![]() ![]() Making sure lighting is bright and furniture is not moved if eyesight is deterioratingĪdequate nutrition is key to maintaining your pet’s body condition wherever possible.Use litter boxes or trays with a low lip for easy access.Raising food and water bowls if there is any back, neck, or front leg pain.Use a ramp to help your dog get into the car, up steps, or even onto the sofa.Putting mats down on slippery floors to reduce falls.This will be unique to each individual but some ideas might be: MobilityĮnvironmental management helps your pet get around easier and involves minimizing the negative effects of anything your pet is struggling with. Physical therapy such as hydrotherapy (gentle exercising in water), cold laser therapy (using a low-energy laser to help reduce inflammation), or acupuncture may also help relieve your pet’s pain. Depending on your pet’s underlying condition, the actual drug used will vary - they may benefit from an NSAID anti-inflammatory painkiller or something more suited to nerve pain, like gabapentin. There are pain management options for pets that include numerous prescription medicines as well as dietary supplements, diet changes, and certain types of exercise depending on your pet’s health. Some ways to do this include: Pain management The best thing you can do for your elderly pet is to make sure they’re comfortable in all aspects of life. If you aren’t sure where to start looking for hospice care, consult with your primary veterinarian to see if they have any recommendations. The hospice veterinarian will put together an individualized plan for your pet and will teach you how to provide intensive home care to keep them as comfortable as possible. If you choose palliative care for your pet, you will be your pet’s primary caregiver and will work with a veterinarian to make your pet’s last days comfortable and peaceful. The goal is to make your pet’s final days or weeks as comfortable as possible with the proper use of pain medications, dietary strategies, and human interaction. Pet hospice care (also known as palliative care) is an option if your pet is suffering from a terminal illness. We want to optimize their quality of life so that the time they have left is as happy and comfortable as it can be. ![]() If you aren’t quite ready to say goodbye just yet, and depending on your pet’s situation, you can look into end-of-life care (also called hospice care) for your pet to help preserve their quality of life.Įnd-of-life care is all about prioritizing the quality of life of your pet versus the quantity of life (how long they’re going to live). But keep in mind the adage that veterinarians who specialize in end-of-life care believe to be all too true, “Better a week too early than an hour too late.” Alternatives to euthanasia Know that if you make an appointment for euthanasia and your dog rallies, you can always reschedule. When euthanasia is thought of in this way, it becomes obvious that there is no one right time to proceed. The goal of euthanasia is both to relieve and prevent suffering in other words, to maximize the good and minimize the bad. If your pet is in pain, your main goal should be to minimize his suffering. If you observe that moments of discomfort outweigh their capacity to enjoy life, it is time to euthanize, even if your pet still experiences pleasure in eating or socializing. Observing and keeping an accurate record of your pet in their daily activities can help you to decide. Information from medical tests is often more accurate than what a pet owner can observe, and pet owners often delay the moment of euthanasia in anticipation of grief. Your veterinarian is the best person to advise you on when the time is right to euthanize.
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