Pet Loss Support Hotline, and Ohio State University’s Honoring the Bond Program has compiled numerous readings, videos, support groups, and other resources to help pet owners dealing with grief.
Grief is normal, and showing these emotions or asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness. If you’re struggling after the loss of a pet, please don’t hesitate to reach out or utilize the resources above- we know it’s what your pet would want for you.

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