How does one prepare for the end of a pet's life?

I don't think anybody can really prepare for the end in ones own heart. I had to put my cat Jaz of 21 years to sleep. We had an incredible bond and she didn't want to leave her mama. I waited to see if she would go on her own, but she never did and then her health issues became extreme. I knew it was time. And it does make it so much harder when they love their food or love to walk and have their good days too..it makes it that much harder to do it. But you know the animal will experience a horrifying painful death and it's in their best interest.


I planned the day I was going to do it. I fed her a favorite meal of tuna. I cried in the car on the way to the vet..she might have sensed this. I was with her until her death..she was beautiful even in death. I felt her close to me afterwards when I got home. I remembered I had her meows on a tape recorder at home and I pressed play and there she was saying her goodbyes to all of us. It was a very special moment. It was interesting because I know those meows weren't there before when I played that tape, I would have had to search for them, but she made it easy for us.


The song that was playing at the vet was "Silent Night" and I'd like to think she went out peacefully on her silent night. PS. we had her cremated with a wooden urn with her named carved on top. We also have her paw prints in clay as a memento.

My Lab was only 8 when she contracted canine liver disease. We did everything we could to keep her eating and gave her medications to help her liver heal, then realized she was miserable and probably had only a small chance of survival. I'm from a family of dog breeders, and nothing hurts me more than the decision to let them go peacefully while holding them and saying final goodbyes. 13 years is a good long life for most breeds. Just remember she had a good life, unlike many poor beautiful dogs never adopted.

Hard to do. Just had to have my 14.5 year old cat put down. I brought him back from Bolivia (long story) as a kitten. He had inflamed intestines, failing kidneys and pancreatic cancer. Talked to the vet, and she said as long as he continued to act relatively normal, he probably wasn't suffering much. He started to lose interest in everything, and the last day or so just hid, all hunched up. At that, I took him in. So sad. He was a good kitty! ,

My heart goes out to you. I watched one of my cats slowly slipping away this year and it was such a tough call because part of me always wondered if I was being selfish, keeping him around for my sake, not his. The main factor for me is: is there pain? An animal obviously doesn't understand his or her mortality so as long as she's not suffering, I think you can allow nature to take its course.

You have my compassion during this difficult time. I would spend a lot of loving on her and thanking her for being such an important part of your life. If she starts having trouble walking, eating or starts to appear depressed, I would help her transition. As painful as that choice will be, at least you honored the dog she used to be, instead of watching her suffer.

I knew my dog was ready when she just stood in one spot and look at me with pleading eyes. She had been running around like a puppy just a week before. She was 18. There will come a day when you will know in your heart that your pet is ready to go.

make her as happy as possible
spoil her with foods (but not lots)
take her walks, even carry her, and let her see and sniff everything
maybe even get her a pet?

spoil that puppy, show him love and attention. and maybe a slice of pizza or a cheeseburger or two. people food shouldn't be a taboo now.

It's not easy our Golden was suffering we had to put him down he is better off but I can't say we are

your pet will let you know. just think of what their quality of life is. sorry about your puppy.

Enjoy every moment you can with her. Make the best of each day you have her, and tell her how much you love her.

ok