Anticipating losing your pet can be a bad experience. Minimizing distress and discomfort is essential if it has a terminal health condition or approaching its golden years. The best gift you can give your pet during its final days on earth is to ensure they pass away peacefully. Read on to learn what to expect.

Understand the Options Available

Choose an option that is ideal for you and your pet for its end of life care. Some individuals opt to care for their pets at home during their final life stages. You can have your veterinarian help you do it with their supervision so that you do not cause any discomfort to your ailing pet. 

Other individuals consider euthanasia or palliative care to end their pets’ lives with dignity. Once you know your options, you will find the best way to ensure your pet experiences peace and comfort in a dignified manner during their final days.

Help Your Aged Pet 

Pets often experience suffering because of the symptoms of aging. Ideally, talk to your vet so you can know of any health conditions that may need treatment. Problems that stay undiagnosed can cause rapid health deterioration. 

Your pet needs all the love and comfort it can get during old age. Give them their favorite things, like toys. Cover them with a warm blanket and ensure they have ample cushioning and a comfortable spot to lie. Doing so will ensure they do not get pressure sores, as they will not be moving around as often as they did while young.

Your pet can also lose control of its bladder. Thus, check regularly to know if it needs help defecating or urinating. 

Pet Suffering

There are various things to consider when deciding on your pet’s end-life-care. It is vital to determine if they are in pain. Most animals may suffer without showing physical signs as a survival mechanism. Whining or crying is not the only indication of pain.

Pets can go through a lot of disorientation and pain but still drink and eat as usual. Hence, pet owners should monitor their elderly pets closely. Some signs that may show your pet is suffering are panting excessively, gasping for breath, and being reclusive. Reluctance to do their favorite activities should also indicate they are not okay.

Palliative Care  

Pet hospice care, also called palliative care, is another option to put your pet in safe hands. You may need to do so if the vet establishes there is no cure for the illness or that it is terminal. Palliative care ensures your pet’s last days are pleasant and comfortable through human interaction, dietary plans, and the use of pain medications. Pet owners should ensure they do not lengthen their pet’s suffering. Good palliative care should focus on a dignified death for the last days of a pet.

Euthanasia

You may need to talk to your vet if you want to end your pet’s suffering painlessly and peacefully. Your veterinarian has the ideal training to give a humane and gentle death. They will administer euthanasia medication after injecting a sedative into your pet. It will take minutes, and your pet will not know it is at the end of its life.

For more about end-of-life care for pets, visit South Willamette Veterinary Clinic at our office in Creswell, Oregon. Call (541) 313-3352 to book an appointment today.