Shutterstock.comPain and death. Death and pain. They often go hand in hand. But for Dani McVety, DVM, and her fellow veterinarians in the Lap of Love hospice and in-home euthanasia network, the goal is to minimize painand the anxiety that often accompanies itas much as possible before the end. Maybe even to prevent it altogether.

We as veterinarians are very comfortable with the concept of quality of life, she told her audience at a recent CVC. But I want to provide a good quality of death as well. That means no panicky trips to the ER in the middle of the night. Id rather have the family out on the dock with the pet at sunset, everyone saying a prayer before I push the plunger. Whatever it takes to give that family and that pet a peaceful experience.

A major part of creating that peaceful experience is educating and preparing clients for what to expect as their pet reaches end of life, along with helping them know when euthanasia is an appropriate choice. Here are the top six conditions Lap of Love veterinarians see in association with euthanasia (based on data collected by the company) and how Dr. McVety handles each one with clients.

1. Old age

Obviously old age isnt a disease, but it sure is a killer, Dr. McVety says. Its the No. 1 reason Lap of Love clients call to request euthanasia, and what it really means is that the pets medical condition is undiagnosed. That means anything can happen, so client and doctor alike should brace for the unexpected. Problems with cognition, along with stroke, seizures and organ failure, are all possibilities.

2. Osteoarthritis and mobility issues

This painful disease is the second-most-common reason Dr. McVety receives calls requesting consultation on euthanasia for pets. The pain increases with progression, and clients should be instructed to watch for signs of intensifying discomfort. Sundowners syndromeawakeness or awareness in the middle of the night, accompanied by panting, pacing, whining and cryingis very common with osteoarthritis (as well as a number of other end-of-life conditions).

While the pet should be on an osteoarthritis treatment protocol, clients may also need rescue drugs to get the pet through a pain crisis before the euthanasia takes place. Dr. McVety says she leaves rescue medications with clients if theyre not ready to euthanize yet or if theyre trying to make a deadline, such as getting through Christmas or waiting for Mom or Dad to get home to say goodbye.

Along with gabapentin, Dr. McVety uses tramadol for osteoarthritis patients as a rescue drug. Weve learned that tramadol is not necessarily fantastic for pain, but Ill tell you how I use it, she says. Tramadol is like a glass of winesometimes we need one glass of wine to get through the night; sometimes we need three or four. Of course, if were using three or four doses multiple nights in a row, we have a quality-of-life issue and we need to have a conversation about that.

Dr. Dani McVetyAs far as knowing the right time to euthanize, we have the curse and the luxury of time, Dr. McVety says. With osteoarthritis patients there is major variation in when a client and veterinarian can make the decision and have it be appropriate and ethical. Sometimes animals will eat through pain and wag their tail right up to the end, so cessation of these activities is not always a reliable indicator, Dr. McVety says. Tell clients this, and let them know its still OK to say goodbye if pain and anxiety are detracting from the patients life.

3. Renal failure

With chronic kidney disease, pain is variable depending on the patient: It can range from uncomfortable to very painful. Again, its best to educate clients on signs of pain and watch for progression in their pets. Rescue drugs can include buprenorphine, tramadol, fluids, anti-emetics and appetite stimulants.

When is it right to euthanize a kidney disease patient? Again, we have the curse and the luxury of time, Dr. McVety says. The goal for a high quality of death is to make it a peaceful experience and avoid a crisis that leads to an ER trip.

4. Heart failure

As with chronic kidney disease, pain associated with congestive heart failure (CHF) can range from uncomfortable to sufferable, Dr. McVety says. The main thing she tells her clients to watch for is change, particularly changes in eating. If a CHF patient comes in and is still eating, we can usually mitigate, says Dr. McVety, who worked in emergency practice before founding Lap of Love and has seen her share of heart failure. Not at the very end. If the pet stops eating, thats a huge red flag.

Rescue drugs for heart failure include high-dose furosemide, and Dr. McVety will even sometimes leave an oxygen machine with the family if theyre trying to delay euthanasia until a family member can be present.

When is the right time to euthanize? Much sooner than you want to if you want a peaceful end-of-life experience, Dr. McVety tells clients.

5. Hemangiosarcoma

Pain associated with hemangiosarcoma, the fifth-most-common condition leading to euthanasia requests, ranges from uncomfortable (in hypoxic patients) to sufferable (discomfort related to pulmonary metastases and pressure from ascites).

Hemangiosarcoma declines rapidly under most conditions in elderly patients. Thismakes the use ofrescuemedications (those that act rapidly to mitigate pain) not as applicable in these cases. But theyre still useful, if only for their placebo effect with both patient and pet parent, Dr. McVety says. Oxygen may also help certain patients.

A key factor with hemangiosarcoma patients is to educate their owners about what the end will look likeit might be a slow bleed and it might be a fast bleed. We need to let clients know what to expect so they dont freak out, Dr. McVety says. I told one lady about the possibility of a fast bleed, and she said later that because she knew what was happening, her dog died peacefully in her arms and she didnt panic. She gave me a huge hug and a thank you that she knew what to expect.

With hemangiosarcoma, its also important to tell clients that euthanasia sooner rather than later is better for a peaceful goodbye experience.

6. Osteosarcoma

Rounding out the top six end-of-life conditions from Dr. McVety, osteosarcoma ranges in painfulness from discomfort to sufferability. Awareness of progression is key for clients, and rescue drugs for controlling pain are very important. The answer to when should I euthanize? is, again, Sooner than you want to, Dr. McVety says.

Whether its one of these conditions or any other health problem that makes euthanasia a reasonable choice for client and patient, the bottom line is to let pet owners know what the dying process looks like in their pets disease context. This helps them stay calm and make good decisions, with your help, about their pets care. After all, death comes calling for all animals, whether veterinarians step in or not, so everyone involved can release judgment and guilt and focus on the petthe joy it has brought in life, and the peace and love it can experience with its family at the end.

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When death comes calling: Top diseases leading to veterinary euthanasia - dvm360