Frequently I am asked, “When is it the right time?” It is likely one of the most difficult questions we, who love our four-legged companions, will face in the course of a beautiful relationship. As we try to find a way to balance our desire to have them with us for a long time with the reality that their life span is shorter than ours, we are often faced with the challenging decision for euthanasia when their quality of life becomes ‘unacceptable’. Defining ‘acceptable’ is where we struggle. This can be different for each of us, however there are some criteria that may help.
There are those who adhere to the notion of Five Freedoms our pets deserve. They are Freedom from hunger and thirst; Freedom from discomfort; Freedom from pain, injury and unmanaged disease; Freedom to express normal behaviour; and Freedom from distress (mental versus physical).
These are subjective criteria. I believe, however, that we who love our companions, are best able to make these assessments when we are open minded about what we are observing. I believe that dogs and cats live in the moment and have no thoughts about dying, or even about time. They do the best they can with what they have. As a result, they will often have great moments and difficult moments; it is our task to be aware of both, and to determine when the difficult moments outweigh the wonderful ones. Keeping a daily record on a calendar can be helpful, as can the quality of life assessment scores that are available online; below is a link to one such assessment.
https://www.lapoflove.com/how-will-i-know-it-is-time/lap-of-love-quality-of-life-scale.pdf
It is normal and common to have doubts, to feel some guilt, and even a sense of betrayal when we make a euthanasia decision for our pets. I perceive such decisions as selfless, well-deserved gifts of immense love and courage. It is our privilege to share our lives with amazing, unconditional beings, and our responsibility to care for them throughout their full, joyful lives. It is also our opportunity to honour them with a peaceful, dignified passing when they are no longer doing well.