The decision to euthanize a dog is deeply personal and usually based on assessing the dog's quality of life. Common reasons to consider euthanasia include:
- The dog is critically injured and cannot survive.
- The dog is in chronic pain that cannot be managed.
- The dog is merely existing without enjoying life.
- The dog is very old and struggling with daily functions.
- Terminal illness or conditions causing unmanageable suffering.
Signs to consider when deciding if it is time:
- The dog no longer enjoys activities it once loved (walking, playing, socializing).
- There are more bad days than good days for the dog.
- The dog is not eating, drinking, or able to eliminate (urinate/defecate) normally.
- The dog is struggling with mobility, breathing, or severe symptoms.
- Pain or discomfort outweighs moments of pleasure.
- Treatments and medications no longer improve the dog's quality of life.
Veterinarians recommend discussing your dog's condition openly with them, as they can provide objective guidance and possible treatments that may help. However, if the dog’s suffering is unrelievable and their quality of life is poor, euthanasia is considered a humane and kind option to prevent further pain and distress. It's also important to consider your ability to provide care and treatment both emotionally and financially. Some tools to help decide include keeping a calendar of good and bad days, listing the dog's favorite activities, and noting when the dog no longer engages in these. Ultimately, euthanasia is typically chosen to prevent further physical or mental suffering for the dog and emotional suffering for the family when the dog's life quality significantly declines.
If you want, I can provide some checklists or quality of life scales used to make this decision.
