My dog has organ failure. When should I consider euthanasia?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Jack Russell Terrier | Female | spayed | 11 years and 7 months old | 38 lbs
How long would a 11 yr Jack Russell with stage 3-4 renal failure and the onset of pancreas and liver failure live? We are putting her down but do we have another day? Or should it be done immediately
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on November 28th, 2017
This depends on her level of discomfort and distress. If she is weak and gas persistent vomiting or nausea you should consider letting her go as soon as possible. If she is alert and mobile and able to drink and keep water down, a day or so should not cause additional suffering
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on May 17th, 2018
This depends very much on her current quality of life. If the symptoms from the mass are causing her pain and discomfort then yes, euthanasia is a very valid and compassionate option. If she is coping with it and otherwise well, I would wait for the blood results as there may be a treatable or manageable medical condition which could improve her quality of life. Her comfort should be the primary deciding factor, if you feel she is no longer enjoying life or able to join in with her usual routine and resolution of the cause is not achievable (for any reason) then allowing her to go peacefully is never a wrong option.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
My dog is in last stage of kidney and liver failure,he stopped eating nd drinking.Is euthanasia better option?I dont want him to suffer anymore.
I'm so sorry that you are dealing with this difficult decision with Whisky. If your vet has said that we are out of treatment options for Whisky's liver and kidney disease and he has stopped eating and drinking, then I think it would be the kindest to euthanize him at this point since we do not have any hope of him getting better, and we do not want him to suffer. Again, I am so sorry.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My gorgeous boy Busta has been diagnosed with kidney failure. He's 16 and a jack russell. Has been to vet and had iv drip which helped a bit but is going downhill. However us still eating, happy to go on walks, takes himself in and out for toilet and
Poor Busta, and poor you! Deciding when it's time to let a pet go is extremely difficult. I work for a home euthanasia company, and I frequently face this dilemma with my clients. Oftentimes, they are ready to go before we are ready to let them go. I suggest making a list of five things Busta loves to do. If he isn't doing at least two of them, then his quality of life has declined to a point where euthanasia should be considered. I would also keep an eye on his weight, as he can still eat but may lose weight anyway, and that should be something to take into consideration as part of his quality of life. I would not necessarily wait until he stops eating, as that will mean he is quite sick, and you don't want him to reach that point where he's feeling so awful he's no longer eating. Putting an animal to sleep is a great gift, you are letting them go without any more pain and they pass peacefully. As I said, it is a really tough decision to make, and I would make that list of fi
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hello. I have a Shetland Sheppard dog. She is 12 years old. She became sick last week. Green stuff in her eyes, not eating, and vomiting. Vet here told me her kidneys were not working properly. She has been with IV drip since Thursday. She does not w
Unfortunately this is not a question one can answer without a hands-on exam and seeing the lab reports. Sometimes fluid therapy can significantly improve blood kidney values and then the disease can be slowed down with medications, a kidney diet and regular fluids to flush out toxins and hydrate the dog. So you really need to sit down with your veterinarian and discuss quality of life of your dog and set a limit until when she should have improved. I know this is difficult, especially as we do not want to lose a beloved companion. But we also do not want to drag it out if there is no hope. So I think it is reasonable to wait about a week on iv fluids, anti-nausea medication, phosphor-binding medicine and a kidney diet, if she eats. If the kidney values have not significantly improved by then it may be better to let her go. But as I said, your vet is at the source, he should be able to give you a realistic outlook.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog has started stage 4renal failure she is sleeping at least 22 hours a day. Stopped eating five days ago drinking water only ,her back legs give way and won't take her medication she is under a vet I don't know what to do for the best
I'm sorry Belle isn't doing well at the moment! It sounds like she is doing quite poorly, and it may be time to let her go peacefully and without further pain. If she isn't eating, she will slowly be starving and that will be painful for her. I would examine her quality of life, and if it is poor, then letting her go via humane euthanasia would be the kindest option for her. I'm sure that this may not be what you want to hear, but letting her go at this point would be a gift to her. I work for a home euthanasia service so I face this question with my clients all the time, and if you'd like to consult with me further on this, just click the "consult online" button under my answer. Otherwise, I am sorry you are facing this, and I hope I've been helpful :-(
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hi, we have a dog in kidney failure. Had him in the vet hospital getting fluids for 2 days. Vet said he was not getting better and take him home for the night and bring him back in the morning and put him asleep. But he eats, drinks wags his tail, ju
