When To Euthanize a Senior Dog - Quality of Life Considerations

It's hard to watch as our pets age. We watch as they grow older, their bouncy trot giving way to a slower, stiffer walk; their eyesight dimming and hearing becoming more "selective"; and even getting slower to get up and faithfully follow us around the house. None of us wants to think of the day when our furry friend may need to leave us, but that last act - a gentle euthanasia - is a final act of love. Here are some things to consider when trying to figure out if it's your beloved pet and let him go peacefully.

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Pain

Pain management is crucial to a pet's quality of life. Lots of dogs, like people, live with various aches and pains and are still being able to be active and enjoy life. When pain interferes with your pet's ability to enjoy himself, though, it becomes a serious consideration when thinking about the "right" time to euthanize.

  • When getting up is agony, so your pet prefers to stay lying down all day. This can result in even more pain if pressure sores develop from staying in one position.

  • When lying down is too difficult, so your pet prefers to remain standing. When he is finally forced to lie down because he's too tired to keep standing, it's clear that doing so is painful - for example, he simply "collapses" instead of a lying down in a controlled way, or he inches down little by little, groaning in pain.

  • When walking becomes so painful that your dog just hangs around all day, doing nothing.

  • When they're in such pain, they don't want to be touched and may snap if you try.

  • Note that not all dogs will cry or whine when they're in pain. Many will hide signs of pain. If, however, you see that they're reluctant to move or engage in their usual activities, that's a pretty good indicator that pain may be the culprit.

It's important to discuss pain management with your veterinarian. It can take time to find the right combination of drugs, supplements, or therapies that work for your individual pet. Discuss complementary therapies with your vet, including acupuncture, physical therapy, laser therapy, massage therapy, chiropractic, and Bowen therapy are some options available to pet owners. There may come a time when nothing appears to work to adequately control your dog's pain. You will need to think about how long you want to try various pain management methods before you set your dog free.

Mobility

Mobility plays such a huge role in quality of life. Many dogs in particular love to explore and to play, whether it's on walks or out and about in the yard. Mobility goes beyond that, though:

  • Compromised mobility may mean that your pet cannot do simple things for himself. This can include getting a drink of water when he wants one, or changing positions when he's lying down - which in turn can lead to pressure sores and sore joints.

  • For "velcro dogs" that love to follow their humans everywhere, decreased mobility can mean that they can no longer do so. It is particularly tough if they need help up or down stairs, especially if the dog is large and it becomes too difficult or impractical to try to allow them to be with you all the time.

  • Pets can have accidents if they're not able to move quickly or easily. This can be mentally distressing for some. Physically, it can mean that they need to be cleaned more frequently and their bedding changed (or floors cleaned).

That's not to say that dogs need to be able to run and romp around like puppies to enjoy their lives. It all depends on the individual dog's personality. It's true that for some dogs, the ability to go for those exciting walks and adventures is critical to their enjoyment of life. Others are perfectly happy to slowly wander around the yard, enjoying a casual sniff around, before lying down to bask in the sun. Some dogs enjoy playing "games" like using their noses to sniff out treats. Pet owners need to figure out what constitutes an "acceptable mobility" for their pet to have a good quality of life.

Incontinence

Pets may become urine or fecal incontinent, or both. This isn't just about being inconvenient for the owner - there are lots of things you can do to manage accidents and make life easier - you can find some tips in this article on helping a dog with degenerative myelopathy - dogs with DM frequently become incontinent.

Accidents affect your pet, too. No one enjoys lying in their own waste. If your pet has mobility issues, then he or she has to wait for help to get cleaned up and have their bedding changed. Extended periods can result in urine scald of their skin, which is uncomfortable and even painful for the dog. Some dogs also find it mentally distressing when they "mess".

