When do you know it's time to say goodbye?

LAST UPDATED 12 JULY 2022

This article is written by Pet Circle veterinarian, Dr Nicole du Plessis BVSc (Hons) AND Dr Josepha Cox DVM

Our pets enrich our lives and bring us so much happiness. For most of us they aren't just a pet, but a beloved member of the family. It is a hard reality to be faced with that our pets do not live as long as we do. As they grow older, their health may start to decline and you may start to think about end of life care. This may have involved humane euthanasia, if a pet's quality of life has deteriorated significantly. Euthanasia is often considered for pets to minimise pain and suffering, but it can be a daunting and difficult decision. So how do you know when it is time to say goodbye?

The word euthanasia comes from the Greek words Eu, which means good and thanatos, which means death. So putting this together euthanasia translates to good death. In 2001 the Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching defined euthanasia as "the process of inducing a painless death".

How do I know when it's time?

Quality of life is important for our pets. Every pet and pet owner's situation is unique and what is considered a diminished quality of life can vary between households. The Quality of Life Scale (HHHHMM) was developed by Dr. Alice Villalobos as a helpful tool to assess how your pet is coping at home. The scale looks at quality of life indicators like pain, hunger and appetite, hydration, toileting and hygiene, overall happiness, mobility and if they are having overall more good days than bad days.

Questions to ask at home

When you feel you are ready, there are questions that you may want to ask yourself or your family:

  • Is our pet still acting normally?
  • Is our pet eating, or eating enough to be comfortable?
  • Does our pet still want to play or partake in the activities they enjoyed as a younger animal?
  • Can our pet still go to the toilet without help or are they wetting or soiling themselves and need assistance?
  • Can our pet groom themselves without pain or difficulty?
  • Can our pet move around comfortably and without significant pain?
  • Does our pet still have more good days than bad days?
  • Has our pet's demeanour significantly changed?


Additional questions to ask yourself or your family:

  • - Do I believe in euthanasia?
  • - Would we consider euthanasia if my veterinarian and/or veterinary team recommended it?
  • - Has palliative care options been discussed or not an option for our pet?
  • - Are there financial limitations making treatment not a viable option?


These are all important points to consider, as is the time and cost involved in veterinary or home care that needs to be provided.

Speak to your veterinarian

As the pet owner, it is ultimately your decision about euthanasia. It can be an extremely difficult personal and emotional decision, but one you do not need to make alone.

Enlisting the help of your vet is important as they can help you explore options before making a final decision. Depending on your pet's condition, there may be the option of pain relief or other medications or treatments that can help to maintain their quality of life. However, for those with serious illness and when pain and distress go beyond manageable levels it may be time to consider euthanasia.

What to expect at the appointment

Euthanasia is performed by a vet and can occur in the vet clinic or in your home. Many people prefer home euthanasias as this is where their pet feels most comfortable and it also eliminates any stress caused by travel or being in the vet clinic.

Before the euthanasia you should consider whether you would like to be present for the procedure or whether you would like any other family or friends to be present. It's especially important to discuss with any children who may be involved as they will likely need some extra time to come to terms with what's happening. This decision is deeply personal and should you decide not to stay, your pet will still be treated with the utmost respect and care.

Before commencing the euthanasia often your pet will be given a sedative. This sedative typically contains a mix of calming and pain relief medication to ensure your pet is feeling comfortable.

Next, the vet will usually shave a small patch of fur from one of the pet's legs to help them locate a vein. A small cannula is inserted and this is where the euthanasia solution is injected. When you’re ready the vet will then inject the euthanasia solution and this will quickly lead to relaxation and unconsciousness. The pet's breathing will slow and over the next few seconds the breathing and heartbeat will stop leading to a painless death. Death usually occurs in less than a minute from the time of the euthanasia injection.

Once the injection is given the vet will usually listen to the pet's chest and confirm they have passed. Often they will then leave the room to give the family a few moments of privacy.

What happens afterwards?

Vet staff understand this is an emotional time so you’re welcome to spend as much time with your pet as you need. Before leaving you'll likely need to make some arrangements for your pets' remains.

The main options include:

  • 1. Home burial - this is where you take your pet home with you and bury them in a special or favourite garden spot at home.
  • 2. Individual cremation - your pet is cremated and returned to you so you can either scatter their ashes or keep them in a specially chosen urn or piece of memorabilia. Your vet will have a brochure of options of receptacles to choose from.
  • 3. Group burial or cremation - your pet's remains will be collected by a professional pet memorial service and either buried or scattered alongside other pets on their dedicated property.

Grieving the loss of your pet

It's normal to experience grief after losing a pet and everyone's journey with grief will be different. Some people may choose to memorialise their pet by planting a tree or donating to a pet charity whereas others may choose to write about it. However you go about grieving remember you are not alone and there is plenty of support out there if you need it. Your local vet team understands what you are going through and there are also dedicated counsellors who specialise with pet loss and grief support.

Griefline: 1300 845 745

Pets and People Counselling Hotline: 1300 431 450

Beyond Blue Call Hotline: 1300 224 636

Further Reading

Want to read more? Check out our other articles:

Hemp and cannabis oil for your pets

Arthritis care in dogs

Looking after your senior cat

Caring for a blind dog


Sources

  • ANZCCART (Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching) (2001). Euthanasia of Animals Used for Scientific Purposes, 2nd edition, Riley JS (ed), ANZCCART, Adelaide.
  • Euthanasia (ava.com.au)
  • A look at pet euthanasia (Vet Voice)
  • Euthanasia: What to expec and what questions to ask first (Cornell University)
  • What to Expect When Your Pet Is Put Down (thesprucepets.com)
  • How Do I Know When (osu.edu)
  • How do you know it is time to say goodbye? (Pets and People)

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