Talking to Your Kids About Pet Euthanasia

Choosing to end the life of a suffering pet is a difficult experience on it’s own. When there are children in the home that have formed a close bond with the animal, it can make the process much more difficult. Knowing the right things to say to kids about pet euthanasia can be tricky. As a general rule, it’s best to be clear and honest about the whole experience. Providing children with too much or not enough information leads to confusion and can ultimately make the process much more difficult. Here are some answers to key questions you might get from your kids about pet euthanasia:Why Can’t We Save Our Pet? Explain to your child that you’ve done everything you can to save his or her pet, but that the disease or injury is very powerful and will not go away. The important parts of the pet’s body are no longer working and he or she is in a great deal of pain. The euthanasia procedure will make this pain go away.Will Euthanasia Hurt My Pet?Explain to your child that their pet is suffering but that you can end his or her pain through a gentle euthanasia procedure that a veterinarian will perform. Explain that the vet is an expert and knows the right steps to take to ensure pets don’t feel too much pain. Though it’s a very difficult decision, we make the choice to euthanize our pets out of love so they don’t have to suffer any longer.Will My Dog Be Afraid?Tell your child that you will do everything you can to make sure the dog/cat are not afraid. He/she will be surrounded by the people he/she loves the most, and when it’s the right time, the vet will give a drug that will make him/her drift off to sleep and he or she won’t wake up again.Talking to children about pet euthanasia needs to be handled delicately, but an honest approach will relieve your child of some of the confusion he or she may be experiencing. At Gentle Journey of Scottsdale, we specialize in compassionate at-home euthanasia services and can help answer any questions you have about talking to your kids. Give us a call at 602-332-7757 or visit us online to learn more about our services. 

Dispelling Common Myths About Pet Euthanasia

The choice to euthanize an animal who is in extreme pain and discomfort is a compassionate choice when there are no other palliative options. Most people have mixed emotions about pet euthanasia, and with good reason. It’s not a decision to be taken lightly and should only be considered as a last resort. That said, there are some common myths associated with pet euthanasia that need to be dispelled:Myth #1: Euthanasia is SelfishSome people fear that deciding to euthanize is a selfish decision that demonstrates a lack of willingness to care for an ailing pet. They feel as though it’s the easy way out and that going to great lengths to care for an ailing pet is the selfless choice. Though euthanasia should only be considered as a last resort, when the time is right it’s the most selfless choice a person can make for their pet. Prolonging the agony of a suffering pet to postpone one’s own suffering is a far more selfish choice.Myth #2: My Pet Will Tell Me When It’s TimeIt’s a common myth that pets will provide some sort of sign that they are ready to die. While the sentiment is heartwarming, most often this isn’t the case. Waiting for a pet to provide some sort of “signal” that it’s their time to go needlessly prolongs their pain and suffering.Myth #3: Pet Loss is Insignificant Compared to Human LossThe grief a person experiences, whether due to the loss of a pet or a human, isn’t something anyone has the right to judge. In many cases, the loss a pet is more devastating than a human loss. People grieving the death of a pet should be afforded the same respect and comfort as anyone else.Myth #4: It’s Best to Protect Children from What HappenedThe old story about the family dog being taken to the farm to live out the rest of his years is really more about sparing parents the uncomfortable discussion than it is about sparing the child’s pain. If a child is close to an animal, he or she is going to experience pain when it’s not longer there. Not knowing what happened to the animal can only exacerbate this. When parents are honest with children and offer them the opportunity to say goodbye to a beloved pet, it gives the child closure and a healthier association with the topic of death.Myth #5: Pets Don’t Mourn the Loss of Other Pets When animals share close quarters they often form close bonds. Even an animal that wasn’t demonstrably close to a deceased animal can show signs of mourning. When losing a fellow pet, many animals will experience loss of appetite, depression and may search the house to find the missing pet. Remember to provide extra love and attention to surviving pets as they navigate this difficult time.Ending the life of a pet is not a decision anyone should take likely. When confronted with this most unthinkable choice, many people are clouded by these common myths. In the best interest of your pet, it’s important to get the facts straight about pet euthanasia.

