Having experienced euthanasia for an expected death of an aging dog, I realize the public has no idea what animal euthanasia really is or what it should be about. So whether you have a cocky attitude about euthanasia and think it’s great and can’t wait for the medical system to legalize it for humans world-wide, or whether you feel that euthanasia is a nasty term for killing one’s beloved dog, I guarantee what I have spent months contemplating, reflecting and preparing will make you really think about this process.
Evaluating Your Senior Dog’s Quality of Life
Indicators of Loss of Quality of Life That We Were Told To Evaluate
- Not eating or drinking
- Cannot walk at all
- Bowel and bladder incontinence are too overwhelming for the owner
- The owner not enjoying the dog anymore (when caring about and for the dog becomes too demanding on the owner, it may sound heartless at first, but over time you come to realize it’s not fair to the dog)
- Has a close call indicating his worsening senility is progressing and becoming dangerous and aggressive to the family (Dr P was careful to mention anything that appeared to be a close call was valid, not to wait until he actually became aggressive).
The Advise Our Veterinarian Had For Us
We were told that any one of these five criteria was reason to euthanize Titan, and in the meantime we could take him home. I was so sure that we weren’t going to take Titan home that day in February that, at the time I was secretly begging for more time, another second, another moment…. It was never long enough.