Saying Goodbye to Your Old Pet

Saying goodbye is never easy, but a time comes in the life of every person when he or she must make a tough decision. The majority of the pets will become a member of the family, and so when the end is near, the owners feel like the moment puts a knife in their hearts.

Old Pet Care

In many cases when having a really old animal, the best option is to think about euthanasia. People tend to delay the decision making, just to have the pet around as long as possible, but in many cases this is the worst choice possible. In many cases the pet sends signs when it feels its time is near. Nonetheless the best option for the owners is to talk to a veterinarian that will be able to offer professional and humanitarian advice.

There are some questions that you should ask yourself before making any kind of decision:

  • Can the pet eat and drink without feeling any pain?
  • Is the animal in pain?
  • Has your pet lost its ability to move around?
  • Are there any breathing problems?
  • Is the pet able to hold its head up?
  • In case the pet is sick, is there any kind of treatment for the illness? Will these treatments be effective? Can you afford the treatment? Will the quality of pet’s life be better after the treatment?
  • Does the pet enjoy life anymore?
  • Will the illness of the pet influence the health of the other animals?

Naturally there are some other questions as well that you could ask, and be sure to write them down before you go to the vet. It is just natural that the pet owners would have a hard time accepting the harsh reality, so you might also want a second opinion. If this would make you feel better, feel free to do so. You should gather the best information possible regarding the condition of the pet.

In case you decide that the best option is to choose euthanasia, you shouldn’t feel guilty about it. You can be sure that you have done everything you could and feeling sad about having to let go is something completely normal. The majority of the pet owners consider their animals part of the family, and losing pets is similar to losing a human family member.

It can be a good idea to talk to some other pet lovers, who understand what you are going through and maybe they could offer you some advice regarding how to handle the whole situation. With time everything will get sorted out, and you might get another pet. This doesn’t mean that you want to replace the old pet, but it shows that you are willing to move on.

Although the pet owners don’t really want to think about this, the fact that the animal will pass away is a known thing right from the beginning, and this is something that we all have to prepare for, so it won’t catch us off-guard.

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