One of the hardest things about being a pet owner is knowing when it’s time to say a last goodbye. If you’re lucky, nature will take its course and you’ll wake up one morning to find that after many happy, healthy years, your four legged friend has passed away in his sleep. For many dog owners however, this isn’t the way that things will go, and if you have a dog that’s starting to get on in years then it’s something that you need to be thinking about now.
The thing is that most dog owners who have enjoyed their canine friend’s company for a great many years are faced with their dog being affected by health issues that are not only incurable, but they are also having a negative impact on their dog’s quality of life. There is even the odd sad occasion when someone doesn’t have pet insurance, and they can no longer afford the medication. If your dog has a health problem that is kept under control with appropriate medication and/or treatment and is otherwise having a great health, then this isn’t going to be a decision you need to consider at this time. If, on the other hand, your dog develops a health problem that will become increasingly worse, and your dog is feeling pain or discomfort, then at some time soon your veterinary is going to recommend that you make a decision as to whether or not to put your dog to sleep.
At this point you have to consider the quality of life that your dog has left rather than how much of a gap there’s going to be in your life. It could be that despite the fact your dog is not able to get around very much, he still seems to enjoy himself and if so then you could postpone what the veterinary thinks is inevitable until such time as you believe your dog’s life is little more than an endless round of medication and treatments to keep him on his feet. Prolonging the pain isn’t going to make the decision any easier, but if delaying it by a couple of days means that you are able to feel as if you’ve had a chance to say “Goodbye” properly, then don’t let your veterinary rush you into making a decision that you’ll later regret – not because it was the wrong decision, but rather that it was done so fast that you don’t feel you had a chance to come to terms with it before it was too late. Considering what you think of as being a good quality of life when your dog is fit and healthy, alongside what you think to be a bad quality of life, means that if the day comes that he takes sick with a permanent de-habilitating health condition, you are able to assess if you are doing what’s best for your dog, rather than what’s best for your heart.
Another thing you should consider before the time comes is what you want to do with your dog’s remains. At one time it was common to bury a four legged friend in a blanket in the garden, but for many people, that’s not a viable option. One thing you can consider is cremating your dog. Ask at your veterinary practice for information on this – they should have a leaflet or phone number of a local organization who offer this kind of service. By preparing yourself in this way you’ll be sure that when the day finally comes that you must say a final goodbye to your dog, you’ll know exactly what to do, instead of having to make difficult decisions when your mind is full of tears.