Advance Directives for Pets: Planning for Your Dog's End-of-Life Journey
Teva, the Celtic Faery Dog. photo: Dr. Ken Gorczyca
We all know how important it is to create advance directives for ourselves, to specify our healthcare preferences and designate decision makers if we are unable to communicate or make our own decisions in the event of illness or injury.
After meeting many animal guardians struggling with euthanasia decisions for their beloved pets and my own experience in this regard, I believe we need to start discussing and creating advance directive documents for our animal companions as well.
Do we want their last days to be away from us in a steel cage on IV fluids, oxygen, and a feeding tube? What if there is an accident, our dog has a very poor prognosis, and a decision is needed in the moment? What if we are hiking in the wilderness beyond the reach of a cell phone when an accident occurs or are incapacitated ourselves?
My own Teva, whom I called my Celtic Faery Dog, was diagnosed with renal failure at age 16 (roughly 94 in human years). She was stable but very frail. On a family Thanksgiving at my mom’s house, we noticed that Teva was hiding in the bedroom, rather than sitting next to the table looking for handouts as she normally would.
I brought her back to San Francisco, where she started to have breathing difficulty, and then rushed her to the ER where they diagnosed her with congestive heart failure. Teva collapsed in the exam room, and my husband and I had to make an immediate decision. Did we want to hospitalize her in the hopes of a few more days or weeks, or did we want to help her transition now to prevent suffering? We did not want her to spend her last days in a steel cage without her humans.
The decision wasn’t difficult but the moment was. It was a chaotic and challenging time for us, our Teva, and the veterinary staff. Looking back, I wish we had thought more about Teva’s final days in advance. Of course, we had wanted more time together, but maybe we were being selfish, keeping her alive too long. In the best world, knowing her days were numbered, I would have planned an in-home euthanasia in advance of her collapse.
I now explain to my clients that a day or week early is always better than a day too late.
Today, there is a growing movement to create advance directives for our animal companions. Although most of us begin thinking about this as their end of life approaches, I believe this discussion should start on the very first veterinary appointment or at adoption. After all, we can never know what is in store for ourselves or our animal companions, no matter what age we or they are.
An advance directive for a beloved pet allows us to make difficult decisions ahead of stressful and emotional emergencies. It also ensures that our preferences for our dear companion are always followed, even if unforeseen circumstances such as illness, injury, or travel prevent us from providing in-person direction.
This comprehensive document is a useful tool for a pet’s owner, caregiver, and veterinarian alike, enabling consistent and tailored care. It acts as a guiding resource for a caregiver, allowing them to maintain consistency and ensure the dog's comfort and happiness throughout an owner's absence.
March 20 @ SF SPCA
Sherri Franklin (Muttville) and Dr. Ken Gorczyca (A Gentle Rest) will host a lecture and discussion on end-of-life considerations for animal companions at the San Francisco SPCA, starting at 6 p.m. To secure a ticket, please visit muttville.org.
Advance directives can outline our preferences for end-of-life care, including considerations for euthanasia and aftercare options, but they may also include important information such as veterinary contacts, feeding and exercise routines, medical conditions, and treatments the dog may require.
Advance directives can further provide important information about the dog's behavior, preferences, and any specific instructions to ensure that a caregiver is able to provide the best possible care for the animal companion they are trusted to serve. In some cases, an owner may wish to allocate funds to take care of a pet should the owner die first.
If you are interested in creating your own advance directive for your pet, there are many templates and resources available online. You’ll also find a list of topics to consider in creating an advance directive on A Gentle Rest’s website. In addition, I highly recommend the Companion Animal Advanced Care Directives Workbook (as with any legal document, you should always consult your attorney to make sure it passes muster). Once your pet’s directive is finalized, place a copy with your veterinarians, as well as with your pet caregiver or any other people you have designated to be responsible for your animal companion.
As an added benefit, planning ahead for our furry friends can also serve as a timely reminder to create or update an advance directive for ourselves. Once again, our beloved animal companions may teach us a valuable lesson, this one about the importance of preparation.