Quality of Life Decision-Making for Our Pets Gail A. Bishop, B.S. Argus Institute James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital
Objectives: Empowering YOU Defining quality of life - tools to help Identifying what is important to you - your personal bucket list End of life considerations things to consider Ways to memorialize Grief responses Resources
Until one has loved an animal, a part of one s soul remains unawakened. Anatole France
Pain vs. Suffering: Pain: is a physical and emotional sensation that can be complicated to assess. Keep in mind, a pet's reaction to pain is dependent upon its personality and the degree of pain it's experiencing. Ask your veterinarian what signs your pet may display to indicate pain. Suffering: is more than physical attributes, and involves the ability to enjoy living life.
Defining quality of life/tools that can help: Calendar - good days/bad days Talk with your DVM Journaling Confer with friends/family Joy list Communicate with your pet
What is important to you? Bucket List A list of things you might need/want to accomplish with your companion animal because you feel their mortality is closing in.
"A dog is the only thing on earth that will love you more than you love yourself." Josh Billings
End of Life Considerations Choosing euthanasia Will you be present? Who else will be there (family, friends, pets)? Location: outside, clinic, home Who will perform procedure? Create your atmosphere music, lighting, etc. Natural death?
Body Care Know your options: Burial yard (know your city regulations) or memorial garden Cremation private/communal do you want the cremains? Donation to University Fur clippings Mane, tail, hoof print Clay paw print Photos Keepsakes
Plan A : You have time to plan Making decisions in advance helps you to create the most meaningful passing you can and it can lessen your stress by being prepared. Plan B : Emergency Even with our best planning emergencies can happen. Help yourself by taking the time to consider what you may need in case this happens. For example: the closest animal clinic and their hours. If your pet is too heavy for you to pick up, who can help? Remember: We want to minimize regrets, taking the time to plan will reap many benefits.
"When I play with my cat, who knows whether she is not amusing herself with me, more than I with her." Montaigne
Ways to Memorialize Plan a memorial service or funeral or attend one. Plant a tree or bush. Create a memory box filled with mementos. Create a piece of jewelry from the cremains. Donate to a favorite cause in their honor. Have a professional portrait, sketch or sculpture done. Send out a card or place an obituary in the paper. Create a pet altar. Write a story or book about the pet.
Grief Responses Is holistic and impacts us emotionally, behaviorally, physically, cognitively and spiritually Some manifestations: sadness, anxiety, panic, guilt, numbness, disbelief, helplessness, anger, relief, and a sense of loneliness. Difficulty maintaining normal daily activity, feeling overwhelmed, difficulty making decisions, forgetfulness, sleeping disturbances, urge to cry, and isolating oneself from others. Dry mouth, tight throat or a lump in your throat, shortness of breath, hollow or empty feeling, and appetite changes; eating less or more than normal. Denial, dreams about the death, repeating the circumstances of the death over and over, and yearning for the past Anger at God, searching for a meaning for the loss, questions about the existence of souls and what happens after death. As abnormal as this may feel, these are all normal expressions of losing a loved one.
The Courage to Grieve by Judy Tatelbaum Grief is a wound that needs attention in order to heal. To work through and complete grief means to face our feelings openly and honestly, to express or release our feelings fully, and to tolerate and accept our feeling for however long it takes for the wound to heal. For most of us, that is a big order. Therefore, it takes courage to grieve.
Resources that can help: Argus Institute: 970-297-1242 www.argusinstitute.colostate.edu http://www.pet-loss.net/ http://www.inhomepeteuthanasia.com/ http://www.hoofbeats-in-heaven.com/
We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own live within a fragile circle, easily and often breeched. Yet, we still would live no other way. Irving Townsend
Please let us know if we can help. Argus Institute: 970-297-1242 www.argusinstitute.colostate.edu