These are all questions, along with many more, that go to the heart of it, that go directly to our hearts. And that is where you need to go for many of the answers. Often the answers are not easy, rather they are quite painful. These are answers that you truly do not want to be easy though. They are hard because of the love and bond.

There is no right answer or wrong answer to these questions. This article is about helping you to start thinking through possibilities so when you reach this time with your pet you will be more at peace with your decision. Note, I said peace. I did not say without pain for the pain will still be there. That is simply part of the healing. But consider that if you feel a sense of peace that will aid your pet in their passing.

Death is a natural process. Death is more “acceptable” to animals, i.e., generally they have less fear around dying than many humans feel.

Let us begin to consider some of these questions.

How will I know if it’s time?

People are always told that “they’ll know” when it is time for their pet to die. And it’s true. You have lived with one another for many months, probably many years. You are fully aware of and in-tune to one another’s moods, emotional state.

When your pet is approaching death, whether it be eminent or a short time off, you will notice shifts in her demeanor and energy level. She’ll become quiet, more introspective. She may tend to sleep even more. As with humans, animals start to spend more time out of their body. Away from any discomfort or pain. Gathering the strength to make this great transition. You will see this whether the animal is aged or young but suffering from a disease.

Watch your pet. Is she still engaged in her favorite activities? If not, this could be a clue that death is approaching. Before leaping to that conclusion however, always check with your vet. And consider things like weather changes or possibly she is just having a “down” day or two. Also remember animals like to snooze in on a dreary day just as we would like to. They still feel the genetic effects of hibernation or reduced activity during the winter months. So look at the overall environment and timing of the behavior change.

Often just looking into your pets eyes will tell you where they are and what they are thinking. When you look there do you see resolution or determination? Resolution may indication the recognition that the time has come. Determination, that your pet is determined to carry on for now.

Of course there are many other emotions that show through the eyes – love, fear, concern. All emotions that play out through this time of letting go.

In my observations as an animal communicator I have encountered very few instances where the animal was not aware of what was happening to the body. They have a “knowing” of what is happening. They may not understand why it is happening, but they sense the changes to their physical being.

Look for these changes and consult with your vet.

Is she in pain?

Your pet may be in pain before you become aware of it. I have found that animals have a higher pain tolerance than people. And again, it is part of the normal living process for them so they do not “complain” as readily as many of us do.

Again, this is a time to consult with your vet. Is there any medication that can be given to ease the pain? What are the possible effects from this? That question goes to both the physical, emotional, and spiritual  levels of the situation.

Physically:

What are the possible side-effects of the drug? Is reducing the pain worth the potential for a side-effect?

Will the drug totally sedate my pet? Would my pet want that? Can I manage that?

How long will the drug prolong my pets life?

Emotionally:

If the drug will prolong her life, will that added time give her a quality to her life, even though that quality will be reduced?

Does she want to take the drug or is she ready to pass now?

Does she want to die naturally? Or will she accept help in the form of euthanasia?

If she is willing to be euthanatized, does she want to die at home? Or is going to the vet ok?

What are her desires or needs in general? You may not be able to grant all of them but possibly you can some of them.

Spiritually:

Are her spirit and physical body aligned in this? Although rare, I have encountered animals where the spirit is not aware of how deeply the physical body has deteriorated and how close death is.

What do I do?

Often the greatest gift we can give our pet during this time is to be present, fully present with them. Spending extra time stroking and talking to them; if the weather is nice, lying in the warmth of the sun; if diet is not an issue, providing tidbits.

There is another thing you can do that is of tremendous help during this time. We are deeply connected to our pets and our emotions become intertwined. She can read your emotions as readily as you can read hers. She knows the depth of your pain. And for that reason she may try to stay in body longer than is comfortable for her. For that reason it is important to give her permission to do what ever it is she needs to do. And that includes dying. This is truly a gift and an honoring of your love for her.

When we give permission, we give it from our heart. From the core of who we are spiritually. Being able to say good-bye in this way may take time because we are saying it as if it were the final good-bye. With that there are no conditions, no holding back. But done from this depth of love, it can bring a sense of peace to both.

Do I need to euthanize?

This discussion does not take into account religious belief. Only what I have encountered with the many dying animals I have communicated with.

As the care taker we all want what we feel is best for our animal. And finding the answer to this question can be extremely difficult because of the finality of the action. I have found that in almost all instances the pet trusts their person such that they will accept what ever the person decides. However that decision may not come immediately. Rather the animal initially may want to try to follow through with this without outside assistance. With animals with a strong spirit this can take awhile, days not hours. In these instances I have often found that after a few days, a week at the most, the animal willing accepts the assistance of a vet. She realizes that help is needed unless she wants to go on, feeling very tired and not well. She knows death is eminent, she is very tired, and she now realizes that without help, the process of dying will take even longer.

If you decide that euthanasia is in order there are a number of considerations to discuss with your vet. I would suggest you have answers to these questions well before you deal with a dying pet. These are questions that are hard to ask and it is best if you be as emotionally settled as possible so you can have a clear, informed conversation with the vet. Answers to these questions will help determine future actions.

-        Will the vet come to your home?

-        Are they flexible with their time? If you set up an appointment for tomorrow afternoon and find in the morning that your pet is having a “good day”, can you reschedule?

-        Do you want to spend time with your pets body before the vet takes her?

-        Do you want cremation? If so, do you want the ashes?

-        How many animals has the vet euthanatized?

-        Will the vet administer a sedative before the final injection?

-        If you choose, will the vet allow you to hold your pet?

My home is empty without her –

I always recommend to clients that after the death of their pet they do ritual in honor of their friend. The ritual is often designed around what the pet would like - a ritual and prayer outdoors, setting up an altar with her collar and favorite toy, writing memories of times together in a journal, writing a poem about her, painting a picture.

Your home feels empty as does your heart. You do feel the pain of tremendous loss of a close friend and family member. Pain though is a part of love. Without the love and joy you felt with your friend there would be no pain. I think most of us would agree that pain is worth it.

An animal communicator can help you get in touch with your pet to help answer these questions and others, and help the animal align with the circumstance so her death will be more peaceful. Even with a high awareness of your animal and her needs, it is good to get an “outside” opinion from one who is neutral and objective. These are extremely difficult questions and it is hard to be disengaged enough to get answers that are without your emotions tied in. Being able to answer these questions will help you move toward taking steps that are in your animal’s best interest. There are two times in our life when it is about the individual being and no other. At birth and at death. Working through these questions around death will help you come to that point of being there, in full support, of a family member who has given you so much throughout her life. It’s a tremendous way of saying “thank you”.