Dealing with Guilt After Pet Euthanasia

Guilt is an emotion felt all-too-often by pet lovers who ultimately decide that euthanasia is the right course of action for a suffering pet. It’s an emotional response that occurs when a person feels they’ve violated some sort of moral or ethical code. Pet lovers are often overcome with the feeling that they’ve betrayed a beloved friend with the decision to end his or her life. It can accompany feelings of horror, helplessness and even anger.Choosing to end the life of a suffering pet is a traumatic decision. Even when made with the most compassionate of intentions, it’s quite natural to feel a certain degree of guilt. These feelings are a testament to the degree of love and devotion we felt towards our pet. On some level, it can even be beneficial as it is a normal part of the grieving process. When we continue to beat ourselves up over hypotheticals and “what-ifs”, it becomes problematic.Ultimately, we cannot change the past. We do ourselves and those close to us a disservice by harboring prolonged guilt. It’s important to remind ourselves that everything we did for our pets we did out of love. If feelings of guilt continue to overwhelm you, here are some suggestions to help cope:

• Talk through your feelings with someone you trust. Verbalising your emotions can often often lift a huge emotional weight.
• When you start replaying events in your mind, remind yourself that you did what was best for your beloved pet.
• Think about all the great things you gave your animal. The home you provided, the love you shared, and the care that you gave.
• Consult your veterinarian if you have any lingering doubts about your pet’s condition.
• Seek out a support group, grief counselor or call a pet loss hotline for support.

The capacity for love is tremendous in those who’ve shared a deep connection with an animal. While this ability to love can sometimes contribute to the sense of guilt we can feel when we aren’t able to make everything better, it should be treated as a gift. Harboring guilt inhibits one’s ability to spread that love to others. That’s the last thing your beloved friend would have wanted.

What to Do Before Euthanizing a Pet

Deciding to euthanize a pet is a heartbreaking choice. In the worst cases, a pet may be involved in an accident or experience a medical condition which causes a great deal of pain, necessitating a quick decision to euthanize. In the case of aging pets or those with debilitating conditions, you have a bit more time to prepare. While nothing associated with this painful choice could be considered a blessing, having time to prepare can make the process more peaceful. Here are some things to consider before the day comes:Create MementosConsider how you want to remember your pet before he or she exits this world. The moments leading up the the procedure will be your last opportunity to take pictures, videos or record that special bark or meow. Some pet lovers like to take an ink stamp of a beloved pet’s paw or make a clay imprint. Think about what would be special and meaningful to you so you have something to remember your friend by.Prepare Your Kids:If you have children, it’s important to explain to them what is going to happen and what that means. For many kids, the loss of a pet is the first encounter they will ever have with death. Handling the situation with grace and delicacy is important to ensure your kids learn the skills necessary to deal with this inevitable fact of life.Prepare YourselfWhile you may be busy taking care of other people, make sure you take care of yourself. If you’ve created a special-bond with a beloved pet, you’re likely to experience immense grief after their passing. Prepare yourself for what comes after the procedure is over. That may involve taking a day off work or making plans to go somewhere or do something that will help you deal with your own grief.Plan GoodbyesInvite friends, family and loved ones to come say their goodbyes. This can be planned for before the procedure or you can have them there with you if you opt for in-home euthanasia. This will allow others who loved your pet a chance to say goodbye and will give your pet added love and attention.Euthanizing a pet will never be an easy decision, but if you’re fortunate enough to have time to prepare you can say your goodbyes on your own terms. If you decide an in-home procedure is right for you, Gentle Journey can help you prepare. Please give us a call 602-332-7757 at or visit us online for more information.

