The decision of when to euthanize your pet is a very emotional and confusing time. Discomfort about having to make such a choice, guilt over whether we are deciding too soon or too late, and sadness for the loss to come make us doubt that we can make a wise decision.

We often feel that we should be able to fix a beloved pet’s problems; that with enough care and time they will improve. Often we will focus on a good moment in what was otherwise not such a good day, and hope that things are going to be better. Illness or age-related changes are often too debilitating and our companions depend on us to set aside our own emotions and focus on what will be the best for them.

You know your pet better than anyone and are the best judge of when your pet’s quality of life has diminished. Below is a list of symptoms that your pet may be exhibiting. How many of these statement are true today, as compared to weeks or months ago. Be aware that changes often occur gradually so that we become used to the new “normal”, and lose sight of how much they have actually declined.

Factors to consider when assessing a pet’s QOL include:   Are they in the early stages of a few symptoms or have they progressed to more severe symptoms? Are there more bad days than good- or only a few good moments in an otherwise rough day?

• Struggles to walk on own – limping, dragging feet, wobbly gait
• Needing help more frequently to get up – stiff, slow, weak
• Falls/collapses more often
• Increasing difficulty climbing stairs, jumping on furniture,
• Lies in the same position for long times
• Muscle wasting in legs
• Difficulty squatting to urinate or defecate
• Pressure sores on bony areas from laying in one position
• Wants to go for walk but can only manage short distance

*Note – I do NOT use appetite as a criteria for a good quality life. Pets will continue to eat in the face of great pain and advanced medical conditions.

• Increasing pickiness with food – no longer interested in regular diet, requires coaxing, assistance, hand feeding, syringe feeding
• Difficulty chewing or swallowing, drooling
• Good appetite but weight is dropping
• Has not eaten for 2 consecutive days
• Showing interest in food but won’t eat (nausea)
• Only eating table food, treats
• Regurgitating or vomiting after eating

Pain is difficult for owners to assess accurately. Pets will not actively show that they are in pain – instead there are subtle changes in their behavior and moods. Below are some signs that your pet is experiencing pain:

• Difficulty getting up and down – a lot of circling then may flop down
• Often stands rather than lying down, or sits half perched
• Unable to settle, frequently changing position – up and down
• Resistance to being moved – growls or nips, vocalizes
• Cats- “Meatloaf” position – sitting sternally with head hanging, paws tucked
• Partial or non weight bearing on a limb.
•Whimpers or moans (most pets will not make any sound until they are in severe pain)
• Chewing or licking of an affected area
• Hiding away
• Distant gaze, doesn’t seem as focused on you
• Arched or hunched back
• Stiff legged gait
• Increasing amounts of pain medication needed to get comfortable
Talk with your vet about pain control. Let them know your pet is nearing the end of their life and that you want to make them as comfortable as possible.

• Cats- no longer grooming, oily, unkempt fur, mats.
• Urinates or defecates on self, requires frequent cleanup
• Strong urine odor – urine scalding of belly area or hind legs (possible urinary tract infection)
• Difficult to keep clean and dry – developing skin sores or rashes

• Labored breathing is ALWAYS a sign that your pet is in distress
and needs immediate assistance!

• Increased respiratory effort with any exertion
• Sitting perched or sternally, uncomfortable lying on side
• Labored breathing with deep breaths, or rapid shallow breathing
• Pacing, restless, changing position frequently
• Standing with neck extended
• Open mouth breathing
• Frequent coughing, worse at night

Note – pet’s will go as long as possible without urinating or defecating in the house – if it has been over 6 hours they are definitely uncomfortable.

• Increased accidents in the house- unable to make it to litter box or outside
• Difficulty squatting due to weakness, muscle loss
• Constipation
• Dribbling urine due to not being able to empty bladder
• Strong urine smell (urinary tract infection)
• Requires frequent cleaning up, feces matted on hind end

Signs of increasing senility are often compounded by poor vision and loss of hearing and your pet’s world becomes very narrowed down as the condition progresses.

• Pacing – usually in a repeated pattern
• Getting stuck behind furniture or standing in corners
• Having accidents in house
• Sundowner’s Syndrome – increased anxiety at night = panting, pacing, vocalizing
• Requiring medication to be able to sleep at night
• Decreased interest in other pets or family – not “happy” to see you
• Switching days and nights – sleeps most of day and up at night
• Appetite is usually good, or even ravenous

This is a very subjective observation.  It’s best to think of this in terms of how they have behaved most of their lives and what changes you may have seen lately.

 .Are they still responsive to family and other pets, interested in attention or
• Isolated from family
• Sleeping most of day – often depression
• Cats off in another room- hiding

When their poor quality of life is so advanced that it is affecting your QOL then neither of you are having good days. How many of the following are you seeing in your own life..

• Find yourself staying home with pet – don’t trust them to be on their own.
• Change in your sleeping habits – up multiple times during the night, sleeping on floor, or  downstairs.
• Fatigue during day affecting work/school
• Changing in social life, canceling trips
• Cleaning up after pet multiple times a day
• Spending a lot of time coaxing to eat – feeding with a dropper
• Pet avoids you because they are medicated so frequently
• House is covered in pee pads

If you are postponing a decision in the hopes that your pet will pass peacefully on their own, please know that this is rarely the case. A “natural death” can be prolonged and upsetting, as well as painful, often occurring when your pet is home alone. The most unselfish act is to put aside our own emotions and focus on what is going to be best for them. With the ability to prolong their life comes
the responsibility of making the best decision for them, in a timely manner, so there will be no suffering.

Remember, there is not going to be an “exact” right time to make the decision but rather a grey area of a time frame, with an overall trend from “it’s not time yet” towards “we waited too long”.
You may feel that you are giving up on them- but by accepting the reality of their situation we are able to plan so that we can allow them to pass in the most comfortable and dignified way possible.