This is the question you may struggle to answer. How to Decide When — or If — to Put Your Dog to Sleep Any dog lover knows that few events in life are more traumatic than having to euthanize a beloved canine companion. Higher numbers on this chart equal a better quality of life.


In some cases, even one item on the left-hand side of the chart (for example: pain) may indicate a poor quality of life, even if many of the other items are still positive. Pets are not just other animals.

10 is the best possible quality of life. AKC Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Jerry Klein shares what you need to know. Stone was a wonderful dog at home, but he was not a fan of the veterinary clinic. If you rate your pet as a 9 in January, a 7 in March and a 5 in May, it’s time to face reality: Your pet’s quality of life has significantly deteriorated over a short period of time. The signs presented by a dying dog Whether you have a pup that is in the terminal stages of an illness or a very old pup, you know that the end is near, so you should get ready for it. Dog euthanasia is a painful decision. In my role as an in-home euthanasia provider, I see people struggling with this almost every day. In younger dogs who suffer from a catastrophic trauma or illness that there is no cure for, such as a devastating car accident, a toxicity that damages organ function beyond repair, or a congenital defect unable to be surgically corrected, choosing when to euthanize your beloved dog is an easier decision. It’s a personal matter for each pet owner.

Pets are the ones in our lives that love us unconditionally and without judgement. Pet caregivers can use this Quality of Life Scale to determine whether to continue supportive care for an aging or sick pet or whether euthanasia is a more compassionate option. I took Kelly, my 11 year-old Labrador/Staffordshire mix, to the vet as her belly seemed to be dropping and her … For my dog, those 5 signs pretty much appeared rather quickly.
I know when my dogs are happy or sad, even if I can't define happiness for my dog." There’s no right or wrong answer. There are no easy signs, and the definition of “good quality of life for a dog” is different for every pet owner. The most common question I hear from owners as they are reaching the end of their pet’s life is, "How will I know when it’s time?" The vet had urged him to euthanize the dog before Schuyler’s condition worsened, but Jack had clearly decided against that. Euthanize Your Family Pet – What To Expect If you decide that euthanasia is the best, loving step to take for your pet, know that it is generally a calm, peaceful process.

Making the decision to euthanize a beloved pet is the hardest thing an owner ever has to do. Cloud 9 Vets is a trusted provider of gentle pet euthanasia at home – and this may be the best way to ensure your dog is spared any unnecessary suffering. The decision to euthanize a dog is the most important and difficult dog-related decision a person can make. “Depending on if you have an in-home service or go to your vet’s office, the process can vary,” Dr. Osborne explains. Some pet parents decide that once their dog shows signs of suffering, it's time to say goodbye. Plus, as one veterinarian told me, it’s often difficult to tell whether a dog is in pain or suffering. You … They love us regardless of our income, physical appearance, education, politics, religion, interests, or position in life.

When is it time to say goodbye? When you decide that it’s in your dog’s best interest to gently euthanize you need to make arrangements with your vet. It will help you objectively reflect back on your thoughts and observations over time.

While their pet parents still feel tremendous grief, they are spared a difficult decision -- whether or not to euthanize their beloved, furry, family member. For some people, it’s difficult to separate the need to keep their pets alive with their dog’s need to go. Happiness, it seems, is like that old definition of pornography. Ultimately, this question of when it is time to put your dog down is one only you can answer. And veterinarians agree — those are signs it’s time to euthanize your dog. His last 6 months were not terrible, but they just weren’t very enjoyable for him… or for us. Stone was a member of the family, and when he started to limp, his owner brought him straight in to be checked out. Most of the time, though, the decision to euthanize a dog – who is a treasured, loved part of the family – is not easy. Ask a Vet: Should I Euthanize a Happy Dog with Cancer? Nearly all of us have gone through that process, trying to decide if the time has come to let go. I wrote recently about how emotionally difficult euthanasias are for me, and for most vets. As your dog's pet parent, you're familiar with his typical behavior and personality. You can see the suffering in their eyes and changes to their personality. It's one of the hardest decisions we ever have to make. 1 means the poorest quality of life.