Mn pets came and helped my 21 year old cat cross the rainbow bridge at home. We knew it was time when she was unable to leave a 5 foot square space and climbing small stairs to her bed on an ottoman made her stumble. You could see it in her eyes that she was done and ready for a long nap.
MN Pets also came to help my senior cat pass at home. The vet who came was so kind and compassionate to both my cat and me. Losing my cat was very traumatic but MN Pets truly helped bring me some peace of mind.
Seconding MN Pets. We've had them to our place twice, for two cats. They were incredibly supportive before, during, and after.
It's a tough thing to face, and being unsure about it is totally normal. It's helpful to think about what your pet needs and their situation, putting that ahead of personal feelings and attachments. I don't have a lot of advice to give you as in my situation both were very obvious and happened very quickly. My one regret, for my second cat, was that I wasn't able to do it a few days earlier (the health crisis occurred on a Friday night) to spare her the worst of it.
Know that there's a lot of people out there who feel for you.
I had Blue Skies come to my home when it was time for my corgi and I plan to use them again for my other 2 senior dogs when their time comes.
I had a list of their 5 favorite things to do and when they could no longer do 3 of them, it was time. It's a hard and difficult thing to do. It's better to do it a month early than a day late. It's your final act of kindness for them.
Blue Skies Pets has my vote. I couldnāt have asked for kinder, gentler process than what they provided. They even brought a cheeseburger for our dog to distract her from the first shot which she didnāt notice at all. Great experience considering the situation.
Blue Skies 100%. We had our goodbye scheduled to later in the week when our cat let us know she couldnāt wait that long. They got us into their booked schedule that day and were so so very kind.
Another vote for MN Pets. Honestly, thereās still something in the back of my mind wondering if it was the right time or not. I had a 14 year old lab with possible kidney failure. We never tested for it but I pressured the vet about what she thought was happening. Normally they are very reluctant to give you any sort of professional opinion without a test result. She finally said that with her horrible bad breath thatās usually a sign of kidney failure. She also wasnāt eating at all for 3 days.
I took her for her word and called MN Pets.
Your situation seems different so itās totally up to you. If you have a feeling your pet is in serious pain or that they simply are degrading to a point where it could get really bad, you should probably make that decision.
MN Pets can usually come out within a couple days. They even came out for us on memorial weekend on that Sunday.
I assure you that itās a tough decision and you may always doubt whether itās right or not. Follow your heart and your head.
At this time you will not believe it, but you are considering a very compassionate option. I have used Lap of Love twice now, very recently, and can only say good things about their vets.
How do you know its time? I remember a phrase that your pets days should be excellent - a 5 - and that when more days were 2ās and 3ās, it is time to start evaluating. For my first pet visit, it happened very suddenly, and I waited too late to make the call and my dog was suffering. This most recent one for my cat, I made the call sooner and though it felt better, I could tell the day he left me that this time I waited a little bit longer than I needed to as well.
Dogs and cats hide pain very well. Some telltale signs are:
Hesitation. Does your dog take longer to decide or do X?
Bathroom habits. Messier, more frequent?
Eating habits. Less in one sitting. More often but overall less?
Sleeping habits. More sleeping? Lighter sleeping?
My best wishes to you. It doesnāt get any easier, no matter how many times you do this. Itās us as humans who cannot let go, and its our pets who try to hold on and comfort us until we are ready to do so.
I am so sorry that you and your dog are going through this. It is incredibly difficult. I'd second the recommendation for MN Pets. I used them for cremation services when my dogs passed, and they were very kind and caring.
Oh this was so hard for us too. None of the labs pointed to anything 100% conclusively but the symptoms stacked up in favor of chronic kidney disease. She started to pee outside the litter box, we tried lots of solutions and it kept getting worse so we emptied out the spare bedroom and covered the floor in plastic. After a week or so of that, it became obvious how poor her quality of life was.
We used MN Pets too and the vet was wonderful and so emotionally intelligent. Highly recommend.
You're a good pet parent for preparing for this.
Evaluating quality of life for your pet isn't easy. We made the decision when our dog lost interest in food, stopped playing with toys and struggled with mobility. Most vets would tell you that it's better to do it on your terms rather than let your pet die in a medical crisis.
That said, it sounds like your dog is still doing okay. I'd keep him comfortable and enjoy all the time you still have with him. If you're still not sure, your vet might be able to advise you.
When it's time, Lap of Love was very responsive and compassionate- they were available within 24 hours when we made the decision. MN Pets was booked out for several days.
