Recently, I have covered topics for pets ranging from saying good-bye, to determining quality of life and including pets in estate planning. I will conclude with the idea of Hospice Care for your pet. Currently, there are no Hospice Care Centers in our area. However, one day that will most likely change.
It’s never easy to let go of a loved one, whether they have two legs or four. Pet owners often console themselves by saying they are “easing their pet’s misery” when they ask for euthanasia after diagnosis of a terminal illness. But, are these “premature euthanasias” good for the whole pet family?
Ending a human life is not legal, so people with terminal illnesses and less than 6 months to live often enter hospice care. This relatively recent development in medicine focuses on the comfort of the patient and less on heroic medical or surgical measures. In other words, caregivers put the patient’s comfort first, not an attempt at any type of cure. Another important aspect of hospice care is that the whole family is included. Relatives and friends can say good-bye in peace rather than sitting in hospital lobbies or crowded waiting rooms.