How to Navigate the End of Your Pet’s Life

NEW YORK — Dr. Lisa Walling’s first home visit of the day was with a particularly cute hospice patient – a 13-year-old Newfoundland named Rugby.

Rugby happily licked a plate of peanut butter while Walling inserted needles into his back; acupuncture and ketamine injection to help with pain and mobility issues.

As an end-of-life care veterinarian, Walling considers both the pet and owner to be her patients. She’s there to make sure animals are as comfortable as possible in their final days and to help humans with the difficult decision of knowing when it’s time to say goodbye.

“Most of the time, the majority of my job is helping homeowners,” Walling said. When it came time to sacrifice Rugby on a later visit, the whole family was there.

There are a number of options available to help senior pets and their caregivers, including hospice and palliative care, home euthanasia, and a growing number of so-called pet death doulas. But making decisions at the end of life can still feel overwhelming. Here are some ways to care for your pet and yourself.

Hospice and hospice veterinarians like Walling specialize in home visits, which can be a good option if transporting your pet to the veterinarian’s office becomes too difficult.

The International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care maintains a directory of its members.

Veterinarians can prescribe medications to treat infections, pain, and chronic conditions, as well as help with dietary changes. But there are simple things that owners themselves can do at home to make their pet more comfortable.

As dogs age and their limbs become stiffer, slippery floors such as wood and tile become difficult to walk on. Try placing treadmills or yoga mats where your pet walks and especially where he stays to eat. For breeds with longer coats, you can trim the fur on the bottom of the paws to give the pads more grip.

“We had to take out all the rugs and patch up our kitchen,” said Rugby owner Sam Boege.

For larger dogs who need help getting up or leaving the house, Walling recommends a special harness with front and back handles.

Cats don’t struggle so much with slippery floors as they do suffer from arthritis. If your cat is having trouble climbing into the litter box, it might be a good idea to get one that sits lower.

For both dogs and cats, try raising their food and water bowls so they don’t have to bend down as much.

If medication and pain management aren’t relieving your pet’s suffering and you’re trying to decide whether it’s time to let him go, look for signs like loss of appetite and difficulty breathing — and consult your veterinarian.

“There is a spectrum of times when euthanasia is an appropriate decision,” said Dr. Dani McVety, a veterinarian who founded Lap of Love, the nation’s largest network of home euthanasia providers.

Volta de Amor provides resources on their website which can be used to assess your pet’s quality of life.

Planning euthanasia at home can be a good choice for pets who do not face immediate medical emergencies. It’s wise to prepare in advance and understand how the procedure works so you can focus on your pet’s final days.

“You’re not shortening their life, you’re shortening their death,” Walling said.

You don’t have to go through the end of your pet’s life alone.

The Pet Loss and Bereavement Association provides information about its website to help pet owners understand euthanasia and grief. Lap of Love offers pet loss support groups several times a week. There are also pet loss counselors, grief specialists, and animal chaplains who offer one-on-one support.

End-of-life animal doulas, or “death doulas,” offer emotional, spiritual and informational support at the time of death. They are not required to have medical training but may work with veterinarians. A doula can help owners process feelings of sadness and loss or assist with practical steps such as planning for the last few days.

“Everyone is different,” said Lauren Seeley, a death doula based in New York City. “What I’ve found is that most people aren’t ready to deal with it until it’s already happened.”

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. AP is solely responsible for all content.