Cherie T. Buisson, DVM, CHPV, CPEV Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Veterinarian
Certified Peaceful Euthanasia Veterinarian
Low Stress Handling (TM) Silver Certified
One of the most heartbreaking things I see as a hospice veterinarian is a large dog that goes into a crisis and can’t be moved. Whether they have a sudden increase in pain from their chronic arthritis or a bleeding abdominal mass that makes them collapse, it’s terrifying for their owners when they realize they are stuck with a pet that weighs far more than they can carry. On top of that, a painful or frightened pet may lash out with flailing limbs or teeth, making them difficult to approach much less move. Often, these pets don’t have pain medications on hand and need to see the veterinarian before they can get a prescription (it’s the law that veterinarians cannot prescribe medications for pets they haven’t seen for a certain period of time).
Having to euthanize a pet in a crisis is just miserable for everyone involved. Here are some tips to help avoid a crisis or be prepared when one happens.
💚 Make an emergency plan: Here in Florida we’re used to hurricane preparedness. Let’s be pet emergency prepared too! Make a plan for how you will handle your pet in an emergency situation.
💚 Ask for help. If you can’t move your pet on your own, make sure you have a friend or neighbor who can help in an emergency. Have several people lined up – don’t just assume your spouse/child/roommate will be home and healthy to help. Many people just assume they will be able to boost their pet’s rear end into the car or use a ramp – many pets can’t walk at all in a crisis.
💚 Have a stretcher – you can find one online. Get a good sturdy one. A blanket seems like a good idea, but you have to get it under your pet and hope it doesn’t rip when you lift. Because it is soft, it will “fold” your pet into a possibly uncomfortable position. Just getting a kennel pad under the rear end of a pet can be difficult. Getting something under their whole body can be impossible. My favorite stretcher is the black metal stretcher with wheels on one end. You can get your pet used to the stretcher with treats and praise. You can put it under their bed if you think they might not be able to get up in the morning. Alternatively you can lift or drag your pet’s bed/blanket onto the stretcher without touching them directly.
💚 Have a ramp for your car. As your pet ages, getting in and out of the car can be a hassle. A ramp or step may help. If you can’t get them to the vet in the car anymore, please don’t deprive them of care. Talk to a mobile veterinarian and see if care can be provided at home.
💚 Have your pet on the ground floor – two people carrying a large pet down a flight of stairs is difficult and can be dangerous. They have to be carried down at an angle which sometimes means someone has their hands up over their head and someone is walking with their hands around their knees. A conscious dog is not going to enjoy having their rear end or head angled downward and may jump, bite, or have an accident during this process.
💚 Prepare for bites! Your pet might never bite or scratch you under normal circumstances, but PLENTY of people are injured by their pets at end of life. It’s usually the thing that makes them realize something is very wrong. Not only are bites and scratches dangerous for our health, they also can interfere with our ability to say goodbye. In Florida, veterinarians are not permitted to euthanize a pet who has bitten/scratched and drawn blood on a human in the last 10 days without reporting the bite to animal services. This is true even if the pet is up to date on rabies vaccination. Muzzle training your dog, handling pets with padded blankets, or picking them up with their bed can reduce the risk of bites.
💚 Ask your vet for good pain control and sedatives for your pet. So many pets are euthanized for arthritis and have never seen a single dose of arthritis pain medication. This is usually because pets don’t cry with chronic pain. Don’t wait for them to cry – it may NEVER happen. If your pet is limping, having trouble getting up and down, having difficulty with steps and stairs, walking stiffly, or panting/restless at night, have your vet check them for arthritis and get them a treatment plan. A sedative can help calm your pet in an emergency situation.
💚 Contact home services early. If you think your pet is nearing their final journey, get in touch with your local house call hospice and euthanasia services so they can help you prepare and make decisions. If you prefer to work with your familiar, trusted veterinarian, make sure your pet is established with them and let them know your concerns about what to do in an emergency.
💚 Remember to give yourself some grace. No matter how you plan, things can still go sideways. Do the best you can with what you have to work with. Your pet wouldn’t want you to torture yourself over something that went wrong unexpectedly. You love them and have their best interests at heart.