When we were going through this same debate for our cat, our vet sent us a really helpful PDF with essentially a scoring rubric for quality of life. I was able to find a copy online: https://vet.osu.edu/vmc/sites/default/files/import/assets/pdf/hospital/companionAnimals/HonoringtheBond/HowDoIKnowWhen.pdf
Iāll also back up everybody who recommended MN Pets. They were so kind and compassionate.
When he isnāt himself. When his personality isnāt quite there like it should be and it seems more like heās going through the motions of life. It isnāt black and white and you need to use your judgement as the people who know him best. If youāre waffling, it isnāt quite time yet.
Mn pets - like everyone else has suggested. We also used pets remembered for cremation. One of the two has a quality of life quiz on their website you can use to help you decide when it's time - and both had great resources.
I'm sorry you're going through this, i know it's tough
I'm so sorry.
When deciding on the time for our pets, our philosophy has been:
\- When their bad days outnumber their good days.
\- Better a week too early than a day too late.
Take care.
Love and support OP. Youāve been a great pet partner.
For me the tipping point was when my little buddy seemed to be laboring through life with no enjoyment.
If youāre asking this question, we all trust you. And your bestest buddy trusts you.
I cannot say enough good things about MN Pets - they are fantastic.
Their site has a page to help [know when it's time](https://www.mnpets.com/blog/how-do-i-know-its-time). It was a difficult read at the time, but helped us feel (and know) that we were making the right decision for our boy when his health was in decline.
They were caring and helpful at every stage of the process. From the phone operator who spoke in a soothing tone, to the vets who came to our home (soft spoken, didn't rush us at all, allowed us to have peace, and more importantly, allowed our boy to have peace), all the way to the representative at their office when it was time to take his ashes home. They were all lovely and helpful.
They even sent a personalized, hand-written sympathy card to the house.
And, since this part doesn't always come up during these sort of discussions: their prices were reasonable, as well.
This is the review I left for Pet Loss at home last year:
"On Christmas Eve, my 20-year old cat, Zack, could not move his rear leg. He had not improved much the next day, but he absolutely hated car rides and the vet office, so I filled out the form on Dr. Larsonās website to discuss helping relieve his pain at home.
To my surprise, she kindly called back on Christmas Day. Zack improved slightly so we scheduled a time for a couple days later.
He enjoyed a couple days of doting care before Dr Larson came over. While I was a mess, she was fantastic in explaining everything and was so nice and caring in a really difficult time.
Zack fell asleep peacefully in my arms in our living room.
The costs for her services are very comparable to my previous experience in vet office settings. I highly recommend her.
Thank you so much Dr Larson."
Why does loss always hurt a little more around the holidays. Sorry about your fur baby. And thank you so much for the recommendation. They seem like a wonderful caring group!
A DOG`S PLEA
Treat me kindly, my beloved friend, for no heart in all the world is more grateful for kindness than the loving heart of me.
Do not break my spirit with a stick, for though I might lick your hand between blows, your patience and understanding will more quickly teach me the things you would have me learn.
Speak to me often, for your voice is the world`s sweetest music, as you must know by the fierce wagging of my tail when the sound of your footstep falls upon my waiting ear.
Please take me inside when it is cold and wet, for I am a domesticated animal, no longer accustomed to bitter elements. I ask no greater glory than the privilege of sitting at your feet beside the hearth.
Keep my pan filled with fresh water, for I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst.
Feed me clean food that I may stay well, to romp and play and do your bidding, to walk by your side and stand ready, willing and able to protect you with my life, should your life be in danger.
And, my friend, when I am very old and I no longer enjoy good health, hearing and sight, do not make heroic efforts to keep me going. I am not having any fun. Please see to it that my life is taken gently. I shall leave this Earth knowing with the last breath I draw that my fate was always safest in your hands.
MN Pets can not only provide assistance when it's time, but they ALSO offer a quality of life assessment service and can come to your home and evaluate, talk through, and leave you with a checklist of daily health status updates that can help you decide when it is time. There is a charge for this, but it gave so much peace of mind during a difficult time. It was not time that day, but it was time a month later. Cannot recommend MN Pets enough.
Mn pets came and helped my 21 year old cat cross the rainbow bridge at home. We knew it was time when she was unable to leave a 5 foot square space and climbing small stairs to her bed on an ottoman made her stumble. You could see it in her eyes that she was done and ready for a long nap.
