Deciding when is the right time to say goodbye
Our pets can bring incredible joy and fulfilment into our lives, which can make the choice almost impossible when it comes to end of life decisions. We want to spend as much time with our furry friends as possible, but we also don’t want to prolong suffering when their time comes. There is often a large amount of guilt involved in making the decision, as it can feel like we are letting our pets down or taking away their choice. It can be a fine line between having a little more time with them and prolonging pain and discomfort in our beloved furry friends.
How do I know when I should have my pet euthanised?
It is important to remember that it is always a difficult choice, even when it is the right time. One of the tools we have to help us in our decision-making process is quality of life assessments. By assessing several aspects of their lives it allows us to calculate a quality of life score. This can be used to track progress or deterioration over time, and can be useful to know if euthanasia should be considered.
What is a quality of life assessment and when should I use it?
A quality of life assessment is usually a list of categories that you score based on your pet’s behaviours. A commonly used quality of life scale is the HHHHHMM scale. A score from 1-10 is given to the following categories: hurt, hunger, hydration, hygiene, happiness, mobility and more good days than bad. A score of 1 is given if the pet is doing poorly in that category, and 10 is when your pet is doing extremely well. A score of under 35 points indicates a concerningly low quality of life. Any sudden decrease in the score is also worrying, even if it does not go below 35 points. In senior pets it is advised to do the assessment once every few months to assist you in noticing any deterioration early and hopefully seek medical intervention.
My pet has a low score, does that mean I have to put them to sleep?
It is important to note that a quality of life assessment is a tool to be used to help in decision making, and a poor score may not necessarily mean euthanasia is the only option. If your pet has a low quality of life score, there may be interventions available to improve it. It may be an indication that it is time for a veterinary checkup and possibly some chronic medications. In older pets, for example, management of chronic pain due to osteoarthritis can drastically improve their quality of life. These quality of life scores can also be used to track improvements in pets starting on chronic medications.
I did the assessment, but I am just as confused as I was before! What now?
If you struggle with completing or interpreting your pet’s quality of life assessment, it may be time to schedule a checkup with your veterinarian. They will be better equipped to advise you on your options. However, remember that while your veterinary team can help make sense of the symptoms and scores, they will not be able to make the decision on your behalf. Ultimately, the choice is yours in when it is time to say your final goodbye to your four-legged companion.
I know it is time, but I just cannot bring myself to bring my pet in to be euthanised.
If you are struggling with this heart-breaking decision, please do not feel alone. The sadness and grief we feel at the end of a pet’s life is often enormous and it is valid to feel overwhelmed. However, please remember that if you wait too long, you may experience the death of a pet at home. In many cases, this can be a more drawn out and deeply traumatising experience. If you are struggling, do not hesitate to reach out to your human medical professional or grief councillor to help you throughout this process.