One of the most difficult questions pet owners will face in their pet's lifetime is ,"when is it time to say goodbye". In some cases the answer is abundantly clear. In others, especially in the instance of chronic disease, the answer is not so clear.
Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish between normal aging changes and pain in pets. Most pets will not whimper or cry, they may just slow down,withdraw from the family, stop eating, or spend most of their time sleeping.
Pet parents do not want to end their time with their pet too soon, but they also fear that they will not know when their pet is suffering. The Ohio State University has developed a very helpful handout that addresses these concerns, it can be found here vmc.vet.osu.edu/sites/default/files/documents/how-will-i-know_rev_mar2024ms_0.pdf.
The most important thing to remember is that animals do not fear death, they fear pain. It will more often than not be that we are making a decision to help our friend cross the rainbow bridge. This is nothing to feel guilty about. If you decide that it is time to say goodbye to your pet, you are not letting them down and you are not taking the easy way out.
Allowing our pet's to pass in the quiet of their own home without pain is a gift.
Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish between normal aging changes and pain in pets. Most pets will not whimper or cry, they may just slow down,withdraw from the family, stop eating, or spend most of their time sleeping.
Pet parents do not want to end their time with their pet too soon, but they also fear that they will not know when their pet is suffering. The Ohio State University has developed a very helpful handout that addresses these concerns, it can be found here vmc.vet.osu.edu/sites/default/files/documents/how-will-i-know_rev_mar2024ms_0.pdf.
The most important thing to remember is that animals do not fear death, they fear pain. It will more often than not be that we are making a decision to help our friend cross the rainbow bridge. This is nothing to feel guilty about. If you decide that it is time to say goodbye to your pet, you are not letting them down and you are not taking the easy way out.
Allowing our pet's to pass in the quiet of their own home without pain is a gift.