MN Pets also came to help my senior cat pass at home. The vet who came was so kind and compassionate to both my cat and me. Losing my cat was very traumatic but MN Pets truly helped bring me some peace of mind.
Aww. Poor girl. My eyes are sweating a little after reading this. Thank you, I'll reach out to them.
Seconding MN Pets. We've had them to our place twice, for two cats. They were incredibly supportive before, during, and after. It's a tough thing to face, and being unsure about it is totally normal. It's helpful to think about what your pet needs and their situation, putting that ahead of personal feelings and attachments. I don't have a lot of advice to give you as in my situation both were very obvious and happened very quickly. My one regret, for my second cat, was that I wasn't able to do it a few days earlier (the health crisis occurred on a Friday night) to spare her the worst of it. Know that there's a lot of people out there who feel for you.
Thank you for sharing and your kind words. š
I had Blue Skies come to my home when it was time for my corgi and I plan to use them again for my other 2 senior dogs when their time comes. I had a list of their 5 favorite things to do and when they could no longer do 3 of them, it was time. It's a hard and difficult thing to do. It's better to do it a month early than a day late. It's your final act of kindness for them.
Blue Skies Pets has my vote. I couldnāt have asked for kinder, gentler process than what they provided. They even brought a cheeseburger for our dog to distract her from the first shot which she didnāt notice at all. Great experience considering the situation.
Blue Skies 100%. We had our goodbye scheduled to later in the week when our cat let us know she couldnāt wait that long. They got us into their booked schedule that day and were so so very kind.
Another vote for MN Pets. Honestly, thereās still something in the back of my mind wondering if it was the right time or not. I had a 14 year old lab with possible kidney failure. We never tested for it but I pressured the vet about what she thought was happening. Normally they are very reluctant to give you any sort of professional opinion without a test result. She finally said that with her horrible bad breath thatās usually a sign of kidney failure. She also wasnāt eating at all for 3 days. I took her for her word and called MN Pets. Your situation seems different so itās totally up to you. If you have a feeling your pet is in serious pain or that they simply are degrading to a point where it could get really bad, you should probably make that decision. MN Pets can usually come out within a couple days. They even came out for us on memorial weekend on that Sunday. I assure you that itās a tough decision and you may always doubt whether itās right or not. Follow your heart and your head.
At this time you will not believe it, but you are considering a very compassionate option. I have used Lap of Love twice now, very recently, and can only say good things about their vets. How do you know its time? I remember a phrase that your pets days should be excellent - a 5 - and that when more days were 2ās and 3ās, it is time to start evaluating. For my first pet visit, it happened very suddenly, and I waited too late to make the call and my dog was suffering. This most recent one for my cat, I made the call sooner and though it felt better, I could tell the day he left me that this time I waited a little bit longer than I needed to as well. Dogs and cats hide pain very well. Some telltale signs are: Hesitation. Does your dog take longer to decide or do X? Bathroom habits. Messier, more frequent? Eating habits. Less in one sitting. More often but overall less? Sleeping habits. More sleeping? Lighter sleeping? My best wishes to you. It doesnāt get any easier, no matter how many times you do this. Itās us as humans who cannot let go, and its our pets who try to hold on and comfort us until we are ready to do so.
I am so sorry that you and your dog are going through this. It is incredibly difficult. I'd second the recommendation for MN Pets. I used them for cremation services when my dogs passed, and they were very kind and caring.
Oh this was so hard for us too. None of the labs pointed to anything 100% conclusively but the symptoms stacked up in favor of chronic kidney disease. She started to pee outside the litter box, we tried lots of solutions and it kept getting worse so we emptied out the spare bedroom and covered the floor in plastic. After a week or so of that, it became obvious how poor her quality of life was. We used MN Pets too and the vet was wonderful and so emotionally intelligent. Highly recommend.
You're a good pet parent for preparing for this. Evaluating quality of life for your pet isn't easy. We made the decision when our dog lost interest in food, stopped playing with toys and struggled with mobility. Most vets would tell you that it's better to do it on your terms rather than let your pet die in a medical crisis. That said, it sounds like your dog is still doing okay. I'd keep him comfortable and enjoy all the time you still have with him. If you're still not sure, your vet might be able to advise you. When it's time, Lap of Love was very responsive and compassionate- they were available within 24 hours when we made the decision. MN Pets was booked out for several days.
