Daunting decision: How to know when it's time to consider putting a pet down

Veterinarians recommend keeping journals to track quality of life

source: gettyimages

Among some of the most difficult decisions needed to be made in life, very few can compare to the pain of deciding when to put an animal down for their final rest.

According to CNN, domestic cats can live up until 20 (human) years of age, and there are many cases where cats have lived beyond that. Dogs, on the other hand, can generally live up to 15 years, though some survive longer.

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During the life of a beloved pet, there usually comes a time when the decision must be made by the owner whether the pet should continue living, or if their quality of life is so diminished, it’s best to consider euthanasia.

Veterinarians often use a certain method to determine when the time is right to end the life of a pet. The idea is to create a list of things your pet previously loved to do, and mark off which tasks they are no longer able to do.

Veterinarian Elizabeth Benson, DVM, who works with Paws with Grace, a company that specializes in unique pet hospice care, says she usually looks at a list of five things a pet once loved to do and makes a calculated decision based off how many of those things the pet can still enjoy.

“When you find that three of these things aren’t there anymore, that makes it helpful for pet owners to gain a direction,” Benson said.

Benson also encourages pet owners to keep a journal of their pet’s daily activities to monitor their progress or deterioration.

“Pet owners may not see a pattern over time, but the journal can reveal if their pets are having more bad days than good days recently,” Benson said. “Owners will be able to notice a patter that their pets overall may be deteriorating.”

There may also be instances when euthanasia is encouraged by veterinarians when a pet is going through a critical medical situation which could turn dire at any moment.

“If there is a disease that may present in an emergency, for instance, if they have tumors in their lungs, spleen, or liver, those tumors can rupture at any time and become a crisis,” Benson said, adding that when those diagnosis are given, she typically encourages the pet owner to begin considering whether euthanasia is the best option. 

Local 4 viewer Kathy from Belleville asked a question about her cat and if now is a good time to consider life-ending options:

“I would like to know - when is it time to put your fur baby to sleep? We love her and can't seem to make a decision. She is 17 years old. She's starting to go blind.  Just lately, she is going to the bathroom all over the house, but is that enough of a reason? She walks around in circles but when she lays down she does sleep. We just don't know what to do.”

Benson offered her advice: “I think it's always helpful to get a diagnosis first. If we have a diagnosis, veterinarians can advise them as far as prognosis.”

Benson said veterinarians can usually determine if the ailments the pet is experiencing can be treated and managed well, or if the condition is pointing to something more terminal down the road.

“So that’s where an exam is encouraged,” she said.

Animal experts around the country often use a popular chart created by Dr. Alice Villalobos to determine if the animal is living a quality life, or if end-of-life measures should be considered.

You can view the chart below: