Photo of elderly dog - Pet Euthanasia and End of Life Care - Blue Springs Animal Hospital

End of Life Decisions and Care

As caretakers we make many decisions about the health and well-being of our pets, but decisions can be extremely difficult when it comes to end of life care. The needs of each pet and the beliefs of each family are different, but we hope the information on this page will help and support you. If you have questions or concerns, please contact us.

How do I evaluate my pet's quality of life?

When considering end of life decisions it is important to objectively evaluate your pet's quality of life. The term "quality of life" describes a pet's overall well-being and encompasses physical, mental, and behavioral factors. Evaluating a pet's quality of life is a process that helps determine if a pet is still relatively happy and leading a satisfactory life, or if their health has diminished to the point that they are unhappy and suffering.

Pets cannot tell us how they feel, but there are indicators when a pet's quality of life has diminished. The members of a pet's family know them best and are the experts regarding changes in the pet's quality of life.

You can score your pet on the following important factors to objectively assess their quality of life. In each category a score of 2 indicates a normal quality of life, 1 indicates a diminished quality of life, and 0 indicates a significantly compromised quality of life. 

Enjoyment of favorite things:

  • 2 = Pet shows normal interest in things they enjoy. Examples include getting treats, playing ball, going for a walk or ride, barking at the doorbell or neighbors, playing with other pets, greeting family members when they come home, and being loved and petted.
  • 1 = Pet is showing less interest in their favorite things
  • 0 = Pet shows no interest in their favorite things

Appetite:

  • 2 = Pet eats and drinks normally and enjoys treats
  • 1 = Pet is eating and drinking, but less interested than normal. Might require persuasion such as hand feeding or adding tasty human food or treats
  • 0 = Pet refuses to eat 

Social Behavior:

  • 2 = Pet is alert and aware of their surroundings and interacts as they normally do with family and other pets
  • 1 = Pet is less interactive or acting out of character, might not want to play or be petted, might become more irritable, might hide or want to be left alone more than usual
  • 0 = Pet is dull and depressed, minimally responsive to stimuli and mostly unaware of their surroundings, minimal interactions with family or other pets, might be irritable or aggressive when disturbed

Mobility:

  • 2 = Pet gets around normally on their own
  • 1 = Pet has difficulty getting up, going up or down stairs, or getting on furniture. May struggle when posturing to urinate/defecate.
  • 0 = Pet is unable to get up and/or needs assistance walking

Sanitation:

  • 2 = Pet is urinating and defecating normally, cat is grooming as usual
  • 1 = Pet has irregular urination or defecation, might have accidents in the house, cat is grooming less than normal
  • 0 = Pet has frequent accidents and/or is soiling themselves, infrequent bowel movements, cat has stopped grooming

Pain:

  • 2 = Pet seems comfortable, eats normally, gets around well, wants to play and interact with people and other pets
  • 1 = Pet has some discomfort, might pant more than usual, is less mobile, less interested in food or treats, less interactive, sleeps more than usual
  • 0 = Pet is obviously painful, sometimes whines or cries, might pant a lot, reluctant to move or get up, might hide or avoid interaction, looks anxious or scared, sleeps a lot

Your pet may score higher in some categories than others and may experience good days and bad days. Toward the end of life the bad days will start to outnumber the good days which is another indicator that quality of life has diminished.

How will I know it is time to consider euthanasia?

Sometimes your pet’s quality of life has diminished so much that the decision is clear. They may have a diagnosis with a poor prognosis or they could have a chronic disease and are out of treatment options. But, sometimes, the euthanasia decision is not black and white, and making this final decision may feel very hard. It is understandable to want to delay the decision as long as possible because you want more time with the pet you love. Just keep in mind that sometimes the most loving and selfless thing you can do is relieve your pet's pain and suffering with the gift of a painless death.

Try to set aside your feelings of grief and objectively assess your pet's quality of life in order to decide when the time has come. If you are unsure and have questions, please reach out to us for assistance.

Is it better to let my pet pass away naturally or to provide humane euthanasia?

It is a misconception that pets will pass away peacefully if allowed to experience a natural death on their own. Unfortunately, that is frequently not the case. Animals are incredibly resilient and their survival instinct is strong. They tend to mask and hide their symptoms and it is often difficult for people to recognize the extent of their pain. Many pets experience distressing problems in the process of dying such as anxiety and fear, vomiting and loss of bodily functions, and coma or seizures. By the time a pet dies naturally from an illness they have likely endured significant pain and suffering.

Veterinary treatment and pain management can provide comfort to the pet for a while, but eventually with terminal illness it is no longer possible to alleviate suffering and maintain a good quality of life. At that point euthanasia is the most loving and humane thing we can do for our pets. Euthanasia eliminates a pet’s suffering and gives them a quick, painless, and more dignified passing.

What is humane euthanasia for pets?