Managing incontinence is possible but requires dedication on the part of the caregiver; the time and ability to handle incidents quickly; and the physical and financial means to acquire and use the right tools. That said, it's not always practical (ie. when everyone works and cannot be home to manage), nor is it always kind (ie. the dog feels badly for messing himself), to keep your dog around just because it's medically possible.

Mental State

Dogs can become depressed, frustrated, and confused. If they begin to feel this way all the time, or more often than not, their quality of life suffers.

  • Depression can result when dogs can no longer do the things they enjoy the most. For example, a severely arthritic dog may not be able to play fetch anymore, or go on fun hikes.

  • Dogs can get frustrated when they're unable to do things they enjoy, or things that were so easy for them previously. A simple example is a dog who cannot get up to get a drink for himself whenever he wants one ... or who is forced to urinate in his bed, and then lay in it until help arrives, because he's incontinent.

  • It's not uncommon for senior dogs to have some level of senility (called Canine Cognitive Dysfunction). This can cause behaviours like sundowning, confusion, lack of interest in interacting with family, and forgetting behaviors they once knew (like housetraining).

Ask yourself: Is your dog still eager to participate in his favorite activities? Does he willingly interact with his family (and his friends)? Does he seem mentally engaged and interested in life?

Eating and Drinking

  • Is your dog eating and drinking a normal amount?

  • Is he becoming fussier, eating less, eating more slowly, or takes several trips to finish his food? An underlying health issue, both physical and mental, can cause eating changes. A trip to the vet may be in order.

  • Is he refusing food or water altogether? A dog with a poor appetite will gradually waste away if he can't be persuaded to eat. A slow death by starvation isn't a "good death" in anyone's books; nor is force-feeding a sick and unwilling dog over an extended period a kind option.

  • Does eating or drinking result in vomiting and/or diarrhea? Again, an underlying medical condition may be the cause. Chronic vomiting or diarrhea is hard on the body.

Breathing

The stress and fear of not being able to breathe easily dramatically affects quality of life. It can cause pets to avoid activity; to eat or drink less (or not at all) because they're trying to breathe instead; to simply lie around, struggling to get enough air, as sometimes seen when dogs breathe through an open mouth. Difficulty breathing can also result from issues like persistent coughing or wheezing.

A dog experiencing respiratory issues should be immediately taken to the vet. Breathing problems need to be resolved to the point where your dog doesn't have to struggle to breathe, perhaps with the exception of very short bouts of coughing or wheezing (to be discussed with your vet). Otherwise, euthanasia may be the kindest option.

Overall Health

Life can become very difficult when there are multiple health issues. Things to think about include:

  • Is your dog's health stable? Even if a dog has more than one medical condition, if the condition(s) are easy to manage then the dog's overall health may not be a concern. You may need to monitor your pet and check in with the vet periodically. Otherwise, you may feel confident about your ability to manage your dog's care, and your dog is still enjoying his life.

  • Are your dog's medical condition(s) all being appropriately managed? If you're having trouble getting one or more conditions under control, it can affect your dog's overall well-being and may even impact how well the other conditions are managed.

    For example: let's say your dog has both arthritis and canine cognitive dysfunction (dementia / senility). The arthritis was initially well-managed with a combination of pain meds; but once the dementia started to get worse, your dog spends his time pacing endlessly, for hours at a time until he collapses. The endless pacing can make already-sore joints even more sore, and could mean that the meds and dosages previously used to manage the dog's arthritis pain is no longer enough.

  • Are there questions about your pet's health? Or the possibility of a sudden, traumatic event? Some medical conditions are such that the vet isn't able to accurately predict what course the disease will take. Or in some cases, it may be that the particular disease has a known progression to a traumatic event but the timing is unclear. In these cases, some pet owners choose to spoil their pets rotten and then euthanize, while their dog is still enjoying a reasonable quality of life, in order to spare them that final, inevitable trauma.

