How do I know when it is time to say goodbye?

We never want our pets to suffer, but we never want to say goodbye too early.  One of the hardest decisions we make is when to euthanise our beloved pet.  Very rarely will dogs or cats pass away peacefully, naturally and pain free. A lot of the time our beloved pet will experience pain and/or distress before they pass away. This is why we make the decision to say goodbye to try to prevent this pain and distress.

Keeping a diary of your pet's good and bad days can be very helpful. It allows you to track their decline and may assist you in deciding when the right time is. Generally, if there are more bad days than good, it might be time to start preparing yourself to say goodbye.

There are many factors that contribute to your pet's quality of life. Every pet is unique, so it's important to consider what your pet used to enjoy doing and whether they can still do and enjoy those activities. For example, playing with a favorite toy or going for a walk on the beach. If your pet is lying around all day, not interacting, unable to eat, struggling to breathe, or whining in pain for example, these are signs that their quality of life may be poor.

I always recommend taking your beloved pet to the veterinary practice for a check-up. If your pet is not eating well or seems to be in pain, it doesn't necessarily mean it's time to say goodbye. They might need pain relief to stay comfortable or a dental procedure to remove a painful tooth. Only after all treatment options have been considered and tried, and if they are no longer effective, should you consider saying goodbye.