Bark N Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk

The overwhelming joy of having pets is unfortunately accompanied by the inevitable sadness that comes with ending their lives. As humans, we must be witness to the death of our family member, our pet. And unlike the movies, rarely is it that they gently fall “asleep” for eternity. Instead, dog owners are in the unique position of having to decide when it’s time to say goodbye, a process called humane euthanasia. When age or illness changes a pet’s ability to function in a normal capacity, your veterinarian, as well as friends and family members, start to discuss with you “quality of life.” What is this quality of life, and whose lives are we talking about — you or your pet? As an emergency veterinarian for over thirty years, I have been there for clients needing sound advice to make that most difficult decision, a decision that they often have never been faced with before and have little or no training. Veterinary medicine is now capable of allowing our pets to live longer more “normal” lives, but there wi