Due to the gradual nature of most pet health problems it can be challenging to know when the time for euthanasia has arrived. This time will be different for different people. It can be helpful to try to determine what "quality of life" means for your pet by making a list of things he or she most enjoyed, and whether they are still able to enjoy them. This can include interactions with other pets and people, playing with a favourite toy, a walk on the beach etc. Assessing the number of your pets good days compared to bad over time can also be helpful. This can be as simple as putting a marble in a bowl on a good day and removing one on a sad day or putting coloured stickers on a calendar, to track how often your pet feels well. Drawing a "line in the sand" such as, if my pet drops below a certain weight or has not eaten for a certain number of days can help.

Pet loss can cause significant grief for some children and may be their first experience of death. It is considered best to be honest and acknowledge your child's grief. It is tempting to lie about a pets death to try and minimise grief but this can lead to issues of unresolved grief or the child blaming themselves for the loss of the pet.

This is the hardest part for any pet owner. It can hang over you for a long time and cause many sleepless nights. It is perfectly normal to worry about whether you will know when the time is right. Your family, friends and Qatar Veterinary Center can all help. It may not be so difficult if your pet has been injured or has an incurable disease. However, for many owners, if your pet has just gotten older and their quality of life has gradually deteriorated, this final step can be the hardest one. How will you know from one day to the next when the time is right? How can you justify it one day but not another? These are questions that can only be answered with hindsight. Talk to your family and try to think about the life your pet once had. Looking back at photos and videos can sometimes help to show you just how much a pet has aged or how infirm or inactive they have become. A good rule of thumb to remember is this: if you are thinking about it and talking about it, then it may be the right time to do it. Talk to the people you know and trust. They will give you the detached point of view we all often need. Don’t be surprised if you feel a sense of guilt. One of the hardest facts about euthanasia is that it is you who decides to end your pet’s life and this can feel unbearably hard. Involving our veterinarians is helpful, as they can help you shoulder your burden and take the decision and guilt out of your hands. The phrase ‘the ultimate kindness’ may sound cliché but try to remember that it is true. Allowing your pet a pain-free and dignified end is possibly the kindest thing you will ever do for them. Feeling safe in that knowledge can help you to come to terms with it.

When possible, this will be up to you. We will do our best to book it where and when you would prefer. For some this may be a home visit when the whole family can be there, or it might mean leaving your pet at the surgery and not staying at all. There is no right or wrong choice, it is totally up to you. Sometimes the time and place may be out of your hands. For example, if your pet has had surgery and the findings are not good, the vet may feel the kindest thing is for them to be put to sleep on the operating table. The vet will always contact you before they do anything, and when possible they will offer you the chance to say goodbye unless they feel it is not fair to your pet. Whatever happens, don’t be afraid to ask. It is important you know everything that is going on and the vet’s reasons for everything they are suggesting.

Our Reception team will try to select a time that will allow you as much privacy and time with your pet as possible. Euthanasia can also be carried out in the families home when appropriate. The entire family can be present for the euthanasia or if you prefer you can leave before the actual injection. A consent form clarifying your wishes will need to be completed.

This worries many owners and is one of the reasons some don’t stay with their pet when they might have liked to. The exact method will vary depending on the type of animal your pet is. Ask the vet what will happen and ask if there are choices you may want to consider. The simplest explanation for virtually all pet euthanasia is an overdose of anaesthetic. For many animals, especially dogs and cats, this may be injected straight into a vein and most of the time it will be possible for you to hold or comfort your pet while it is done. In some cases the vet may give a sedative first to make your pet drowsy before the final injection is given. Talk to the vet about this option. Although it may sound ideal, in some cases it can make finding a vein harder and some drugs can make your pet feel a little sick which you might want to avoid. The vet will be happy to discuss the options with you and find what you both think will be best. For small pets like hamsters, rats and guinea pigs, the vet may need to sedate them either by injection or with a gas first. These animals do not have veins big enough to allow the same type of injection and will usually, once unconscious, have an injection into their body, letting them drift away peacefully. In these cases, especially if it is a child’s pet, the vet may recommend that you don’t stay with the animal but the choice is yours.

The process is usually over surprisingly quickly. The anaesthetic reaches the heart and brain within a few seconds and your pet will be aware of nothing after the initial pin-prick. If you or the vet has chosen to use a sedative first, it may take a few moments longer, simply because the blood pressure is lower. Don’t worry, your pet will feel no pain or discomfort. Be prepared for some of the things which can happen immediately after the injection if you decide to stay. Every animal, including humans, has some reflexes which can happen at the time of death. They can sometimes look quite shocking or upsetting but if you know what they are, you can be prepared. Do remember these all happen after death and your pet is not aware of them at all. They may take some very big, deep breaths or gasps. Sometimes they will make a noise at the same time. This is just a reflex spasm and is not normal breathing. You may see some muscle twitching which might move your pet’s legs or head. They might also empty their bladder or bowels. These are simply reflex actions and only last a few moments. Being prepared and knowing what to expect will make the whole process much easier to deal with. In many cases none of these things happen and your pet will simply drift away peacefully.

This is up to you and will depend on where you have chosen to have your pet put to sleep. If you are at the practice, the vet will usually try and make sure you can have as much time as you need or want with your pet afterwards. Grief affects people in hugely different ways so please do not feel embarrassed about expressing yourself. It is all part of coming to terms with your loss. The vet will have seen every emotion and will not think any less of you whatever your reaction is. You may want to hold and stroke your pet for some time or you may want to leave straight away. Feel free to do what you need to do, each reaction may be different.

There are several options. Firstly, if you have the space and the vet is happy your pet doesn’t have an infectious disease, you can take your pet home to bury it. The most common choice nowadays is cremation. For a standard cremation you can simply leave your pet with the vet and nurse who will arrange for your pet to be collected and cremated at the crematorium. You can also choose to have an individual cremation and have your pet’s ashes returned for you to keep, scatter or bury depending on what you want to do. Ashes can be returned in a simple urn with engraving so that you can take your pet with you if you leave Qatar. This service is more expensive than a normal cremation, so talk to the vet or nurse about all the options and the different costs involved. A common worry is whether the ashes you will receive will be your animal. Of course there will always be a certain element of trust with this, just the same as with human cremation, feel free to talk to the vet or nurse about the crematorium we use and they can reassure you.

This is an issue which has the potential to cause upset between vets and owners because presenting the bill for the services around euthanasia is so difficult. Try to discuss this beforehand so you have an idea of what the cost will be and what our policy is. The cost of this process may be more than you might expect, especially if cremation is added. It is always best to be open and frank about these things and if you’ve discussed it beforehand, you and your vet can avoid any discomfort that might arise afterwards. You can also pay your account before the procedure, some people prefer to do this rather than receive an invoice after.

There is no easy or quick way to 'get over' the loss of a much-loved pet but there is some excellent help around. Please ask a member of our team for information or you can search online for advice. Remember it helps to talk to friends, family and other pet owners. Sharing your grief, talking about your pet and trying to remember the many wonderful times you shared with them can help.

- Goodbye, Dear Friend – by Virginia Ironside. Robson Books - Absent Friend – by Martin and Laura Lee. Ringpress Books