May 9th, 2008
May 3rd was a very hard day for my family. We had to say goodbye to Rusty, our 8 year old Labrador who had suffered from a cancerous growth in his nose. He was diagnosed with cancer months before and we were expecting that this day would come, but it didn’t make the pain of having to let him go any easier.
It is always hard to know when to euthanize your pet, even when they’ve had a happy and long life. When deciding to put Rusty to sleep we looked at his quality of life even though he wasn’t very old. Here are some of the things we considered:
- Is your pet still eating?
- Does your pet like interaction with people or other pets?
- Are they in pain?
- Is your pet still going to the bathroom outside?
- Can their medical problems still be managed?
When the answer to most of these questions was no, it was time for us to euthanize Rusty and let him go peacefully. You and your family know your pet best, and only you can decide when the time is right. If you are struggling with the decision to euthanize your pet a veterinarian can help guide you and help evaluate your pet’s quality of life.
It was very hard for our family to let Rusty go even though it was time, and he was suffering. I don’t think it is ever easy to euthanize your pet, but it is a peaceful option, and better then letting them suffer.
Rusty died as he had lived, in our best care, in our hearts, and surrounded by those that loved him. We will miss you Rusty, we will never forget you.