Overall Quality of Life

In some ways, it is easier on pet owners when their pet is experiencing an extreme case of one of the factors that contribute to quality of life. It seems to make the decision to go on - or to euthanize - a little more clear. Otherwise, quality of life is going to be made up of a combination of all the factors put together. It's a highly individual decision.

Pet owners should take the dog's personality into consideration. For example: let's say a dog has health issues that can be managed but that requires repeated visits to the vet on an ongoing basis. The dog is timid and not fond of being handled by people outside of the family. Vet visits are extremely stressful to him. Would it be fair to ask him to endure these visits, when it's clear that it has a big impact on his enjoyment of life?

Here's another example: medical treatment may be available for a sick dog. That treatment, though, comes with side effects that make the dog feel unwell. His illness may be managed, but because of the side effects, the dog merely "exists", choosing to lie around or sleep all day, rather than being engaged and interested in life.

Caregiver Burnout and How It Affects Your Pet

Caring for ill or old pets can easily lead to caregiver fatigue or burnout. There's just no way around it; constant caregiving is exhausting. Putting aside the issue of how we feel as caregivers, how does caregiver burnout affect our pets?

  • The more tired we are, the higher the likelihood that our pets aren't getting the very best care. When we lack enough sleep / rest / down-time, especially over a prolonged period, we can start to make mistakes. This can include forgetting to give medication (or double-dosing), or cutting corners (maybe we can wait until tomorrow to bathe the dog after he soiled himself).

  • Tempers can flare when we're always exhausted. Yelling at your dog in frustration isn't helping anyone - especially not your dog, who isn't deliberately being "bad". Your dog doesn't want to feel like he's a burden or the cause of your anger.

Caregiver burnout can be even more difficult when there's a question of whether you can financially afford to continue care. It's also not uncommon for family members to disagree on the course of care, or how far they're willing to go (physically, emotionally, and financially).

The "X" Factor

Is your dog still living a life that's meaningful to him?

Veterinary medicine is pretty amazing and there are lots of things that can be done to keep pets alive. That doesn't mean that you should keep them alive just because you can. Ask yourself if your dog is still really and truly living his life doing the things he enjoys. He should be able to do the things that are important to him, rather than merely "existing" or enduring each day.

Making the Decision

It's not unusual to feel guilty about considering euthanasia... or to question yourself about whether or not you're making the right decision. Sometimes it is the anticipation of what's to come that's the hardest thing to manage. Anticipatory grief can feel overwhelming and it's not uncommon for pet owners to feel helpless or paralyzed by the looming decision.

I read something once, on the American Animal Hospital Association website, which I found helpful, in assessing quality of life:

"The five freedoms include freedom from hunger and thirst; freedom from physical and thermal discomfort; freedom from pain, injury, and disease; freedom from fear and distress; and the freedom to express normal behavior."

Euthanasia is a very individual choice. The process of making the decision about when it's the "right" time to say goodbye to a pet is agonizing. Trying to sort out what's best for them - rather than what's best for us, the family that will miss them so much - is a difficult and emotional process. Seek out support if you can; having someone around, even if just to listen, can be very helpful.

I'm often asked about my personal opinion on euthanasia. I've found it helpful to read other people's viewpoints, so perhaps my opinion may provide some food for thought. I'd rather let my pet go peacefully and with dignity... and if at all possible, I would rather let them go a little early than even an hour too late. I don't want them to die feeling scared, stressed, or feeling extreme pain, or during an emergency or a crisis. Ideally, given the choice, I want their passing to be "just a normal day" -- with some extra treats, loving, playtime, or adventure -- where they feel safe, happy, and loved.

 

 

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Topic: When to Euthanize: Quality of Life Considerations for Pets
 
 
Caramia says...

