| Saying goodbye to a loved one is never easy. Often times our grief is compounded by feelings of guilt for making the decision to end our pet's life. As pet owners, this is often the hardest decision we are faced with. Our pets have always relied on us as guardians to provide the best care we can, and when the end is drawing near this is especially important.
When faced with the consideration of euthanasia, the term "quality of life" is often used. This can be a somewhat vague concept, as one's quality of life is different at different stages in the aging process. These guidelines will hopefully be helpful in assessing the quality of life of the pet, and may be helpful in determining when the time is appropriate to let our friend go.
Our pets are entitled to the "Five Freedoms" which should be the basic right of all living creatures. These freedoms are:
 The Freedom from Hunger and Thirst
Is your pet able and willing to eat and drink?
The Freedom from Physical and Thermal Discomfort
Is your pet able to be in a comfortable environment? Can he/she move about on his/her own to get comfortable while left alone? If your pet fell during the day and no one was home, could it get up and not be stuck in an uncomfortable and painful position?
The Freedom from Pain, Injury, and Disease
If your pet is in the end stage of illness, or suffering from any other painful condition, are the medications he/she is being given able to control pain and discomfort adequately?
The Freedom from Fear and Distress
Is your pet able to go outside or use the litter box to relieve itself as opposed to soiling itself? This can be very distressing and shameful for a pet.
The Freedom to Express Normal Behavior
Is your pet able to do some of the things he/she has always done?
Additionally in assessing our pet's quality of life and expressing normal behavior, it is helpful to make a list of a few things that we perceive our pets enjoy doing, and then review that list periodically to see if our pets are able to do these things, even in modification.
Here are some examples of questions you might ask when evaluating your pet's quality of life.
- Does your pet greet you and seem happy to see you?
- Does your pet seem aware of its surroundings?
- Does your pet enjoy its favorite treats?
- Does your pet still enjoy previously pleasant interactions such as being groomed, petted, etc?
- Does your pet enjoy walks and outings, even short ones?
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