Euthanasia of a pet – having it put down- is the hardest decision that any owner has to make. But sooner or later this dilemma has to be faced. All vets are familiar with the problem, but this does not make it any easier to advise about the right decision in every case.
Sometimes it is clear – the animal is in severe pain which cannot be controlled to any extent and there is no hope of long term improvement. Any sensible and sensitive owner knows this is unfair for the pet, and realises there is no alternative.
Other cases are more difficult – the old pet, or one suffering from an illness which will be terminal. Often there can be little pain, they are eating, and the cat still purrs. However, there may not be very much joy in life either. In the wild, these animals would not live long, but we keep our pets so well that they commonly reach the old age stage.

HOW TO DECIDE WHEN THE TIME HAS COME
One of the best ways of assessing a declining pet is to try to add up how much pleasure he gets out of life in a week, how many good days and bad days
- if he is a little stiff getting up in the morning, but eats well, looks for short walks most nights, and sleeps 18 hours out of 24, then he is still fairly happy. The pain of the arthritis can be relieved by tablets, which will help further
- but if there is only one good afternoon a week, he has difficulty walking at all, he is incontinent, so has to sleep on the lino instead of his comfy settee, and his appetite is poor, then his quality of life is very poor.
If there are more good days than bad days, then the time has come to think about euthanasia, - it is quality of life which we have to consider.
Remember that pets have certain things in life which they love – usually their owners, food and walks (in the case of dogs). When they lose interest in all of these, they are unhappy. Very ill or old dogs know that they are defenceless, and primitive fears can take over, which again can make life very unhappy. This is the time that a caring owner can help their pet, by ending the fear and the unhappiness.
Naturally, people feel guilty about making this decision, but there is no need. If the pet has had 12 or 14 years of a happy life, then it should not end it in unhappiness.

WHAT HAPPENS?
The usual way of euthanasing a dog, cat or small caged pet is to give an overdose of barbiturate anaesthetic, if possible by injection into a vein. Many vets prefer to do this at the surgery because it is not the easiest of injections to administer to an old animal with poor blood pressure. A good light and a nurse who can hold the animal properly for the injection and is not emotionally involved, make things much easier than trying to inject the dog in his bed at home, with an upset owner not holding the dog very steadily. But do take your vet’s advice, and discuss the procedure and options with him.

WHAT ABOUT THE BODY?
All veterinary surgeons offer cremations, and return of your pet’s ashes can be arranged if that is what you want.
Burial in the garden is sometimes possible but is hard work when a big dog is involved.
There are animal cemeteries as well.
Talk to your vet about these options; remember it is worth thinking about them in advance, long before the event. It is not easy discussing things like this at the time of euthanasia.

WHAT NEXT?
Life goes on. Should you get another pet immediately, or wait a while? This is a very personal choice. Many people swear they will never have another pet, and then miss the companionship, the house suddenly seems so quiet, and before long they have a new animal. Do not rush into buying a new pet – it takes time to find the companion who will be with you hopefully for the next 12 or 14 years.
Lastly, do not try to replace the character of the old pet. All pets have different characters and habits; it is unfair on the new pet if it is always compared to the old one. Each pet must be appreciated for its own special ways and characteristics.

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