Top 3 Reasons to Choose In-Home Pet Euthanasia

The decision to end the suffering of a beloved pet is gut-wrenching. Pet lovers often go through of roller-coaster of emotions when wrestling with this difficult choice, making it all the more difficult to choose the best option. Though we wish that our beloved animals could pass on naturally from this world in a peaceful state of sleep, this often isn’t the case. Traditionally, the only option to relieve an animal’s pain and suffering was to bring them to the vet’s office to be euthanized. These days, at-home euthanasia is becoming more and more popular and many pet lovers are electing to say goodbye in the comfort of their own homes.Here are the Top 3 Reasons to Choose In-Home Euthanasia:In-Home Euthanasia Provides Comfort to Your Pet:Think of the scariest, most-stress inducing place possible. For many animals, that place is the vet’s office. It’s filled with strange sounds and smells, unfamiliar faces and unpleasant memories. The car ride alone is enough to trigger an extreme stress response in many pets. With at-home euthanasia services, you can save your pet the added stress during their final moments. In-Home Euthanasia Provides Comfort to You and Your Family:Saying goodbye to a pet is a very emotional experience. It’s normal to cry and show physical signs of grief when a beloved pet passes on. Doing so in a clinical environment in front of complete strangers is, at best, uncomfortable for most people. On top of that, having to drive home afterwards in an emotional state can be dangerous. With in-home services, this can all be avoided. You are free to create a loving environment of your choosing for your pet’s final moments. In-Home Euthanasia Provides Peace of Mind:Though most professional veterinarians are fully-qualified to perform euthanasia services, with in-home pet euthanasia you can work with a service that specializes in end-of-life care. Choosing to end the life of a suffering pet is different than any other medical decision you will make for your pet. Working with a professional that specializes in this compassionate service can help provide the best possible experience.If you find yourself facing this extremely difficult decision, consider at-home euthanasia for your pet. Nothing in the world can make make saying goodbye easy, but at-home services can make the experience more peaceful and dignified for both your and your pet.

Pros and Cons of Being Present During My Pet’s Euthanasia

So you’ve made the difficult decision of putting your dog or cat to sleep. Euthanasia is a compassionate choice that prevents needless suffering and preserves your pet’s dignity. While coming to terms with the decision to euthanize your pet, you may ask yourself “Should I be present?”Deciding whether or not to be present is a highly personal choice as each human-animal bond is unique. There is no right answer, there is only a right answer for you and your pet. Two equally loving pet parents could reasonably disagree on this point. That said, it’s helpful to think through all of the pros and cons of being present for pet euthanasia to make the best possible decision for yourself.Pros:

• You Can Provide Comfort to Your Pet During this Trying Experience
• Peace of Mind in Knowing Your Pet Didn’t Suffer Needlessly During the Procedure
• Being Present May Provide Closure
• Electing Not to Be Present May Result in Feelings of Guilt or Regret

Cons:

• It Can Be Painful to Witness the Final Moments of Your Pet’s Life
• Your Emotional Response Could Create Additional Stress
• The Idea of Euthanasia Being Your Last Moments with Your Beloved Pet May Be Too Much to Bear

This list just scratches the surface. Nobody can tell you what the right decision is for you and your pet. If you are wrestling with this difficult decision, we can help. We’ve counseled many people in this situation throughout the Phoenix Valley. We understand this decision is personal and would never judge your choice no matter what you decide. Give Gentle Journey a call at 602-332-7757 or visit our website to learn more about what we do.

Assessing Your Pet’s Quality of Life

As devoted pet guardians, we develop strong bonds with our animals and can become quite adept at noticing even the slightest changes in their behavior. Though the aging process can certainly take its toll, a marked decrease in the energy level of your cat or dog doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t still have enjoyable years left. At the same time, animals experiencing great pain won’t always make a demonstrable show of their condition.It can be difficult to assess quality of life in sick, injured and aging animals. It’s important to know what to look for, especially if you’re considering euthanasia. Have a veterinary professional assess their overall health and well-being. After that, the determination is largely based on your own intuition and personal understanding of your beloved pet. Closely monitoring these key behaviors can aid your assessment:Eating and Drinking:If your pet is avoiding his/food and water dish, it could be a sign that quality of life is suffering. Monitor their consumption habits closely, as malnutrition can develop quickly when an animal no longer feels compelled to eat.Mobility: Mobility is degenerative in all living things and is to be expected as an animal ages. However, if a lack of mobility is prohibiting your pet from performing basic life activities (e.g. relieving themselves), it could be a strong indicator of low quality of life.Demeanor: Is your pet excited to see you? Do they interact with the world around them? Animals that are in pain will often show a lack of interest in things that once caused happiness.Good vs. Bad Days:Vomiting, nausea, diarrhea and general frustration are all signs of a bad day. When these start to outnumber the good, it could indicate poor quality of life.Accurately assessing your pet’s quality of life is key in deciding how to care for an ailing pet. If you ultimately decide that ending your pet’s suffering is the most compassionate choice, in-home euthanasia is a very humane option. For a free consultation, give Gentle Journey a call at 602-332-7757 and we’ll walk you through the processs. If you’d like to learn more, please visit us online:

