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.