Questions to Ask:
- Is your pet still eating and drinking?
- How about your pet’s potty habits? Is he or she soiling themselves?
- How is your pet’s mobility? Do they need assistance to stand and walk around?
- Is your pet in pain? Can it be managed with medication?
- Does your pet have an illness? If so, is the illness treatable or terminal?
- What are your limitations? Do you have the time or finances to care for an ill pet?
Your pet’s quality of life:
Should I euthanize my pet? When is it time? How will I know? Is it wrong to euthanize my pet?….
These are only a few of the questions you may be asking yourself when it comes to your aging or ailing furry family member. The decision to euthanize a pet comes with a lot of heartache and doubts, yet it is one of the biggest gifts we can give them. The ability to relieve suffering of a pet and provide a good, peaceful death in the pet’s home surrounded by family, is an act of compassion and love. One of the biggest concerns owners have is knowing when that time has come. At Twilight Meadows, we can help you to determine when that time may be based on a term veterinarians use called ‘Quality of Life’.
The quality of life scale link below are a useful tool in determining whether or not hospice care may be helpful, or if it may be time to consider euthanasia. If you would like to speak with a doctor, please fill out the contact form on the contact us page, or give us a call and we will get back to you as soon as possible to set up an appointment to speak with a veterinarian.
Your pet’s quality of life scale and daily diary calendar:
PDF file download
Use the key factors of quality of life to help assess your pet’s condition. Use the Daily Diary to keep track of your pet’s progress. Fill in the appropriate number for each category and then add the numbers from each category for that day. The maximum score is 12 and you can determine your own scale. You can even add categories that pertain to your pet’s particular situation. For example. ‘Respiratory Rate’ if your pet suffers from heart failure or lung cancer. You can give half or quarter points if appropriate.