Discuss the reasons for weight loss with your veterinarian. If there is a treatment that can reverse the weight loss and improve the dog’s quality of life, then it is a good idea to try it. However, if the weight loss is due to a condition that cannot be treated, then this may point you towards euthanasia. Mobility issues in dogs can be caused by a wide variety of issues. If you know what is causing the issues then you should try to treat them. If you have tried to improve your dog’s mobility to no avail, then euthanasia may be the compassionate route to take.
If you are having a hard time assessing whether your dog is happy or not, try making a list of the things it has loved to do over the course of its life. If it is no longer able to do any of these things, then it may be time to consider euthanasia.
Clearly, you should be discussing your dog’s inability to eat or drink with its veterinarian. If the dog can have reasonable treatment that will help it to eat and drink again then you should try that. If not, it may be time to put you dog to sleep.
An accident in the house once in awhile is not the issue. Instead, if your dog no longer even tries to get outside to go to the bathroom or looks caught off guard when going to the bathroom, then it no longer has control of its bodily functions. If your dog no longer has bladder or bowel control that is a sign that its body functions are shutting down.
Assessing whether your dog is in pain can be difficult. Is it trembling or shaking a lot? Does it react poorly to your touch? Does it whimper or whine? Does it seem uncomfortable or agitated?These can all be signs that your dog is in pain. If a dog is constantly on pain medications that limit its ability to enjoy its life, then this may also be a good sign that you should consider euthanasia. It may be more humane to eliminate the dog’s suffering than to keep it in drug-induced limbo.
A certified dog behaviorist can help you determine whether your dog’s issues can be trained out of it. They can recommend treatment or training to help. Make sure there are no medical causes for the behavior. If your dog is acting out it could be due to illness. Have it assessed by a veterinarian to rule out a medical condition that could be cured. Get professional dog training. Seek out a professional that is experienced dealing with dogs that have the behavioral problems that your dog has. Try to rehome the dog. If you find that you cannot deal with the dog’s behavior you should try to find it a new home with an experienced dog owner who is willing to work with its specific behavioral issues.
Ask your veterinarian any questions you have, such as what the process will entail and what makes them sure that euthanasia is the right choice. If the veterinarian does not believe that there is a reasonable treatment that could help the pet then they will suggest euthanasia as a compassionate and caring option. Ask questions such as “Will I be allowed in the room with Rufus?” “Will he feel pain?” “How long will the process take?” A good vet will take the time to explain the process to you.
In some cases you will not have very much time to debate your options. If your dog is in an emergency situation you may be required to make the decision quickly.
Small children in your family should be told that the pet will be gone soon. How you do this is up to you but it should take the children’s feelings about the pet into consideration. You can try saying, “Sam hasn’t been feeling well for a while. We don’t want him to be in pain, so the vet is going to give him medicine that will ease his pain. Sam will die, but that is what is best for him. “[7] X Research source
Quality time with a pet that is ill could just mean quiet times together. Pet your dog softly and keep it nice and warm. Feed it food it loves and pamper it in any way that you can.
In some cases, if your dog is brought in to a veterinary office with acute emergency symptoms, you will not be able to make the decision to euthanize and then come back to do it. In cases where your dog is in severe pain and distress and you have brought it in to a veterinary office for care, it may be best to euthanize the dog quickly to avoid extending its pain and suffering.
Euthanasia is usually a reasonably priced procedure. If you cannot pay for the procedure, however, discuss your financial issues with the veterinary office and they may allow you to pay over time or they may refer you elsewhere for the procedure.
Before you make a decision, discuss how the procedure will proceed with the veterinarian. In most cases euthanasia is done with an injection of a barbiturate anesthetic that puts the animal to sleep peacefully and then stops its heart. Occasionally, the vet will give an anxious or nervous dog an anti-anxiety medication to help soothe them. If you do decide to be present, spend the time loving on your dog. Pet it and care for it as it goes through the transition of death.
