A difficult decision that many pet owners face is whether to euthanize their beloved animal when it is suffering. Sonia has had to make this decision twice in the past five months: when cancer robbed her dog Niko of his joy, and then a disease took her cat Dallas shortly afterward. Euthanasia was the only way to end their suffering. Sonia does not feel guilty, as she did everything she could to save them and did not want them to suffer needlessly.
However, many pet owners struggle with the decision and may feel guilty afterward. It is important to understand what euthanasia involves and when it is appropriate to use it. Euthanasia is only recommended when there is no other option and the animal is experiencing great suffering that cannot be managed through treatment. It should never be used for financial reasons or as an alternative to abandonment.
The decision to euthanize an animal is usually recommended by a veterinarian when the pet’s condition has become unmanageable. Family members have some time to consider the decision, and when the time comes, the animal is first given a sedative to put it into a deep sleep, and then a lethal injection is given, which stops the heart. The process is entirely painless and humane.
Pet owners need to consider the animal’s quality of life when deciding on euthanasia, as animals do not always express pain in the same way humans do. Some signs of suffering include an increase in breathing rate, isolation, apathy, or loss of appetite. A veterinarian can help assess the animal’s condition objectively. Oncologist Alice Villalobos has proposed a seven-point scale for assessing a pet’s quality of life, including absence of pain, appetite, hydration, hygiene, happiness, mobility, and whether the pet has more good days than bad. A score of 35 or more indicates that palliative care is still an option instead of euthanasia.
While the decision to euthanize a pet is never easy, it is essential to consider the animal’s well-being and end its suffering humanely.