Saying goodbye to a pet is never easy, especially when they’ve been in your life as a member of your family. One of the biggest responsibilities for pet owners is deciding when is the right time to say goodbye. This is a heavy burden of literally holding your pet’s life in your hands, and should not be taken lightly.
There is no easy way to say goodbye to a beloved family member and it can be tough for pet owners to assume the all important responsibility of deciding when it it time to finally lay the animal to rest. Holding any living creature’s life in your hands is something that should be considered as a burden.
This is not a matter to be taken lightly under any circumstances. Arin recently shared her story about her experience when it came to saying goodbye to her beloved Barky and it will definitely touch your heart.
At 14 years old, Barky, our family dog, had survived cancer and blood disease thanks to a combination of heroic veterinary efforts and just plain good luck. Then, she developed congestive heart failure. Congestive heart failure is a terrible condition. The dog’s heart can’t pump blood through the body very well. It leads to coughing, exhaustion, a swollen belly — and eventually, the dog’s lungs will fill with fluid, and she will essentially feel as if she is drowning in her own body.
“We didn’t want Barky to experience a terrifying, painful death. We thought it was kinder for the veterinarian to end her life before that happened — peacefully, at home, surrounded by the people who love her, My family and I were devastated to lose Barky, devastated to think of her dying, and unsure about whether we were making the right choice. Should we wait? Had we already waited too long?This is the price we pay for loving animals, and for living with animals: being responsible sometimes for deciding when and how to end their lives.” said Arin in her post about Barky.
One of the hardest parts of being a pet owner is knowing when it’s time for your furry friend to pass on and say goodbye.
The heart could no longer pump blood through the body in the manner in which Barky was accustomed. Since the family did not want their pet to suffer through a painful death, they decided that it would be best to have a vet assist her into the afterlife. During the process of reaching out to a wide range of vets, Arin learned a lot about euthanizing and its viability as an option.
However, the hardest part of this whole journey is knowing when is the right time to let your dog go.
First of all, the process of putting an animal to sleep involves two different shots. The first shot is a sedative that puts the pet in a state of deep sleep and the second shot kills them in moments once they are slumbering. The process is totally painless and meant to provide a humane resolution for the animal when they are in place of suffering.
It is good to know that your animal is able to exit the planet peacefully when they have reached a point where their life is no longer worth living. However, it is important to consult with a vet about the animal’s quality of life and whether their ailments can be treated before making a final decision. In Barky’s case, the disease was unable to be treated and the animal needed to be put to rest.
Always remember that there is never a “perfect time”, and making this decision will be hard either way. Please be sure to consult with your vet and get a professional opinion about the health of your pets.
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