Knowing When to Euthanize a Pet with Cancer

Discovering that your pet has been diagnosed with cancer can be devastating. As a loving pet parent, you want hold on to that special relationship as long as possible. However, it’s also important to consider the comfort level and quality of life of your pet with cancer when wrestling with such a difficult decision.Cancer in pets comes in many different forms and impacts different systems of the body in different ways. Some can metastasize in the body quickly, while other forms may remain local. If you are considering whether or not euthanasia is the right choice for your pet with cancer, you will want to answer the following questions:

• Where is the cancer located?
• Has the cancer spread?
• What are the available treatment options for this type of cancer?
• What is the cost of treatment?
• What’s the long-term prognosis for my pet?
• What is the quality of life associated with the disease?

Answering these questions will help you make a better-informed decision on what is the best option for your pet. If your pet is older, expensive surgeries or invasive treatments may be less appealing, especially if the long-term prognosis is not good. Whatever the facts, deciding whether or not to euthanize a pet is a highly personal decision so you want to be sure you are at peace with whatever you decide.While euthanasia is a decision many pet parents face, pet hospice is an option that is has become popular among those caring for a pet with cancer. These palliative treatments aim to make a suffering pet as comfortable as possible. Dr. Christina and Gentle Journey have compassionately been helping manage pain for pets with cancer in the Greater Phoenix area for years. If you would like to learn more about this service, please give us a call at 602-332-7757.

Coping with the Fear and Doubt of Euthanasia

If you are lucky enough to have a special bond with a dog or cat, you’ve probably pondered the fact that their time on Earth will likely be up long before your own. We invite animals into our lives for companionship and to fill our homes with joy and unconditional love. As years pass, we watch them grow, often from puppies or kittens into mature adults. Inevitably, they reach their golden years and, like all living beings, their bodies begin to fail. As we watch their quality of life deteriorate, euthanasia can become a viable option, but it’s an option often filled with fear and doubt.FearThere are many different kinds of a fear a person considering euthanasia for a sick and aging pet can experience. There is the fear of not having a best friend and companion by your side to share this life with. There is the fear that the passing of that special pet will serve as a painful reminder of your own mortality. Worst of all, there is the fear that the choice you are making, whether to euthanize or not, is the wrong choice.Unfortunately there is no panacea that addresses all of the fears associated with euthanasia. What is important is that you put the welfare of your beloved pet above any personal fears. Consider how much chronic pain and discomfort they are living with daily. Consult a veterinarian to determine their quality-of-life and to discuss strategies to improve it. Ultimately, setting your pet’s welfare as the focus will lead you to a decision based in love and compassion that should quell some of these fears.DoubtAlong with fear, the decision to euthanize can be filled with doubt. You doubt yourself leading up to the decision or you may feel pangs of regret having made to choice to end the life of a beloved animal. These feelings may be impossible to avoid, but understanding all the facts and knowing your options can help lead you to a decision you can best live with.At Gentle Journey of Scottsdale, we specialize in helping devoted pet parents navigate these difficult choices. In some cases, palliative pet services can improve quality of life. In others, euthanasia is the best option. In either case, we can help you with all the information you need to make this difficult choice. Give us a call at 602-332-7757 or visit us online to learn more about our services.

Is Euthanasia Painful for My Pet?

Watching a beloved pet’s quality of life deteriorate during advanced stages of life or witnessing extreme suffering from a debilitating disease is unfathomable for most pet lovers. Unfortunately, these situations do occur and when they do we’re forced to make difficult choices about what is best for our beloved pets. Though pet euthanasia is not the right choice for everyone, it’s important to understand what your pet will experience when weighing your options.A common fear expressed is that the euthanasia procedure will cause additional pain and discomfort to an animal that has already experienced his or her fair share of suffering. Rest assured, the procedure itself can provide temporary comfort for your pet’s final moments. In fact, the most pain your animal will feel is the slight prick of a needle used to administer pain medication. The drug used quickly enters the bloodstream and the suffering pet loses consciousness. If you’ve ever been given anesthesia prior to surgery, the sensation your pet will experience is quite similar.The process of euthanizing a dog or cat hasn’t always been this peaceful. In year’s past, your only alternative was to bring a sick animal to a veterinarian’s office, which can be a cold, inhospitable place for many pets. There, the physician would perform the procedure without the benefit of many of the sedatives available today.At Gentle Journey, we strive to make our in-home euthanasia service as pain-free and peaceful as humanly possible. Your pet’s comfort level during this difficult experience is our top priority. If you would like to learn more about the process, please call us at 602-332-7757 or visit us online.

How to Know When It’s Time to Euthanize a Pet

If you’re like most people, the thought of ending your beloved pet’s life is unfathomable. He or she is your best friend, your family. You’re a devoted guardian who would do anything and everything to see him or her happy and healthy for as long as possible. It’s that same love and devotion that may bring you to the decision to euthanize. Pet euthanasia is a last resort, but it’s a compassionate choice rooted in love.The decision to euthanize is yours and yours alone. Nobody knows your pet as well as you do. Nobody else gets to decide what is best for your pet. And nobody else has to live with the decision. There is no definitive set list of things that you need to do to determine whether or not you’re making the right decision, but the following steps provide many pet owners in this difficult position with great peace of mind:Look for Signs From Your PetMany animals have a sort of sixth sense of when their time in this world is coming to an end. Refusing food and drink and a lack of interest to engage may be a sign that your pet is ready to exit this world.Get Your Vet’s OpinionA trained veterinarian who knows your pet will be able to provide you with the professional guidance you need to make this decision.Get a Second OpinionWhile your vet may know your animal well, it’s never a bad idea to seek a second opinion. The decision to euthanize an animal is final and seeking the advice of another professional may provide peace of mind.Ask Your Friends and Family For HelpYou likely are not the only person who has a relationship with your pet. Seek advice from friends and family that know your pet and ask for their perspective.Look Into Pet Hospice ServicesWhile the opinion of loved ones is great, seeking advice from an objective bystander can be immensely helpful. With pet hospice services, you can get unbiased advice from a trained professional who can guide you through different strategies to manage your pet’s quality of life.Making life and death decisions for your pet will never be easy, but if you follow these steps you can make an informed decision with a clear conscience knowing you did everything you could to do what’s best for your treasured pet. Whatever you decide, you can take comfort in knowing you let love guide your decision.

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. 

Deciding When to Put a Pet to Sleep

Though we all wish that our pets could be with us forever, most pet owners are faced with the reality of watching their pet’s quality of life steadily decrease over time. Many of us are forced to make the difficult, but ultimately compassionate decision to put a beloved animal to sleep. But how do you know when it’s the right time to euthanize your pet?

“I always tell people there's no one right or wrong answer. What we do is help assess quality of life, so we teach people about ways to assess quality of life for their pet.” - Dr. Christina Nutter

Choosing the best time to end an animal’s life is difficult. You want to ensure that you get as much quality time with your dog or cat as possible without subjecting them to unnecessary pain and suffering. Here are some key questions that will help you assess your pet’s quality of life:

1. Is your pet eating and drinking?
2. Is your pet in pain?
3. Is your pet able to perform normal activities?
4. Is your pet able to remain house-trained?

There is no right or wrong decision when deciding whether or not to put your animal to sleep. At Gentle Journey, we’ve helped over a thousand pet owners in the Phoenix area through this difficult decision. If you ultimately decide it’s time to say goodbye, our at home euthanasia service is the most peaceful, comforting way for you to end your friend’s life journey. If you’re worried that your pet’s quality of life is on the decline give us a call at 602.332.7757 and we’ll guide you through this difficult process.