Euthanasia allows pet parents and veterinarians to peacefully end a pet's pain and suffering. However, for owners, the decision to pursue it may be difficult due to conflicting emotions and uncertainty about the process.
Crystal Newberry, a licensed social worker and former certified veterinary technician at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, provides insight into what to expect when it comes to pet euthanasia.
What is euthanasia?
“In Greek, the word 'euthanasia' literally means 'good death,'” Newberry explains. “Euthanasia is the act or practice of ending life in a painless and humane manner by injecting a drug that stops the heart from beating.”
Euthanasia is often performed when a pet's quality of life has deteriorated due to age or illness and recovery is not possible. Because in some cases, treating a medical condition requires more resources than the family can provide.
The American Veterinary Medical Association has established guidelines that all veterinary hospitals follow to ensure that euthanasia procedures prioritize the animal's comfort. Newberry said the drugs given to stop the heart were originally used as a method of anesthesia for pets.
“Your pet will not experience any pain or discomfort from the euthanasia procedure,” she assures.
She encourages pet owners to talk. their Consult your veterinarian before euthanasia regarding pain during euthanasia.
How does the procedure work?
Euthanasia procedures may vary slightly from clinic to clinic. Some clinics and mobile services also offer in-home euthanasia for pets.
Most hospitals allow you to spend quality time with your pet in a private room before surgery. happen. You usually have the option of attending the procedure or leaving your pet in the care of your veterinarian after you say goodbye.
If you choose to proceed, the first step is to place an intravenous catheter in your pet's vein. This facilitates the administration of sedatives and euthanasia solutions. The veterinary team may temporarily take your pet to the treatment room while the IV is administered, or the IV may be administered indoors with the patient present.
Some clinics choose sedation before administering euthanasia solutions, while others do not.To make your pet feel comfortable in their last momentsyou may choose to have a conversation with your veterinarian about sedation options.
When ready, your veterinarian will administer the solution.
“There are several physical activities that can occur at this moment,” Newberry says. “The pet may urinate or defecate. The pet may take several deep breaths. The pet may experience body movements, such as convulsions. And the pet may make sounds. .”
It also notes that underlying disease processes may cause different reactions, and veterinarians will discuss this with the owner if necessary.
Because your pet is unconscious when these physical activities occur, it is not a sign that your pet is in pain or discomfort.
Finally, your veterinarian will listen with a stethoscope to confirm that your pet's heart is not beating. You can then choose to leave the room or spend more time saying goodbye to your pet.
After procedure
Many veterinary clinics offer owners a keepsake created after euthanasia to preserve the memory of their pet. For example, you might carve your pet's footprints in clay, use ink on paper, or clip nail keys. pet hair.
You will also be asked how to care for your pet's remains.
“Most clinics offer pet owners the option of taking their pet's body home and making arrangements for burial or cremation, or sending the pet's body directly to a crematorium,” Newberry explains.
Cremation options include group/community cremation, where no remains are left or the pet's ashes are mixed with the ashes of other pets, and individual cremation, where the owner only receives the pet's ashes .
In some cases, owners may request an autopsy on their pet's body. A necropsy is equivalent to an animal dissection. in human medicine. A necropsy can determine the cause of death and provide additional information about your pet's underlying disease process. Owners should talk to their veterinarian about this option and learn about the costs involved. If you are interested in this.
The University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital offers all of these options for body care and memorialization. Additionally, since veterinary students are engaged in learning in hospitals, owners also have the option of donating their pet's remains for educational purposes.
“Some pet owners find it comforting to think that there is a way for their beloved animal companions to continue contributing positively to the world after death by helping future veterinarians learn and develop their clinical skills. Some people,” Newberry said. “No diagnostics are performed on donated bodies, so pet parents will not receive any feedback if they select this option. We also plan to select this option.”
Euthanasia and multi-head households
Human family members aren't the only ones who grieve after the death of a pet.
“Pet parents may notice that other pets in the home are tired, depressed, or wandering aimlessly,” Newberry says. “These are normal behaviors seen in pets after the loss of a housemate.”
She recommends ways to make this process easier for surviving pets.
“Some veterinary clinics may allow other household pets to be present during euthanasia. This allows them to sniff the process to better understand how their companion died. It can be done,” she says. “You can also take items such as blankets, toys, and collars with you to smell your pet at home after euthanasia. It is believed that pets emit an odor that other pets can recognize when they die.”
She also advises maintaining household habits for the benefit of any pets left behind. After euthanasia.
When is euthanasia the right decision?
“Whether you plan for euthanasia in advance or it happens at the last minute, it's never easy in the moment,” Newberry said. “When speaking to pet parents, I like to encourage families to consider the quality of life for the entire family, not just the pet.”
She recommends several quality of life scales to help owners recognize patterns in their pet's health. They are the Ohio Quality of Life Checklist, the Lap of Love Quality of Life Assessment, and the app “Grey Muzzle” available on Apple and her Android. .
These resources help owners track appetite, nausea/vomiting, activity levels, ability to move/get up, general comfort, urination and defecation, and even coat quality. This allows owners to see how many “bad days” and “good days” their pet is having. If a pet has more bad days than good, owners often choose euthanasia.
Another way to focus on quality of life for your pet family is for them. Chronic illness in pets can be debilitating to families. You may need to consider how much time, effort, and money you are willing to spend to ensure your pet's comfort.
“Additionally, parents of elderly or disabled pets should consider their ability to care for their pet's needs at home,” Newberry says. “Care can be demanding. For example, helping a large dog get up and go to the bathroom outside may be too much of a burden.”
She added that it's not selfish to consider the needs of the whole family. Caring for a pet is a difficult task and must be coordinated within the family. As with all medical decisions, consulting your pet's veterinarian will help you make the best choice for your situation.
An archive of UI College of Veterinary Medicine's pet columns can be found at vetmed.illinois.edu/petcolumns. Please send reprint requests for this article to Chris Beuoy at beuoy@illinois.edu.
