Pets | How Seniors Face the Challenge of Euthanizing a Pet

Parting with Our Pets

By Jan Shapan:

Second only to the loss of a child, many seniors consider the death of a pet one of the most heart wrenching experiences possible. A pet is not just an animal that lives in the house. A pet is just like a member of the family. They receive time and attention daily, receive medical attention often before their owner’s needs are met and most seniors know the neighbor’s pet and its name even if they don’t know the name of the neighbor.

Most senior pet owners consider their pet the best example of unconditional love possible and so the death of a pet can unleash the most profound feelings of sadness and loss. Loss of sleep, disrupted diet, unrelenting fatigue, loss of focus and purpose are common to pet owners that lose a pet. Some have proclaimed no personal desire for heaven if pets are not allowed.

Seniors must find constructive ways to prepare for the death of a pet and face the powerful emotions involved in order to understand how to fully live and love in their personal lives. The grief associated with a lost pet can only be dealt with in time and most likely in natural stages.

The natural stages of grief vary with each person but with attentiveness you can recognize the processes taking place. Consider the following tips:

Don’t assume the grieving process will be the same now as it was in the past.
Be aware of your feelings, journal about them and talk with friends
Find expression of your feelings through art forms—writing, poetry, painting etc.
Explore activities such as yoga, tai chi, mountain hikes
Participate with groups dealing with the loss of a pet
Bottom line…find constructive ways to express; don’t repress feelings

Every pet owner knows the loss of a beloved pet can also involve the hard decision about trying to extend your pet’s life or helping your pet move from life to death with the assistance of a qualified veterinarian.

This challenge can come when a pet is facing a terminal illness and is suffering tremendously. To assist pet owners in the difficult decision of pet euthanasia, some key guidelines have been developed by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Carefully weigh the following as they relate to your pet:

Activity levels: Can your pet handle typical daily routines and activities or have almost all routines been lost due to health or age?
Levels and Consistency of Pain – Is your pet experiencing high levels of pain and suffering that overwhelm the daily enjoyment of living?
Expression of Affection – Does your pet show expression of love and affection differently or less than normal?
Illness or injury – Has a critical injury or diagnosis of a terminal illness caused your pet to face almost certain death accompanied by extensive pain and suffering?

These indicators are just the first step in deciding about euthanasia of your pet. Counseling with family members and your vet are critical steps in the process as well but the ultimate decision is highly personal and one that will likely take some time. Your day to day observations of your pet will be one of the core informational sources of a final decision. Most people are highly attuned to their pets and intuitively sense when the time is appropriate.

Unfortunately, friends and family do not always show understanding when the loss of a pet occurs or when one faces the decision about euthanasia especially from those who are not pet owners.

The best wisdom is to simply follow your own sense of what is right and the overall process will take care of itself.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Janet Shapan, has been a publisher, writer and media designer in the special interest magazine and TV production business for over 25 years. A Boomer, her passion is identifying and sharing current innovations in health, wellness and other lifestyle categories of interest to Seniors. For more information on Senior Living, visit: http://For-Seniors.org