Just as each pet and pet family is unique, so too is the answer to the question of when the right time is to say goodbye. Consulting with a veterinarian, whether a primary care vet or a home hospice visit, can be crucial in devising an answer that best fits the pet, family and situation.

In the absence of extreme and immediate pain and suffering, pet owners are not limited to a single perfect or correct moment for euthanasia. Instead, there is typically a transitional period between the time that quality of life is first compromised and the beginning of sustained or extreme suffering or natural death. At any point during this period, the gift of euthanasia is appropriate.

According to Lydia Sullivan, DVM, at EverLoved Veterinary in Mobile, “The ultimate goal for your pet is to keep them happy and healthy for as long as possible. This looks different for every pet family.”

Advanced planning is the key. Families may start with hospice care, during which Sullivan provides families the framework and resources needed to feel more confident and comfortable in their decisions to maximize the quality end-of-life care for a terminally ill or geriatric beloved animal. This planning may include symptom management, pain management, choosing the right nutrition and establishing a monitoring program around quality of life.

Some strategies for defining a ‘stopping point’ involve keeping records or notes regarding a pet’s quality of life. Sullivan recommends making two lists. One list for recording all the things and activities the pet has historically loved and another list of things still being enjoyed. Compare good and bad days. Choose a day in the life of the dog or cat from a year ago, before any decline. Consider whether today’s ‘good day’ is comparable to the last year’s and what the pet is still able or not able to do. Document signs of pain. Remember pets won’t necessarily express pain, but they may be showing it in the form of restlessness, panting, changes in personality, reduced appetite, slowness or limping.

When thinking about euthanasia, Sullivan recommends not waiting until they cannot walk or function on their own but intervening before a crisis happens. Saying goodbye at home in a prepared, comfortable atmosphere is best for everyone. The goodbye visit at home, which is about 45 to 60 minutes, is a two-step process. After explaining the process from beginning to end so that everyone knows what is forthcoming, the process begins. First, a pain relief medication along with sedative is administered while the pet is comfortable and in his or her favorite place. Typically, this takes 10 to 15 minutes to take full effect. Second, the euthanasia solution is injected and takes a few minutes to fulfill its intended purpose.

Sullivan stresses that at any time during the process, families can choose to be present and have their children present or not. It depends on the comfort level of each individual. Advanced planning helps with these kinds of details, but it may not be possible until the time arrives. After the animal has passed, it is recommended to bring in sibling pets. Their sense of smell will tell them their family member is gone and will give them a sense of closure.