All owners want their pets to have the best quality of life possible; we want them to be happy, healthy and comfortable. If you are caring for an old, severely ill or terminally ill pet you may be worrying about whether their quality of life has declined and if the time has come to say goodbye. Making the decision to have a beloved pet put to sleep is not an easy one; it can be hard to know when the ‘right time’ is. One way to help make the decision is to look at your pet’s overall quality of life, including their physical and mental wellbeing.
How do we define quality of life?
Quality of life is not just one aspect, there are several things that should be considered. It can be easier to break things down into categories like the ones below before looking at your pet’s wellbeing as a whole.
Pain
Is your pet in pain? Have you noticed signs of pain such as whining, crying or more irritability than usual? Are they still grooming themselves, or has their coat started to lose its sheen or get matted? Animals are very good at hiding signs of pain so you may need to look closely at their behaviours as well; are they hiding away more, or less interested in food or exercise? Alternatively, have they always been more aloof and have suddenly become more affectionate? Although it seems counterintuitive, this can be a way for them to tell us something is wrong. We recommend speaking to your vet about pain relief medication if you haven’t already. If your pet is on medication, do you think this is doing enough to relieve them? Is giving them their daily medication causing undue stress for both you and your pet?
Mobility
Older and sick pets are not going to be bounding around like they used to, and we certainly can’t expect them to. Consider how much assistance they need from you – do they need help to get up or walk around? Are they able to take a small gentle walk? Do they tend to stay in the same spot all day because they can’t or don’t want to move? Are they avoiding activities they have always loved because they can no longer physically manage them?
Eating and drinking
Has you pet lost interest in food completely or are they eating and drinking half as much as usual? Are they suffering with regular diarrhoea or vomiting? Are they even turning down a favourite treat or meal? Inappetence and gastrointestinal upset can be a symptoms of several illnesses so it’s important to get your pet checked over by a vet if this is a new symptom or they are otherwise well, especially if it is combined with significant changes in weight. In some cases, your pet may be eating more but losing weight – this is also something to bring to the attention of your vet.
Toileting
Is your pet not able to hold their faeces or urine until they make it to the litter tray or garden? Are they having accidents whilst resting or are unable to control their bladder or bowels at all? There are some adaptations that can be made to make access to toileting areas easier, but if even this is not helping, this may be a sign that their quality of life is suffering as a result.
Hygiene
Our pets like to be clean, especially cats, and it’s an important factor in keeping them healthy. Poor hygiene can lead to secondary illnesses such as infection, inflammation and parasites. Is your pet able to keep themselves as clean as usual? Can they keep their private parts clean? Are they getting matted as a result of not being able to groom themselves? Has their coat lost its usual glossiness? A reduction in grooming themselves is often a sign of pain or mobility problems.
Behaviour
Does your pet seem unhappy, confused or restless? Are they resting and sleeping peacefully (though not all day) without interruption from pain, anxiety or physical illness? Have they become less social, no longer meeting you at the door or hiding away from family members or other household pets? Have they started following you around all day and getting upset if you leave them? Are they grumbling if you try to handle them, pick them up or stroke them, when they didn’t mind this before?
You and your family
It’s important to factor in how you are coping as well – mentally, physically and financially. Are you constantly worried about your pet and feeling overwhelmed? Are you able to lift them up and carry them when they can’t walk? Can you financially cover the cost of their needs going forward? Is it difficult to find someone to care for them when you are at work or away? It may seem selfish to think of yourself when making this decision, but remember, this is just one part of judging if the time is right to say goodbye and shouldn’t be ignored.
Making the assessment
When assessing your pet’s quality of life, consider if they are having more bad days than good. All of the aspects we mention above come together to form an overall picture of their quality of life. You may find it easier to keep a diary each day of how you think they have been doing in each of the aspects above and use this to reflect on. There are also some useful quality of life scales available; we like this one from Journeys Home vet practice in the USA. This can give you a basic starting point if you are struggling with how to assess your pet and make the decision for them.
You can also ask your vet for advice, they can give you a clear picture of the clinical aspects of your pet’s care and a realistic idea of what to expect. It may be beneficial to speak to friends and family who may be able to give you an objective view in helping make the decision.
If you aren’t sure about how the euthanasia process works, please call us on 01435 864422 or visit our website for more details. If you are struggling to cope with the loss of a pet, please speak to the Blue Cross Pet Loss Support team who can offer guidance, advice and counselling.
Call us on 01435 864422 if you have any questions about your pet’s health.
