One of the most difficult times in your relationship with your dog is making end-of-ife care decisions when she is elderly or facing terminal illness. Knowing "when" is a hard decision. If your dog's pain and symptoms can be eased, you have the option of palliative care--keeping her comfortable, with good quality of life, until it's her time to go. Palliative or hospice care for pets is gaining acceptance with veterinary professionals, according to an article in the Journal of American Veterinary Medicine (JAVMA). It can make the transition for both you and your dog easier.
Instructions
Discuss your dog's prognosis with your veterinarian and ask her whether your dog is a candidate for palliative care. The Nikki Hospice Foundation for Pets suggests that palliative care may be appropriate if your dog has 6 months or less to live, he has a terminal illness or condition and there is evidence of declining health, such as frequent veterinary visits or hospitalizations.
Assess your dog's functioning. Let your veterinarian know if your dog can eat or drink without help, if he can urinate and defecate normally, if he can walk and orient himself and if he acts like he's in pain or depressed and withdrawn. The extent to which these functions can be managed can determine how well he will respond to palliative care.
Consult with a specialist if your dog has a condition such as cancer or a terminal neurological disorder. Specialists are more likely to be informed of the newest findings for medications and therapies that can give relief. Palliative care is an option when you and your veterinarian can work together to provide pain relief for your dog and manage other symptoms such as nausea and depression.
Prepare to give your dog medications as directed by your veterinarian and to keep him fed and cleaned when he can't do it himself. Providing palliative care for a dog requires commitment and often a lot of time.
Establish a "minimum standard" of life quality for your dog, suggests the University of Pennsylvania's Clinical Oncology Service. Because you see your dog every day, you may not be aware of his decline. Understand that you will have to make the decision to discontinue care, or euthanize him, when he no longer has an acceptable quality of life.