Deciding on when the time is right to part with your pet is one of the most painful choices we have to make. The thought of choosing to end their life can feel brutal, tense and full of doubt when they are a family member. So while there is no “definite point” for every owner to start considering pet euthanasia at home, there are signs that can help. After giving them deep thought they can help guide you toward a choice that is based in love for your beloved.
How to Determine Quality of Life
A good starting point on making your decision on your pets future is looking at their quality of life. For this, many vets use what’s called a “quality-of-life scale”. This weighs up the factors such as pain, how well your pet eats and how often and well they can move. Also their hygiene, general moods and comfort. You can give honest answers to gentle questions such as the following:
Does my pet still enjoy doing the things they loved in the past?
Do they eat and drink of their own will?
Are they able to move without being in discomfort?
Do they seem more unhappy than happy most days?
Every pet has a bad day now and then and this is certainly more the case as they age. But when the bad days become more the norm and your pet is struggling with life more than they are enjoying it this can be a clear sign.
Knowing What The Signs of Pain or Distress Are
One factor we all need to take into account when looking at our pet’s quality of life is that they hide pain and are good at it. This is why it’s more important to keep a keen eye out for other elements such restless behaviour and withdrawal from you. Other things such as panting, aggressive moods and a shift in sleep patterns can mean they’re in discomfort.
Also pain that is chronic and long term which isn’t responding to medication can be factor. Along with poor breathing, routine vomiting and not being able to hold going to the toilet are signs of a decline.
When Your Pet is No Longer Getting Help From Medical Treatment
This is another key element to consider in making your decision on pet euthanasia at home. Often medical treatment is a great aid for pets in easing their pain and stress but sometimes it stops having an effect and is just carrying on suffering.
Putting your loved one through invasive and tiring treatments can put a real strain on your pet’s wellbeing and sometimes doesn’t have the effect which makes sense for the strain they are being put through for treatment.
Deciding on end of life care for your loved one isn’t about giving up on your pet, it’s about putting their comfort and happiness above all else.
The Factor of “Knowing” When Is Right From The Bond You Have With Your Pet
When pet owners are stuck with the turmoil of this decision often they describe that they have moments when they feel their loved one is “telling them” that it’s the right time to go. This doesn’t make the decision clear cut as it never is. Feelings of doubt and guilt are a strain on every pet owner at this time even when end of life care seems the most caring option.
You never want to say goodbye to your furry friend and you will always want more time but it is vital to ask yourself whether that added time is for your pet or for you.
When you have come to the decision and it feels right for you and your loved one you can choose pet euthanasia at home that helps you say goodbye in the way that is right for you. Your pet can part with you in the place they feel most at comfort and ease. Everyone they’ve felt love for in their life surrounding them during their final moments and showing them love and warmth.
Not only that but some pets are very anxious being uprooted and placed somewhere strange such as a vet clinic during their final moments. The sights and smells and sounds can be very unnerving for certain pets. With end of life care at home you get to avoid all of this unneeded stress at such a delicate time for them and you.
Being Prepared Can Be an Act of Love
Being finely tuned to your pet’s welfare is a true sign that you connect them on a deep level. So when you have seen warning signs that the end may be near you can take steps to have everything in place for your pet euthanasia at home. This ensures that there’s no rushed final hour for your loved one and you can have everyone nearby that your pet loves in their last moments.
It means you can place your pet’s comfort at the forefront and tend to their support. They also won’t become distressed at watching your tension if there is a rush and as you know your pet often knows when you’re stressed as they feel it too.
Your loved one gets to slip away in the most peaceful and warm way possible and won’t have to feel the distress of an emergency, rushed visit.
Trusting Your Judgement
Most of the time choosing pet euthanasia at home is a complex one on timing. You mostly can never have a perfect moment but you can make sure it’s the most caring one. So if you have been weighing up whether it is time to say goodbye to your furry friend it means you’re already finely tuned to them and can see a decline.
With this and putting your pet’s feelings and comfort at the forefront of all of your decisions you are repaying the love they have shown you throughout your time together. You can trust that whatever choices you make are the right ones if this is clear in your mind.
Pet euthanasia at home isn’t about ending a life. It’s about showing a life the care and dignity it deserves.