'Pawspice' & the quality - and end - of life
Our pets are living longer than ever before, but unfortunately its not forever.
WE ARE so fortunate that our dogs and cats are living longer than ever before. At some point, though, just as with people, nothing more can be done. That doesn't always mean that euthanasia must be the next step. More and more, people are turning to end-of-life programs that help to ease a pet's journey out of life in a way that maintains comfort, while giving his family extra time with him.
Known as "pawspice," it allows people and veterinarians to work together to increase survival time, ensure quality of life, relieve pain and recognize when it's time to say goodbye.
Palliative medicine includes pain management, infection control, nutritional support and complementary therapies, such as acupuncture or massage. Pets who receive it often have longer survival times, giving human and animal more time together before the pet's death.
If you have a terminally ill pet, talk to your veterinarian about a pet hospice plan. One of the things you'll need to do is to assess your animal's quality of life. On the following questions, score criteria on a scale of 0 to 10. A score of 35 or higher suggests good quality of life, while a lower score may mean you need to make changes to improve your dog's or cat's situation or consider whether it's time to let him go.
* Is my pet's pain manageable with medication or oxygen therapy? The most severe type of pain involves difficulty with breathing. Your veterinarian can show you how to monitor your pet's respiration and comfort level and identify labored breathing.
* Is my pet's appetite good? Your veterinarian may be able to prescribe an appetite stimulant or insert a feeding tube. Some pets respond well to being hand-fed. You can also try warming food to make it more aromatic. Sometimes scratching a pet's head and neck can encourage him to eat.
* Is my pet drinking enough water? Dehydration can make pets feel sick. Providing a fountain can encourage your dog or cat to drink more water.
* Is my pet staying clean? This can be especially problematic for cats, who may groom themselves less often if they don't feel well. Gently brush or comb your pet regularly and give "butt baths" or other cleaning as needed.
* Is my pet happy? It's a good sign if your dog or cat still greets you and enjoys petting and other interactions. If he seems depressed, anxious or isolated, try to make environmental changes, such as keeping him in a quieter area if he doesn't like noise or moving him to a place where he can enjoy being with the family if he's the social type.
* Is my pet mobile? If necessary, see if you can help him out with ramps or steps to furniture that make it easier for him to get in and out of the litter box.
* Is my pet having more good days than bad? Your dog's or cat's quality of life may be going downhill if he's starting to have three or four bad days in a row. It may be time to think about euthanasia.
Most important, let your veterinarian know that your pet is important to you.