Client Memories: Dawn & Susie

Saturday, May 9th was supposed to be a glorious day for Dawn O’Bar and her partner, Susie. Friends and family had traveled to Arizona to celebrate their lifelong commitment to each other in marriage. Unfortunately, Dawn’s dog, Minnie, wasn’t in a particularly festive mood. Her bad days had begun to outnumber the good and today was no exception. After much deliberation, Dawn and Susie decided they wanted Minnie present, as she had been such an important part of their lives.The wedding ceremony went off without a hitch, but the following day Dawn and Susie knew they had an important decision to make. The newlyweds discussed Minnie’s quality of life and with a heavy heart came to the conclusion that “it’s time.”Minnie was the third of three dogs Dawn and Susie would have to put to sleep over the course of six months. For their other two dogs, they had the euthanasia procedure done in the “tense environment” of a veterinarian’s office. Dawn explained “That’s not my dog’s home. That’s not my home, then you have to drive your weeping self home after the situation.”When it came time to say goodbye to Minnie, they wanted to create a more comforting environment, so they turned to Gentle Journey:

“(Gentle Journey) was so kind and compassionate, what a difference. For a sad situation, they made it very comfortable. I won't be going back to a vet's office.”

Saying goodbye to a beloved pet is never an easy thing to do, but for Dawn and Susie, being able to do so in the comfort of their own home provided them a sense of peace and serenity. If you’ve decided to make the compassionate choice to end the suffering of your companion, and in-home procedure can provide great comfort to you and your pet. To learn more, give Gentle Journey a call at 602-332-7757 or visit us online:

Pet Euthanasia: Coping With Guilt

People experience a whole gamut of emotions when faced with the decision to euthanize a pet. There are feelings of sadness when considering a life lacking the companionship, happiness and love that our pets bring to our lives. There is the sense of compassion associated with choosing to end the senseless pain and suffering of a sick or injured animal. Then there is guilt. This is, perhaps, the most difficult emotion a pet guardian may face when deciding to euthanize.Guilt is an emotion people experience because they feel they’ve done something which conflicts with their moral character. It can manifest itself before the euthanasia procedure is even administered; this is known as anticipatory guilt. Pet guardians experience guilt for a variety of reasons. Some worry they didn’t do enough to save their pet. Others agonize over the timing, wondering whether they’ve made the decision too soon or too late. Still others lament the decision to end a life, in itself.If you’re experiencing guilt over your decision to euthanize, it’s important to remember that you are not alone. It’s a natural reaction and is a testament to the love and devotion you feel toward your pet. Try not to focus on what you can’t change. Instead, focus on what you can do to make your pet’s remaining days as peaceful as possible. With Gentle Journey, you can give your pet the gift of compassion by allowing his/her final moments to be spent in the warmth and comfort of your home. To learn more about our services, give us a call at 602-332-7757 or visit us online: http://doctorchristina.com/

Should Other Animals Be Present During Pet Euthanasia?

