Three Questions to Ask Before Euthanizing Your Pet

It is a sad fact of life that more often than not, we will outlive our furry companions. In my lifetime, I've had to euthanize seven animals. Most recently, I had to put my 6-year-old Rottweiler mixed breed dog, Brandy, to sleep.

Brandy had lymphoma, but we discovered it far too late. It first appeared with eye symptoms. Her eyes were very bloodshot and glassy. For a month, our vet thought she had an eye infection, but I began to realize this was something more serious. Brandy wasn't eating well and seemed to get sick a lot.

Our vet referred us to Affiliated Veterinary Specialists in Maitland, Fla. where it was discovered that Brandy had lymphoma. While there were options, including chemotherapy, the vet estimated they could only extend Brandy's life by about one year. While I loved my dog, I had to realistically think about these three questions to make the best decision.

What is the prognosis with treatment?
There are many diseases that can be easily maintained with the right treatment. For example, hypothyroidism can be maintained with a daily medication, good nutrition and monitoring. However, some cancers are very aggressive, and even with treatment, will end up killing your pet. If treatment can only give your pet a few more months or a year, euthanasia may be much kinder.

What are the risks/side effects of the treatment?
If treatment options can extend your pet's life considerably, what will be his or her quality of life? Will he be sick daily from chemotherapy or radiation? Will he be blinded by surgery? Some treatments, such as medication for hypothyroidism, are relatively symptom-free. Other treatments, such as for heartworm disease, are not lifelong treatments.

Am I thinking about my pet or myself?
Pets are part of my family. I commonly refer to my dog as my child, and to my parents as "Grandma" and "Granddad". I would grieve the loss of my pet similarly to the loss of a family member. However, as sad as I was to put my dog, Brandy, to sleep, it made me much more sad to think of the suffering she would endure if I couldn't bring myself to let her go.

The decision to euthanize a pet -- to end its life -- is extraordinarily difficult. But sometimes, the kindest thing you can do for your animal is give it a humane and painless end to suffering. Be sure to think through the decision carefully and logically.