diagnosis, not just on the final day,” she says. “Not thinking about or planning that day does not eliminate the grief.”
So, what can you do to make that final day as good as it can be? Consider these suggestions:
• Spoil your pet with his favorite foods—but be careful not to overdo it, Lehner says. Too many treats can cause GI distress.
• Surround your pet with his favorite toys, people, or pet friends.
• If possible, take your pet one last time to his favorite spot, whether it be a dog park, your back deck, or the drive-through for a burger. For my dog Katie, we drove her through her favorite state park. With the car windows down, we hoped she might be able to see, hear, and smell the place she loved to go for walks.
• Wherever you have your pet euthanized—for Katie, it was on her favorite spot on the couch—make it meaningful. Your pet might like to be in a plush bed with toys nearby, on a blanket under his favorite tree, or near the window he spent many hours looking out.
• Take photos or video of your pet. Otherwise, you may find later that you do not have as many images of your beloved pet as you thought. Take selfies with your pet, have a close friend take photos, or, if there’s one in your area, hire a pet photographer. Lehner says there are even photographers who specialize in pet hospice sessions.
• Allow your children to be part of your pet’s final day—even if only part of it—so they can say goodbye. Children will look to their parents to learn how to grieve, says Lehner. Make sure they are aware of what dying means and that you are celebrating the time you have had with your beloved pet.
"Avoiding the idea of death until it arrives has made many people wish they would have thought about the whole process sooner."
t to share favorite stories, say prayers, or spend a few minutes alone with the pets. Lehner, recalled a young girl who wrote a poem for her dog and read it to him during his last moments. “[It was] very special to see how this little girl was learning how to embrace this dog’s life,” she said.
Be aware that situations may arise when an animal is near death but the person he is most bonded to is not around. Ask your veterinarian if it is possible to keep the pet medically comfortable for a day or two until that person can be there. Lehner recalled just such a situation with a Labrador retriever and the boy he was bonded with, who was away at camp. The child was able to return home soon enough to be part of his dog’s final moments.
Ask the Experts with Cody