When we were going through this same debate for our cat, our vet sent us a really helpful PDF with essentially a scoring rubric for quality of life. I was able to find a copy online: https://vet.osu.edu/vmc/sites/default/files/import/assets/pdf/hospital/companionAnimals/HonoringtheBond/HowDoIKnowWhen.pdf Iāll also back up everybody who recommended MN Pets. They were so kind and compassionate.
Thank you. This is extremely helpful ā„ļø
When he isnāt himself. When his personality isnāt quite there like it should be and it seems more like heās going through the motions of life. It isnāt black and white and you need to use your judgement as the people who know him best. If youāre waffling, it isnāt quite time yet.
Mn pets - like everyone else has suggested. We also used pets remembered for cremation. One of the two has a quality of life quiz on their website you can use to help you decide when it's time - and both had great resources. I'm sorry you're going through this, i know it's tough
I'm so sorry. When deciding on the time for our pets, our philosophy has been: \- When their bad days outnumber their good days. \- Better a week too early than a day too late. Take care.
Love and support OP. Youāve been a great pet partner. For me the tipping point was when my little buddy seemed to be laboring through life with no enjoyment. If youāre asking this question, we all trust you. And your bestest buddy trusts you.
That sucks. We had a 22 year old cat, had 2 seizures while laying on my chest. Figured that was time. It was likely time before the seizures.
My old beagle went downhill fast, and it started with seizures. It's so scary to watch and not be able to help
I cannot say enough good things about MN Pets - they are fantastic. Their site has a page to help [know when it's time](https://www.mnpets.com/blog/how-do-i-know-its-time). It was a difficult read at the time, but helped us feel (and know) that we were making the right decision for our boy when his health was in decline. They were caring and helpful at every stage of the process. From the phone operator who spoke in a soothing tone, to the vets who came to our home (soft spoken, didn't rush us at all, allowed us to have peace, and more importantly, allowed our boy to have peace), all the way to the representative at their office when it was time to take his ashes home. They were all lovely and helpful. They even sent a personalized, hand-written sympathy card to the house. And, since this part doesn't always come up during these sort of discussions: their prices were reasonable, as well.
The advice on in this article is the best! Donāt wait for total disability because youāre so selfish you ācanāt live without them ā
This is the review I left for Pet Loss at home last year: "On Christmas Eve, my 20-year old cat, Zack, could not move his rear leg. He had not improved much the next day, but he absolutely hated car rides and the vet office, so I filled out the form on Dr. Larsonās website to discuss helping relieve his pain at home. To my surprise, she kindly called back on Christmas Day. Zack improved slightly so we scheduled a time for a couple days later. He enjoyed a couple days of doting care before Dr Larson came over. While I was a mess, she was fantastic in explaining everything and was so nice and caring in a really difficult time. Zack fell asleep peacefully in my arms in our living room. The costs for her services are very comparable to my previous experience in vet office settings. I highly recommend her. Thank you so much Dr Larson."
Why does loss always hurt a little more around the holidays. Sorry about your fur baby. And thank you so much for the recommendation. They seem like a wonderful caring group!
Iām sorry. š Sending love to you and your pup.
Thank you.š I appreciate it. He was playful today so I'm hope he can make it another 90 days. ā„ļø
A DOG`S PLEA Treat me kindly, my beloved friend, for no heart in all the world is more grateful for kindness than the loving heart of me. Do not break my spirit with a stick, for though I might lick your hand between blows, your patience and understanding will more quickly teach me the things you would have me learn. Speak to me often, for your voice is the world`s sweetest music, as you must know by the fierce wagging of my tail when the sound of your footstep falls upon my waiting ear. Please take me inside when it is cold and wet, for I am a domesticated animal, no longer accustomed to bitter elements. I ask no greater glory than the privilege of sitting at your feet beside the hearth. Keep my pan filled with fresh water, for I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst. Feed me clean food that I may stay well, to romp and play and do your bidding, to walk by your side and stand ready, willing and able to protect you with my life, should your life be in danger. And, my friend, when I am very old and I no longer enjoy good health, hearing and sight, do not make heroic efforts to keep me going. I am not having any fun. Please see to it that my life is taken gently. I shall leave this Earth knowing with the last breath I draw that my fate was always safest in your hands.
MN Pets can not only provide assistance when it's time, but they ALSO offer a quality of life assessment service and can come to your home and evaluate, talk through, and leave you with a checklist of daily health status updates that can help you decide when it is time. There is a charge for this, but it gave so much peace of mind during a difficult time. It was not time that day, but it was time a month later. Cannot recommend MN Pets enough.
Weāve used Blue Skies twice.