WHEN SHOULD I PUT AN ILL PET "TO SLEEP"?
Almost every pet owner will be faced with this problem at some time or other.
Your best friend is ill, perhaps quite ill, and you are not sure if it is better
to end the suffering, or if they can continue and have a reasonable quality of life
for some time to come.
In a few cases, your veterinarian will be able to honestly
say that euthanasia is the best or only realistic option for your pet. That can ease
the burden somewhat. In most cases, however, your veterinarian can only provide you
with all the information on the illness, the options and costs of treatment and the
best estimates of the chances for success. Then you or your family are left to decide.
Sometimes,
the cost of the treatment, uncertainty of how successful treatment will be, the age
of the animal and other factors make the choice even the more difficult. There never
is any "easy way" or "simple formula" one can apply. Our emotional
attachment to our best friend clouds our logic anyway. Below, we have listed a few
simple lists/questions that my clients sometimes use to help their decisions. Perhaps
you can apply them to your pet's situation if needed.
THE "ALL SYSTEMS GO LIST"
My pet eats well, at least 3-4 days a week.
My pet drinks water and is urinating.
My
pet is having normal bowel movements, at least a few times a week.
My pet is able
to rise and move about on their own.
If you answer yes to ALL the questions
then it probably is not time yet.
THE EXPENSE VS REWARD METHOD
(WORKS
WELL WHEN DEBATING TREATMENT VS EUTHANASIA)
IS THERE A BETTER THAN 50% ESTIMATE THAT MY PET WILL RECOVER?
THE COST OF
THE INITIAL TREATMENT IS WITHIN MY BUDGET.
THE COST OF THE MONTHLY TREATMENT IS
WITHIN MY BUDGET.
THE TIME MY PET MAY LIVE AFTER TREATMENT STARTS SEEMS REASONABLE
TO ME AND MAKES SENSE FOR THE COST OF TREATMENT.
If you answer yes to ALL
the above then it probably is not time yet.
THE QUALITY OF LIFE TEST
(also
known as The Really Subjective Gut-Feeling Test)
On a scale of one to ten. Zero being dead or darn close to it, and Ten being
as full of life as a 6 month old puppy, where does your pet's quality of life fall?
Answer
quickly and then click here to compare your answer
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©2007 James W. Day D.V.M., P.C.