ISABEL, who owned Kathy
DIXIE, who owned Wayne
PUMPKIN, who owned Kathy
BANDIT, SMOKEY, and SADIE, who owned Brent and Marsha
RUFFIAN, who owned Drew and Patrick
FREUD, who owned Kathy
MOLLY, who owned Anita
AMPERSAND, who owned Kathy
CINDY LOU, who owned Emily
A guide for navigating the final chapter in your pet’s life
   Losing a pet can be heartbreaking, whether that pet is furred, feathered, scaled, pawed, beaked, or hoofed. Doubt and second-guessing intrude when you are called on to make decisions on your pet’s behalf as it approaches the end of its life.
  The question Is it time? refers to the question pet owners ask their veterinarians when it appears their pet’s life is coming to a close. Our wish is for this to be a peaceful time for our pets and their human family. But how can we make it so?
   IS IT TIME? won’t tell you what to do. Nothing in this blog is meant to persuade you to follow one path or another. Rather, it presents ideas and options so you can pursue the most appropriate course for your pet in the final chapter of its life. It contains ideas to discuss with your veterinarian, who is the only person who can advise you about the medical needs of your pet.Â
The question may be a straightforward one: What is best for my pet? Answering it may be one of the more difficult undertakings of your life.
HOW TO FIND WHAT YOU NEED
There are two ways to find what you need:
- On the menu bar at the top of every page, click on POSTS or TABLE OF CONTENTS. Topics that have already been posted will be in GREEN type on the Table of Contents. Topics in BLACK have yet to be posted but they will be posted soon.
- Click on the links under the photos below.
Euthanasia: Moral and ethical considerations
All the named animals pictured in this blog were someone’s treasured pet. They may have crossed the Rainbow Bridge, but their absence makes them no less beloved.
WHAT YOU WILL FIND HERE AS POSTS ARE ADDED:
Our fears for our pet and ourselves
Rehoming options
How to assess your dog’s or cat’s quality of life
How to assess your pet’s acute and chronic pain
Pet hospice care
How to make your pet more comfortable
Euthanasia: Moral and ethical considerations
How to talk to your children
Where you might find financial help
How to make a decision
How to help your other pets
If you decide to euthanize….
Why does losing a pet hurt so much?
Ways to celebrate your pet’s life
Helping your children cope with loss
Grieving
When — if ever — is it time to get a new pet?
Importance of spaying and neutering to give your pet a longer and healthier life
