Making the decision to put down a beloved pet isn’t easy. With so many years of love, it’s not something that any pet owner wants to do. However, it’s important to ask yourself the following questions when making the decision to put down your pet.

Questions & Deciding to Put Your Pet Down

  • Does my pet’s pain wax and wane? Can it be controlled with treatment or medication?

  • What is his pain level, 1-10?

  • Has palliative care/hospice care been exhausted, or is it not an option?

  • Have they stopped eating? And if they eat do they become sick and vomit after?

  • Is the pet just existing?

  • Are they barely moving and not interacting with the family?

  • Have they had a personality change? Like being grumpy or not acting like themselves?

One way to tell and track your pet’s progress?

Keep a Journal

Writing down the facts and our thoughts and feelings about them can sometime help make our path more clear. You may want to make a daily note about your pet’s interactions with the family, his condition, behavior and appetite. It may be easier to reflect on his progression of symptoms this way.