Euthanasia is a medical procedure that quickly and painlessly ends the pet's life. An overdose of an anesthetic drug is administered intravenously which instantly causes the pet to fall asleep. If you have experienced anesthesia for a surgical procedure you understand how quickly an anesthetic injection works. Once the pet is in a deep sleep the euthanasia drug causes the heart and lungs to stop functioning and the pet will be deceased after a few minutes.

What do I need to do when I am ready to euthanize my pet?

Blue Springs Animal Hospital offers compassionate euthanasia services at our hospital. We are unable to provide home euthanasia services, but if you are interested in having a veterinarian come to your home we can recommend Lap of Love, Home with Dignity, or Coda Pet.

For more information about euthanasia services at Blue Springs Animal Hospital, call us at 816-229-1544 and we will walk you through the process. There are a couple of decisions you will need to make in advance.

Do you want to be with your pet during the euthanasia procedure?

You can schedule a time for the procedure and be with your pet during the process. Or, if you do not want to be present, then you can say your goodbyes at home and drop the pet off at the hospital for us to care for them through the procedure. It is a very personal decision and there is no right or wrong answer. Each family member may feel differently and can decide whether they want to be present. It may help to read the next section below on what to expect during the procedure in order to make your decision.

What do you want to do with the pet's body after euthanasia?

You will need to decide in advance what you want to do with the pet's body. Some people may choose to take the body home for burial. We also offer the option to send your pet's body for communal or individual cremation. With communal cremation the pet is cremated with several other pets and the remains are not returned. With an individual cremation the pet is cremated alone and the remains will be returned to you. Pet cremations are provided by a local pet crematorium who picks up the pets from our facility. We can answer questions and discuss pricing for cremation when you call to schedule the euthanasia.

What is the process at Blue Springs Animal Hospital if I remain with my pet during the euthanasia procedure?

  • When you arrive, please let the front desk know you are here for your pet's euthanasia. We will escort you to a private room as quickly as possible.
  • We will take the pet to the treatment room for a few minutes so a registered veterinary technician can place an IV catheter. Your pet will only be away for a few minutes and will be returned to you prior to the euthanasia. Pets who are nervous or stressed can be given a light sedative with the IV to calm their nerves and help them relax. The IV catheter is to ensure the veterinarian will be able to inject the euthanasia drug painlessly and quickly into the vein when it is time.
  • While your pet is having the IV placed, we will go over some paperwork and take care of the payment so you do not have to worry about any of that after the procedure. You will be asked to sign a consent form to give permission for the euthanasia and to indicate what you want to do with the body afterward.
  • After the IV is placed you will be able to spend a few minutes loving on your pet and saying your final goodbyes. Before the procedure the vet will explain what to expect. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or discuss your worries.
  • When you are ready to proceed, you will be able to talk to your pet and love on them while the veterinarian gives the injection(s) into the IV. If the pet has not already received sedation when their IV was placed, the veterinarian may give a sedative for relaxation before injecting the euthanasia solution.
  • Within seconds after the euthanasia injection your pet will relax into a deep anesthetized sleep. They will no longer be able to experience any pain, fear, or anxiety. As the drug continues to work your pet's breathing will slow and their heart will stop. On rare occasions a second injection of the anesthetic may be necessary before the heart stops. The veterinarian will listen to the heart with a stethoscope to verify when the pet has passed. 
  • After passing your pets eyes will usually remain open and the bladder or bowels might empty. Sometimes the pet will have involuntary movement of muscles such as twitching or paddling of the limbs, deep breaths from the respiratory muscles, or vocalization from the throat muscles like you might observe when the pet is dreaming in a deep sleep. These reflexes can be surprising if you are not aware it can happen, but all of these things are normal reflexes. It does not indicate that your pet is in distress or pain because the pet is fully anesthetized throughout the process.
  • Once the veterinarian has confirmed your pet's death, you will have the option to leave right away or spend some additional time grieving with the pet's body. If you are taking the body home for burial we will provide a cardboard casket. If the pet is being cremated we will wait until you have gone to move the body. The room where we usually perform euthanasia has a private exit door so you can leave when you are ready without going back through the lobby area.

Grieving the loss of a pet

The loss of a pet is heartbreaking. Everyone grieves differently and there’s no right or wrong way to do so. Take time to grieve and do what feels natural to you. It can be helpful to do something special to memorialize your pet, write about the good times you had, create a visual or written tribute of them, or plant something in their memory. If you would like to submit a Pet Memorial for our website you can do that here. Remember that grief is very difficult and allow yourself the time and space to process.

Below are some additional resources for pet loss grief support:

  • Grief Healing lists several pet loss helplines and virtual support groups.
  • The Argus Institute at the Colorado State University's College of Veterinary Medicine honors the human-animal bond and provides links to pet loss resources, including support groups and individual counseling.
  • Trusted Journey offers a 24/7 grief support hotline and additional pet grief resources.

Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.... Author unknown

Image of the Rainbow Bridge