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Determining your companion’s quality of life is a very difficult task. It’s wrought with emotion, and isn’t
always a clear cut decision. When is it time to lovingly help your pet become an angel? At ECVS, we
gladly offer palliative and hospice care counseling for you and your pet. We have some helpful
handouts.
We typically look at a few factors to determine if an animal has an acceptable quality of life. Generally
speaking, we want to ensure that they are emotionally happy, adequately healthy, and are not in pain.
Often times, we as pet owners hold on too long to our furry friends, not because we want them to
suffer, but because we love them so much that we do not want them to leave us. However, it’s
important that we do not selfishly keep them from a peaceful passing for our own well-being.
Eating is one of the biggest joys in life, both for humans and animals alike. Who doesn’t love going out
for a nice dinner, or sitting down to a home-cooked meal? Your pet is the same, and their food intake
should be watched closely. Pets sometimes slow down or completely stop eating for a wide range of
reasons. If they stop enjoying their food or treats, there is usually a concerning underlying issue that
needs to be addressed. Remember, undesired weight loss is not normal!
As we age, we often discover new aches and pains that weren’t there before. We can choose to take
medication or see a physician for our discomfort. Your pet deserves the same treatment. Often we hear
owners say that their pet isn’t in pain, but they limp, are slow to rise, or are stiff when they get up to
walk or don’t jump up on the counter anymore. These are all signs of discomfort. They can’t tell you that
their knees/back hurt – it’s up to us as caregivers to recognize the signs of pain so we can help our pets
live as comfortably as possible.
There are many factors that go into the decision to say goodbye to a beloved pet. Euthanasia, at its root,
means “good death.” When the time comes and your faithful friend is having more bad days than good;
we would be happy to discuss end of life care with you. Although it is absolutely devastating to lose a
loved one, sometimes it is the best gift we can give them– an end of suffering. We all want a peaceful
passing surrounded by loved ones.
Please call our clinic if you have any concerns about your pet’s quality of life.
by David P. - 02/25/2023
"East Carolina Veterinary Service is awesome and takes very good care of our dog; they treat her with tender care and give her treats! They’re always professional and caring when dealing with us and our doggie! Thank you again for all you do for us!"
by Stephanie T. - 01/23/2023
"I would so totally recommend EC Vet to anyone. Every staff member that I've had any type of dealing with at all has been so helpful always happy and smiling and willing to help. They all absolutely loves your pet and are just all-around wonderful in their services. They go above and beyond all of my expectations I give them five stars and thumbs up."