Many people say the hardest part of owning a pet is when it’s time to let them go. It is never an easy decision and owners often turn to their Veterinarian for guidance. Veterinarians always have several treatment option plans, but sometimes euthanasia is the most humane. It is a decision the family members have to be ready to make. They cannot make the choice too soon or too late. We do not want to prolong suffering. Euthanasia is the last final decision we can make to bring our pets peace.
Sometimes you have to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Does your pet seem happy? Does he/she still enjoy walks, car rides, treats, etc.? Maybe he or she still enjoys some of these things, but not all. What do you do then? Unfortunately, we do not have that answer. You know your pet better than anyone and it all comes down to quality of life. If you feel your pet is simply not happy, then maybe it is time to discuss options with your Veterinarian.
If it comes down to the unfortunate decision to let your pet go, how will you cope? There are five common stages of pet grieving.
- Denial – It is more like a feeling of shock that acts as a barrier between you and the harshness of reality.
- Anger – You may also feel sad, lonely or anxious but anger is usually the emotion that surfaces first.
- Bargaining – You might find yourself bargaining with God, the Universe, etc. to have your pet back to the way he/she was before.
- Depression – It is important to recognize that the depression you feel in the loss of your pet is not a mental illness, it is an appropriate response and it one of the stages of grief.
- Acceptance – This does not mean that you are happy with your situation, but you simply accepted the reality that your pet is gone. Acceptance may not always be obvious, but you may notice you’re starting to have more good days than bad.
When in doubt you can always call your Veterinarian for any advice.