The Decision
One of the hardest things we do as pet owners is watching them age and worry we are doing everything we can for them. There may come a time when we wonder if we are extending their suffering selfishly. Making the decision is often a difficult and emotional process that many describe as heartbreaking or the hardest thing they have ever had to do. Others may feel immense guilt or procrastinate and avoid making the decision altogether. Although it’s difficult, planning an at-home euthanasia for your ailing pet is usually the kindest and most humane thing you can do. Some people have a difficult time with the thought of euthanasia. Keep in mind the failing body is causing the end of life, not you.
Comfort at Home
It can be comforting for both you and your pet to be at home during this difficult time. Your pet will be more relaxed and comfortable in a familiar and secure place- in his bed or under her favorite tree. The home setting also allows a more personal experience for the whole family. The loss of a pet can be particularly difficult for children to understand. At home children feel secure and are free to express their emotions openly.
At home euthanasia is the best gift you can ever give your pet, where they can pass on surrounded by your love and the comfort of their home environment.
Quality of Life Scorecard
Dr. Alice Villalobos, the veterinarian who started Pawspice, a quality of life program for terminal pets,has published a scoring system for life quality called The HHHHHMM scale. The letters stand for: Hurt, Hunger, Hydration, Hygiene, Happiness, Mobility, and More Good Days than Bad.
**This is just another tool to be used to help put qualifiers on some lines that can get blurry during these situations. This system is not an absolute; it is just meant to help your objectivity. Pet caregivers can use this Quality of Life Scale to help determine the success of hospice care.
Score patients using a scale of 1 to 10. (1=no/disagree; 10=yes/agree).
Quality of Life Scorecard
Score | Criterion |
1-10 | HURT – First and foremost on the scale: Is pain control adequate? This includes breathing ability. Is the pet’s pain successfully managed? Are extra measures like oxygen necessary? |
1-10 | HUNGER – Is the pet eating enough and getting proper nutrition? Is hand feeding necessary? Does the patient require a feeding tube? |
1-10 | HYDRATION – Is the patient appropriately hydrated? Can they drink enough on their own, or do they require supplementation via subcutaneous or intravenous fluids? |
1-10 | HYGIENE – Can the the patient keep themselves clean? Does it require assistance? (Patients should be brushed and cleaned, particularly after elimination. Appropriate bedding to avoid pressure sores, keep any wounds clean/dressed, etc). |
1-10 | HAPPINESS – Does the pet express joy and interest? Is the pet responsive and interactive to things around him or her (family, toys, etc.)? Is the pet depressed, lonely, anxious, bored or afraid? Can the pet’s hospice area or bed be close to the family activities and not be isolated? |
1-10 | MOBILITY – Can the patient get up and about? Does the pet need human or mechanical assistance (e.g., a cart)? Does the pet feel like going for a walk? Is the pet having seizures or stumbling? |
*Total | *A total over 35 points generally represents acceptable life quality. |