END-OF-LIFE SUPPORT
What is end-of-life support?
This covers the entire process leading up to the decision to euthanize, as well as its implementation.
All the following questions often require prior discussion. A pre-euthanasia consultation is highly recommended. It can be very unsettling for everyone to meet for the first time in such circumstances. It's very important for me to be able to take the full measure of the family context, but also to be able to discuss this very special procedure with you, before accompanying your pet to the end of its life.
How do you know if it's the right time?
Deciding to euthanize your pet is one of the most difficult decisions you'll ever make.
There is a whole range of tools available to quantitatively assess an animal's quality of life. However, each case is unique. As your pet's companion, you know him/her best. Don't hesitate to share the criteria you feel are most important to your pet's comfort, and we'll discuss whether they still apply.
I can also shed light on how your pet's pathology may evolve. What symptoms may appear? Are they acceptable? Are there treatments to counter them?
In the end, there's never a good time to make such a decision. Only the one that seems most acceptable to you.
How do you prepare once you've made your decision?
Think about who you would like to be with you and your companion during his last moments. Find out if you want to be present for the entire procedure.
In which room would you like your pet to go? Will other pets be present? What was his favorite bed or toys?
If your pet is particularly anxious, oral medication prior to the appointment may make things easier.
Finally, you'll need to know whether you want to keep your pet after euthanasia, or whether you'd like a cremation, collective or individual.
How does euthanasia work?
The day of the appointment
Don't hesitate to offer your pet any food he might fancy. If your dog is still on the move, you can go for a walk with him, so that he can relieve himself and be more relaxed when I arrive. If your cat has access to the outside, you can block the exits before my arrival.
You can tell me the most appropriate place to park my car, or how you'd like me to announce my arrival (I can, for example, avoid ringing the bell).
If your pet's condition allows it, and you feel the need, we can first sit down together to calmly prepare the procedure. It's important to be in agreement with your decision: it's perfectly possible to postpone euthanasia if the time no longer seems right and your pet's condition allows it. Conversely, there's no point in prolonging a consultation if your pet is in distress.
I then sedate your pet with an injection under the skin on the neck or back. The aim of this phase is to soothe your companion as much as possible, and bring him or her into a state of deep relaxation.
Finally, I administer an injection that will stop your pet's heart and breathing. This takes a few minutes.
I check that his heart has stopped too, with a stethoscope auscultation.
What next?
Depending on your wishes, your pet can be buried or cared for by a pet cremation company.
Please do not hesitate to contact me directly to discuss terms and conditions.
Why at home?
The last moments you share with your companion are golden.
Choosing an assisted end-of-life at home means allowing him to leave in familiar surroundings, surrounded by the people he loves/who love him.
It also means respecting the time for contemplation that is essential for a farewell, and preserving a unique sense of intimacy.
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