Early in our relationship, after getting home from work one evening and sitting down to dinner, Lis and I were talking about how our days had gone, and I told her that I had had a really good euthanasia that afternoon. She looked at me as if to say, “You’re a veterinarian. How can putting someone’s pet to sleep be a good thing?” But, in fact, as is often the case, it was a “good euthanasia.”
The cat, Pawla, had been diagnosed with a cancerous tumor that had spread to the lungs. Pawla’s owner had a clear sense that it was time, and that it wasn’t fair to prolong her life any longer, and she was at peace with her decision, as was her family, whom I had met with a few days earlier. They asked if I would come to their home to put Pawla to sleep, and I arranged to stop at their home on my way home from the clinic.
Clients are always very appreciative when their pets can die at home—that they can avoid the experience of fear and anxiety typically associated with a trip to the clinic.
The family gathered around Pawla and talked to her as I euthanized her with an intravenous injection of a barbiturate (an overdose of a narcotic anesthetic agent). It is very quick, and I know that Pawla’s family felt that we had provided a compassionate end to her life.
I think most people would prefer if their sick or very old pet would die peacefully in their sleep before the ravages of old age or suffering from disease have set in, thus, a decision to end life would be an issue no one would have to struggle with. More often than not, this isn’t the case.
Euthanasia actually means “gentle death.” The decision to end a life is always very difficult, but it is important to understand that euthanasia is a caring and compassionate act. It is a very emotional time. As pet owners, we all know how our pets become very important members of our families and how much we love them and they love us. It is this same love that bestows on us the responsibility to end their suffering.
When is it time to intervene? These are questions I would try to ask the pet’s family members and myself:
- Do the bad days outnumber the good days?
- Is life a burden or a joy?
- Is there pain or discomfort that can no longer be managed by medication?
- Is recovery from a traumatic event (e.g. paralysis from a broken spine after being hit by a car) possible?
- Realistically, am I going to be able to return this pet to a normal, happy life for a significant amount of time?
Basically, we (owners and veterinarians) are asking ourselves, “Is this any kind of life for my companion to continue living?”
Over the years, it has become clear to me that most owners have a deep sense of when it is time and understand that their final act provides a kind, compassionate, and painless end to life.
On a personal note, I would like to say that I think the most common error in judgment people make is waiting too long. I know this because I have waited too long with one of my own cats. She was 18 years old and had been showing signs of her age for several weeks, but she was still eating and responding to affection. Soon she would have a few days in a row where she was just existing, and I would tell myself that it was time to put her down, but then she would have one or two good days and I waited. This cycle repeated itself two or three times. In retrospect, I wish I had made a decision about a week or two before I did, but it is just hard to say goodbye.
Because of my own experiences, both personal and professional, I have always told clients that it is probably wiser to make the decision a little on the early side rather than wait too long.
East Bare Hill Road resident Fred Karotkin is a veterinarian.