Letting go of an ailing pet is a gut-wrenching choice many pet owners are forced to make when caring for an animal whose bad days far outnumber the good. Being present with your pet during this bewildering procedure is an intimate experience that honors the bond you’ve built with your beloved companion. A final embrace and loving farewell can be a positive moment that aids the grieving process.If you have other pets in the home who are closely bonded with your ailing friend, you may be wondering if they should be afforded the same opportunity to bid a heartfelt goodbye. Allowing other pets to witness the procedure can provide them with a sense of closure, reducing the chances they’ll be waiting for the departed pet to return. In many cases, your healthy cat or dog may want to stay close-by in support of a dying pet until he or she passes on.Not all animals will want to be present during the procedure and that’s okay. If this is the case, it’s generally advisable to abide their wishes and let them deal with the loss in their own, personal way. Additionally, it may be impractical to have other animals present at the time of the procedure if they are disruptive to the process. If this is the case, allowing them to say goodbye after the animal has passed can help them to understand what has taken place.Providing pets the opportunity to say goodbye is therapeutic and can help your healthy pet move on after the passing. This wasn’t always the case, as the procedure was generally performed in a veterinarian’s office. Gentle Journey and other in-home euthanasia services have changed the landscape of pet care making it possible for the whole family, pets included, to say goodbye in the most loving, caring environment possible. If you’d like to learn more about this compassionate service, call Gentle Journey at 602-332-7757 or visit our website: http://doctorchristina.com/services/ 

Knowing When It’s Time to Let a Pet Go

It’s a simple fact of life; as years wear on, the body breaks down and is no longer able to function as it once did. As the old saying goes, Father Time is undefeated. Just as the years take their toll on our bodies, our pets experience a similar decline, but at much more rapid pace. Though we wish they could remain young and strong forever, we are likely to witness a steady decline in quality of life for our pets as they age. Many pet owners are inevitably faced with the difficult prospect of deciding whether or not to put an animal to sleep.Choosing the best time to end an animal’s life is difficult. Putting an animal down too soon will rob you, and your pet, of precious quality time together. Wait too long and you risk putting your friend through unnecessary pain and suffering. There are no black and white answers when making this choice, but there are several questions that can help guide your decision:

• Is your pet eating and drinking?

A marked change in your pet’s eating habits is often a sign they are experiencing pain. That said, a suffering animal won’t always lose their appetite. In fact, many diseases and medications will actually cause an increase in appetite. Pay attention to any changes in your pet’s eating habits, but be mindful of other variables when assessing their quality of life.

• Is your pet In pain?

Assessing pain levels in animals can be extremely difficult as they’re instinctually predisposed to mask pain in order to protect themselves from predators. However, small behavioral changes can be tell-tale signs that your pet is in pain. E.g., if a typically affectionate animal no longer wants to be touched or grows aggressive this is usually a strong indicator that something is wrong.

• Is your pet able to perform normal activities?

If your pet is having trouble getting up and down, going to the bathroom, or shows limited mobility this could be a sign of a bigger problem.If your pet is experiencing difficulty with any of the factors provided, you may want to schedule an appointment with your vet as these are good indicators of your pet’s quality of life. When deciding whether or not it’s time to put your animal to sleep, there is no right or wrong decision. The human-animal bond can be quite powerful. When things with your little friend just don’t seem right, your gut is often the best judge of what is best for your animal. 

What is In-Home Pet Euthanasia?

The decision to put a suffering animal down is the most difficult one an owner must make. For many pet owners, the dog is seen as an integral part of the family. At Gentle Journey, our mission is to support you with this decision by creating the most serene and comforting environment possible for your dog’s final hours. Our in-home euthanasia service provides the most peaceful way for you to give your dog a compassionate farewell.How The Process WorksOnce you’ve made the decision to give your dog a peaceful end, we provide a free phone consultation to determine the best time to schedule the procedure. Dr. Christina or another trained veterinarian will travel to your home on the agreed upon date. We create a personalize sedative/anesthetic based on your dog’s illness and temperament. Once the sedative takes hold and your dog is at ease, the euthanasia solution is injected. As the solution enters the bloodstream, your dog’s breathing will quicken followed by a slowing and stopping of the heart. This process takes anywhere from 1-3 minutes. The entire procedure should be complete within 60 minutes.Saying goodbye to a friend is never easy, but we’re here to help you make the final hours of your dog’s life as comfortable and loving as possible. For a free consultation, give Gentle Journey a call at 602.332.7757 or visit our website to learn more: http://www.gentlejourneyaz.com