I don't really have any insight into his lab work without being able to see the results, but it sounds like you're not ready to consider euthanasia. You may want to ask your vet if there's anything else that can be done for Baxter - depending on the cause of the kidney failure he might benefit from more intensive 24 hour care at a specialty hospital. Since he is still eating and drinking you could also ask about hospice care - he may be comfortable for a little while longer with fluids at home. At some point it sounds like you will need to make a decision regarding euthanasia - these links might help: https://www.petcoach.co/article/the-decision-of-euthanizing-your-pet/ https://www.ahelpproject.org/ https://www.iaahpc.org/images/BarkArticleSpring2014Goldberg
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog is having severe liver problems. He's been on fluids and antibiotics for the last few days. He still doesn't have much of an appetite, but other peeing a lot and resting, he seems to have ok energy and doesn't seem uncomfortable. But he has a
This is a very valid question and it is important to consider his overall wellbeing and comfort above and beyond prolonging the length of his life. If he is mobile, greeting family members as he normally would and eating enough (a specialised liver diet and supplements can help to reduce some of the symptoms of poor liver function by reducing the amount of toxins the liver needs to excrete. As long as his appetite is sufficient to prevent significant weight loss then it is likely he is feeling ok in himself. The following link can be very helpful for all family members to sit down together and discuss and can help in the medium term decision making https://vet.osu.edu/vmc/sites/default/files/import/assets/pdf/hospital/companionAnimals/HonoringtheBond/HowDoIKnowWhen.pdf
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Bucky is my 7mnth old goldn retriever. I took him to the vet 5 days ago since he was vomiting and had a seizure. Tsts revealed renal insufficiency. After 3 days with fluids, he was sent home with meds like Azodyl and Nefrotec nd Kd science diet. Howe
I think it is too early to think about euthanasia, however Bucky does need to see a vet/emergency vet again today. He will need to be put on fluids again the very least. Have a talk with the vet about his condition, ask what the chances of him having a good quality of life are and then this will make your decision based on facts rather than feelings. Sometimes it takes a while for a dog to get better and in the meantime we think he is suffering terribly. But there may be a chance to recuperate.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Kody developed renal failure after bladder stone removed 1/26/18. Lethargic. No appetite. Lab on 2/5 results: crea 4.0; bun 53; all 251; ggt 15. Have done few days at home subq IV. fluids. He wouldn't let do today.tried to bit me. When does eat a lit
I'm very sorry to hear about this situation. Sadly, even if Kody would tolerate fluid therapy at home, it would not reverse the renal failure. When we are giving subcutaneous fluids at home, we are trying to keep our pets comfortable and give them more time. In patients that do tolerate it well, it still only helps for a while. Making the decision to euthanize is never easy. What I never want to see is a patient that ends up resenting the care their family is trying to provide, and making their last days miserable for everyone involved. If you absolutely wanted to keep going and keep trying, you could hospitalize with IV fluids, or take him to the veterinarian for daily subcutaneous fluids, but if he hates the treatment, I'm not sure that is what most people would want their pet's last days to be like. I can only access how Kody is doing based on the information provided, but it sounds like you are at a point when it would not be wrong to consider euthanasia. Even knowing it is the rig
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Food & Nutrition
15 1/2 year old Jack Russell is losing weight, blind and can't hear well... she stands in a corner and just stares. also , now incontinent is it time to put her to sleep?
What a hard decision for you to make! I work for a home euthanasia service, so I do face this question all the time with my clients. You need to look at Holly's quality of life. I typically suggest making a list of five things a dog loved to do; when they no longer do at least two of them, then their quality of life has declined to point where euthanasia should be considered. Given that she is incontinent, blind, can't hear well, stands in a corner and stares, and is losing weight, I would say her quality of life has declined quite a bit and it may be time to let her go peacefully. I would have a discussion with your vet about this, and I'm sorry you are in this position. I hope this helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My golden is 13, blind (Sards),hypothyroidism, both for 3 yrs. now wobbly and possible cns inflamation. I would like my dog to die naturally and l wonder what are the chances of that. He eats and drinks but very wobbly and this. Bloods were fine rece
Hello and thanks for using Boop by Petco! The decision you are trying to make is an extremely difficult one. I will tell you that pets typically don't die peacefully at home- it is usually a rare occurrence. When it comes to making the decision about euthanasia, I try to have the owner think about good days and bad days. Being a golden owner myself, I know what makes them happy- food, attention, going on walks, treats, attention... When you think of all the things Jacky loves, is he still doing those things? Does he still come to the door when you come home, is he able to get up to go to the bathroom or is he pottying on himself, is he still interested in food? When the bad days outweigh the good days, his quality of life is poor. A friend once told me, it is better to make this decision a day too soon than a day too late. As I said it is a very difficult decision but you need to think about what would be in Jacky's best interest. I hope this helps. Kisses to Jacky!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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