End-of-life care veterinarian Dr. Lisa Waring photographs David Peschette’s dog River receiving an acupuncture treatment in Brewster, N.Y., on Tuesday, May 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Mary Conlon)
NEW YORK (AP) — Dr. Lisa Waring’s first call of the day was to a particularly fluffy hospice patient, a 13-year-old Newfoundland named Rugby.
Rugby licked happily from a plate of peanut butter while Dr Waring inserted needles into his back, administering acupuncture and ketamine injections to ease his pain and mobility problems.
As an end-of-life care veterinarian, Waring sees both pets and owners as patients, making sure animals are as comfortable as possible in their final days and helping humans make the difficult decision of knowing when to say goodbye.
“I realized that oftentimes the best part of my job is helping the owners,” Waring said. When it came time to euthanize Rugby on a subsequent visit, the whole family was there.
There are many options available to support older pets and their owners: hospice, palliative care, at-home euthanasia, and a growing number of people called doulas who help with pet death. But making decisions around the end of a pet’s life can still be daunting. Here are some ways to care for your pet and yourself.
How can you make your senior pet more comfortable?
Hospice and palliative care veterinarians like Waring specialize in home visits and may be a good option if transporting your pet to a veterinary clinic becomes difficult.
The International Animal Hospice and Palliative Care Association maintains a membership directory.
Your vet can prescribe medications to treat infections, pain, and chronic conditions, and can help with dietary changes, but there are some simple things you can do at home yourself to increase your pet’s comfort.
As dogs get older and their limbs get stiffer, they may have a harder time walking on slippery floors like hardwood or tile. Try putting down carpet runners or yoga mats where your pet walks, especially where he stands to eat. For long-haired breeds, you can trim the hair on the bottom of his paws to give his paws more grip.
“We had to remove all the area rugs in the kitchen and do patchwork repairs,” Rugby owner Sam Borge said.
For larger dogs who need help getting up and out, Waring recommends special harnesses with handles on the front and back.
Cats don’t have much trouble with slippery floors, but they are prone to arthritis. If your cat has trouble climbing to the litter box, you may want to provide a litter box that is lower to the ground.
For both dogs and cats, try raising food and water bowls so they don’t have to bend over as much.
How do you know when it’s time to say goodbye to your pet?
If medications and painkillers don’t ease your pet’s suffering and you’re trying to decide if it’s time to euthanize, watch for signs like loss of appetite or difficulty breathing and consult with your veterinarian.
“There are a variety of circumstances when euthanasia may be the appropriate decision,” says veterinarian Dr Dani McVety, founder of Lap of Love, the country’s largest network of at-home euthanasia providers.
Lap of Love provides resources on their website that you can use to assess your pet’s quality of life.
Planning an at-home euthanasia is a good option for pets who don’t require emergency medical care, and it’s wise to prepare in advance and understand the procedures so you can focus on your pet’s final days.
“You’re not shortening their lives, you’re shortening their deaths,” Waring said.
Where to find emotional support at the end of your pet’s life
You don’t have to spend the last days of your pet’s life alone.
The Pet Loss and Bereavement Society provides resources to help pet owners understand euthanasia and grief on its website, and Lap of Love hosts pet loss support groups several times a week, and pet loss counselors, grief specialists and animal chaplains are available to provide one-on-one support.
An animal end-of-life doula, or “death doula,” provides emotional, spiritual and informational support as death approaches. They do not need to have medical training, but may work with a veterinarian. Doulas can help owners process grief and loss, as well as assist with practical steps like planning for their final days.
“It’s different for everyone,” says Lauren Seely, a New York City-based death doula, “and my view is that most people aren’t ready to deal with death until it actually happens.”
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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science Education Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
