How do you know when it's time to say goodbye to your partner?

Recognizing the signs that your dog or cat is nearing the end of its life can be complicated. Making the decision to stop may seem impossible, but it's sometimes the best solution for your companion. With chronic illnesses, your pet often alternates between good days and bad, so how do you know when the time is right?

Methods for assessing quality of life

When it comes to euthanasia, quality of life is at the heart of the debate. It's a question of assessing whether there is physical discomfort (pain), whether your companion is able to enjoy daily life, or whether he or she is still fully present at the cerebral level. But old age is not a disease! There's no question of making a decision just because your pet is declining. Veterinarians use assessment tools and grids to try and objectively transpose subjective parameters, in order to guide owners through these difficult times.

The grid I use is based on the evaluation of your pet's social interaction skills; the existence of signs of physical suffering; the presence or absence of senility; autonomy in simple daily tasks such as relieving itself/feeding.

Does the right moment exist?

It varies from situation to situation, depending on the pathology your companion is suffering from and the family context. The latter must obviously be taken into account: each person will have his or her own threshold for accepting the end of life, depending on past experience. The quality of life evaluation grid leaves room for subjectivity: two people may give different scores on the same criterion applied to the same animal.

That's why I use another grid that focuses on the anxieties that caregivers may feel. Is the end of life perceived as imminent and fraught with anxiety, or on the contrary as remote and manageable?

Key indicators of impaired quality of life

Physical pain can be recognized when you know what to look out for.

• Pain/discomfort: pain may be associated with osteoarthritis, dental pain or abdominal pain. Animals may limp, or put themselves in algic positions (buttocks up, head down). They may have difficulty finding a position to rest, or on the contrary spend hours without moving.
• Appetite and drinking habits: an animal that refuses to eat for several days in a row may suffer from nausea or abdominal pain. Vomiting is also a sign of abnormality.
• Uncleanliness: a dog or cat that can no longer hold back when relieving itself, or even urinates or defecates underneath it, is definitely uncomfortable.
• Respiratory difficulties: a severe cough or difficulty in finding air undoubtedly indicates a deterioration in quality of life.

Behavioral changes

Some behavioural changes can be subtle (e.g. senility), while others can be dramatic (e.g. aggression).

• Social withdrawal: a formerly sociable companion who refuses to be petted or hides in inappropriate places is often a sign of discomfort.
• Changes in rhythm: some animals reverse their day/night cycle, wandering all night while sleeping all day.
• Emotional changes: anxiety worsens with age and can affect your companion's quality of life. Vocalizations, growling or incessant barking are sometimes signs of this.

Do these changes mean we should stop?

Observing the various criteria listed above is a warning sign that something is going wrong.

Certain adaptations can be made to improve your companion's quality of life, and I invite you to read the article I wrote some time ago on interior adaptations that can be made at home.

Medical treatment for anxiety can sometimes help too.

Unfortunately, these aging processes and/or chronic illnesses inevitably lead to deterioration. Monitoring quality of life early and regularly can help you prepare for the difficult decision ahead. End-of-life care can even be provided at home, if you so choose.

Some people sometimes ask me whether euthanasia is unavoidable: can't their companion just die out on its own? Unfortunately, cardiac arrest during sleep is an exception in the evolution of chronic diseases. Allowing them to worsen right up to the end of your pet's life often means seeing him or her go through very difficult times, with definite suffering (repeated vomiting, inability to move around, bedsores, sometimes even convulsions).

On the other hand, end-of-life care, especially when considered in advance, is a peaceful and painless act. In fact, I've never met a vet opposed to euthanasia.

If you are having difficulty in making a decision, don't hesitate to contact a trusted veterinarian who will be able to guide you. Don't be alone at this difficult time.