This is the most comforting post that I've found online. We had to say goodbye to our sweet Staffy of 13 years who suffered from neurological issues (dementia, possibly a brain tumor). I am devastated by the choice I made to euthanize her. I have had tremendous guilt thinking I didn't do enough or give it enough time to figure things out, but in reality, she would never have recovered from this progressive disease... things would have only gotten worse. She did not have the "x" factor anymore and was only existing to eat and go on walks but the rest of the time she was panting, pacing, and on some days climbing furniture and with disorientation. We don't know if her panting was from anxiety or pain. Her "good days" weren't truly "good." They were better than the bad days, but still would not qualify as really good. Your kind approach and understanding words helped me feel better about my decision to let my sweet baby go.

Audrey says...

Thank you for your helpful words. I have made the decision to help my Dog over the bridge on Thursday but was doubting my decision. He has chronic bronchitis and been on steroids for 2 yrs resulting in Cushing disease and muscle wastage. Your helpful words have comforted me that I have made the right decision for my gorgeous boy

vicki hochman says...

Our lab just turned 12. She is now diabetic and has cushings. She became blind from the diabetes even though we caught it quickly. Her hips are fine, its her spine that's causing her pain and instability to get up. She struggles even with non slip flooring. Her anal tone is gone so she goes in the house. She sleeps all day and nothing seems worth it anymore. She can eat and hear. Im sure she could go on like this for a while but on Sunday Aug 29,2021 she will be going over the rainbow bridge. Its time for her to be free of this life and hopefully onto another wonderful place. We are heartbroken but we can see her dignity is gone and the quality of her life is long gone. Thank you for this post. Im unsure of our decision but this isn't the life she would want. Im sure she might go on for a few more months but at what quality. This stinks. Good bye my wonderful baby girl. My heart is with all of you that are facing this challenge. Thank you for your guidance....

Debbie McNulty says...

Thank you for your very helpful and informative article about quality of life for our beloved pets. Our puggle, Bruno, will be 15 in November and he is getting weaker each day with his hip and leg arthritis. Half the time I am carry his 32 pounds down the deck stairs and I guide his hips up the stairs. He sleeps all day and is on gabipentin twice a day. At night, he pants and paces until I help him up on our bed where he sleeps peacefully all night. Bruno was such a wonderfully active and vocable little guy but now he is deaf. His eating and pooping are normal although his mouth is very tender and so are his feet. He has many fatty tumors, with one very large lump on his side about the size of a melon that would be too invasive to remove at his age, per my vet. His skin is black at all of his joint areas- elbows & knees and even on his belly where the lumps are located. I know I need to make a decision soon to put him out of his misery as I have done for so many other pets.

Denise says...

Thank you. You've brought clarity to an agonizing decision to be made for my 16 year old Parson Russell Terrier with canine cognitive dysfunction. Physically she's okay, but her cognitive decline has been marked. She is a shadow of her former self -- existing, not living. I knew there wasn't going to be an obvious sign from her so I'm grateful for your words here, which have helped me to make the best choice for my girl.

Daniella M. Meyer says...

Thank you for this information as we have been struggling with when to euthanize Henry. He is long haired chihuahua mix, age 17 and 3 months. Had him since he was a stray puppy from the streets. I've managed his arthritis for several years now, but he has become aggressive and just unhappy. He's blind and has glaucoma in one eye which causes pain and pressure. Henry's on a pill for that but can't administer eye drops. Too stressful for all if us. Has peacefully slept thru the night until 2 days ago. Stands and stares and barks. It's his time to cross rainbow bridge. Thank you for helping me decide, today. Not another night of fear for Henry.

Annette Leazer says...

Thank you. This information was very helpful in making our decision yesterday to put down our 14 ½ year old Aussie, Freckles. The description of symptoms and behaviors, especially around Pain and Mental State was so well written, it helped us understand exactly what she was experiencing and we knew it was time to call a mobile vet. As the day progressed, she didn't even want to even stand up to eat. Thankfully, the vet came a couple hours later and Freckles was able to pass peacefully during her naptime with a full belly. We are so glad she is not suffering now.

WENDY K LAIDLAW says...

