Terminally ILL Pets

Terminally Ill Companions

When your companion has been diagnosed with a serious or terminal illness, it can be very overwhelming. Unfortunately, many of our fur's will require a lot of our time as well as our patients which can be especially hard. As a pet parent, we know that their illness is likely to lead to death. Depending on their condition and treatment it could be days,weeks,months or years. 

The anticipation of losing your pet (whether it happens suddenly or over an extended period of time) will bring on many different emotions. you may experience intense feelings of guilt, denial, anxiety and ambivalence. In an effort to cope with your feelings of guilt and loss, you may deny the seriousness of your pet's condition and severity of your pet's illness, by feeling torn between not wanting to see your pet suffer and not wanting to lose him or her. 

Most of us find it very difficult to think about planning ahead for the death of our pets. We act as if merely thinking or talking about the pet's dying will somehow make it happen — or we act as if not thinking or talking about our pet's illness will somehow make it go away. Yet the reality is that none of us has the power to cause the death of another merely by thinking or talking about it — and illnesses aren't prevented or cured simply by choosing not to think about them. Because your pet has just been diagnosed with a terminal illness may not be reason enough to resort to euthanasia.

Deciding when and whether to euthanize your pet is probably one of the most difficult choices you'll ever have to make. If euthanasia is being considered for your pet, like most people you're probably wondering, "How will I know when it's time?" Here are some things to think about and take into consideration.

1. What is your pet's general health and attitude? (Is your pet still happy with a zest for life? Miserable? In pain? Terminally ill? Critically injured with no hope of recovery?)

2. What is the quality of your pet's life? (Is your pet still living with dignity?)

3. How much care does your pet require?

4. Can you afford the costs involved, in terms of time, money and emotional strain?

5. What is your pet's prognosis? (Will more tests, treatments or surgery make your pet any better? Are there any negative side-effects from such tests or treatments?)

6. How do you feel about euthanasia? (Do you consider it an act of compassion?)

7. Are there any signs from the pet that s/he is "ready to go"? (Some pets have a way of telling us these things.)

8. Sometimes people keep their pets alive in order to meet their own needs (to not feel guilty, to not let go) rather than to meet the needs of the pet. Hard as it may be, ask yourself if this could be going on with you.