Thank you for writing this article which has helped me and my children arrive at the best decision for my beautiful chocolate lab who is in her 16th year. She still has such presence yet her body is failing her and we shall sorely miss her, although we have gratitude for having her in our lives.

Lillie Jane Owen says...

Thank you for this helpful information. I am about stressed out with this problem. My Yorkie is 17 years and two months. Still wags his tail, can not eat very well but enjoys his food and has not lost weight yet. Seems to enjoy the knocks on the door which mean company of some kind. Does not enjoy walks outside much. He walks around the house and gets his exercise. Then he starts walking in circles until he falls. He sleeps all night and takes two naps per day. He has a skin disease , which they do not know the cause of--it almost covers all of his skin and looks like black dirt. It becomes very sticky when it is moistened by a few drops of water. He seems to enjoy it when I pick him up and just hold him. We are both struggling with this point in his life. I just want the best for him. He likes to live, so I will help him as long as we both can tolerate living like this. ( I am 87+).

Martha Brick says...

Thank you. This is such an agonizing decision. My 16 year old chow/golden mix is the last of the four pets that we had before my husband died 12 years ago. That is adding to the agony of letting Mattie Belle go. It is such a battle between my heart and my head. I know my baby girl is tired, worn out, and increasingly uncomfortable in spite of the meds. This past year has been dedicated to and consumed by her care. I am thankful that I have had this time with her and would not trade a minute of it. But... like Mattie, I am tired too. This is the first article I have found that addresses caregiver burnout. Thank you. The amount of care that is required all day and night to keep her comfortable and clean is not good for either of us, and the kindest thing for me to do is to set her free. I just wish it didn’t have to hurt so bad...

Cheryl S Fangman says...

Martha I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your note to this site which I found by the grace of God and no tech knowledge to speak of. Your note is almost verbatim what I and my baby girl are experiencing with some other issues. I always call her my baby girl and she is so awesome. We have been on this path alone together for a year and a half and I too would not trade one second of it. Thank you for letting me know that I am not alone in this burnout thing--if you would like to respond at any time my email is csfangman@yahoo. Will probably not be able to figure out how to respond beyond that. Once again thank you.

Pam says...

Have a 17 year old Golden/Pyr mix . Has lost bladder and bowel control, as well as failing hips. Have to give him chicken or salmon to eat, as will no longer eat his kibbles. Not eating much and losing weight. Been through this before, not an easy decision with which to make.

Sylvia Lee says...

I have a part lab/rockweiller almost 14 yr old dog diagnosed with lumbar arthritis which affected his spinal nerves and now has no feeling or use of his two hind legs. He was diagnosed in mid-Oct. Since then vet took him off steroids as he had side effects after 1 month and then put him on antibiotics and pain meds. Dog doesn't appear to be in pain, eats normal and poops ok; however he is immobile on back legs so needs to be lifted so he can walk on front paws only. He is strong enough to sit up but caring for him is like caring for an invalid. I am 80 yrs old and don't know how long I can care for him. We have a dog wheelchair that we use few days a week; Dog feelings about wheelchair is mixed, some days ok and some not. Being that his quality of life is very compromised considering how active he was, pondering whether putting him to sleep would be better or just living on a dog bed most of day. Would appreciate comments. Thank you.

Val says...

Hello! We’re in the same situation like you described. I agree it’s like caring for an invalid. I’m curious on what you decided to do? Our vet and another vet (got a 2nd opinion) both suggested to euthanize due to immobility (can’t walk nor has strength for wheelchair) and incontinence. They told us to think of his quality of life and how sitting around isn’t much of a life. It’s hard for us to tell if he’s in pain since he still eats, responds/smiles/barks at us, wags tail, tries sit up etc. We’re going back and forth on what to do.

Jeanne says...

Thank you for this. I am grappling with this very decision over the last few months. I appreciate your words.

Anastasia Kourtis says...

Thank you

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