Canine Grief, by Dr. Dani McVety

Photo by Djalexej

The loss of a dog can be quite traumatic not only on the family as a whole, but also specifically on the other dogs left behind. Many of these signs are based on the dog’s natural personality. For example, a subordinate dog may become introverted, hiding and not wanting to interact with the family with the loss of a more dominant companion. Conversely, some dominant dogs may become very clingy or appear abnormally nervous (panting, pacing, searching for their friend, etc) if their “pack” seems to have been lost. These behaviors are general, however, and may be seen in any dog. Based on these outward signs that pets cannot voice to us, it is clear they can experience grief when a companion dies.

There have been studies that document changes in pets' behavior after the loss of a loved one (human or non-human) that include fluctuations in appetite, vocalization, and interaction with housemates.  I believe that many of these are related to their reaction to their owner's emotions, not simply their own.  Pets handle the Circle of Life so much better than we do;they understand the ebb and flow of life -we are the ones that have a problem with it!  Yes, they certainly grieve, but they do it so much more gracefully than us.  Just as every person will differ vastly in our signs of heartache and pain, as do pets.  Each one will be different and unique.  I have seen 2 year old Labradors not come out from behind furniture after the death of their housemate.  I have also seen 2 year old Labradors step on the body of their housemate just to give their owner a kiss.  Some owners become angry or upset that their other pets do not openly grieve, one even said to me "how can he eat at a time like this!?" We are each unique and individual creatures and we have a lot to learn from our animal companions about this amazing Circle of Life.

When changes are seen, it is normal for them to last 10-14 days after the loss of a companion. You may try to take their mind off of it by providing them with more attention and affection. Long walks, playing, and engaging in favorite activities, (especially those done with the companion that passed) can help build confidence and stimulate mental enjoyment. Use environmental enrichment techniques such as toys, (especially those that allow you to hide a treat inside like Kongs), to help keep them busy during the day. If your dog is too depressed, they may not respond right away. Remember, time heals all wounds. You may also consider a DAP (dog appeasing pheromone) diffuser, available at most pet stores. Give it few days then start encouraging the dog to do more using their favorite rewards that you do not use at any other time. If symptoms do not subside after two weeks, you may consider taking your grieving pet to a veterinarian. There are medical and even holistic approaches to canine grief that can be particularly helpful including antidepressants, acupuncture, and herbal remedies. Some more severe cases may also include stress colitis (diarrhea) and may necessitate a visit to your veterinarian sooner.

If your grieving dog is now an “only child,” some owners ask if they should get it a new companion to prevent loneliness. While this may work for the more sociable and extroverted breeds, it doesn’t work for all, especially highly dominant dogs. It is best to allow your dog time to heal. Most experts recommend waiting at least 2-4 weeks (sometimes longer) before introducing a new pet into the household.

Remember, your dog may miss your lost companion just as much as you do!

Written by: Dr. Dani McVety 

---

Dani McVety, DVM
Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice
www.lapoflove.com
(813) 407-9441
drdani@lapoflove.com

Dr. Dani helps families in the Tampa / St. Pete area. She also consults for veterinary clinics and industry on end-of-life care for our companion animals.

When To Euthanize A Pet Dani McVety

How will I know it’s time?
Dr. Dani McVety
April 2012

I’ve heard from countless pet owners that the death of their pet was worse than the death of their own parents.  This might sound blasphemous to some, but to others it’s the cold truth.  Making the decision to euthanize a pet can feel gut-wrenching, murderous, and immoral.  Families feel like they are letting their pet down or that they are the cause of their friend’s death.  They forget that euthanasia is a gift, something that, when used appropriately and timely, prevents suffering both for the pet and the family.  Making the actual decision is the worst part of the experience and I’m asked on a daily basis, “Doc, how will I know when it’s time?”  It’s time to shed some light on this difficult discussion.

An interesting trend that I did not expect when starting my hospice practice is that the more times families experience the loss of a pet, the sooner they make the decision to euthanize.  Owners experiencing the decline or terminal illness of a pet for the first time will generally wait until the very end to make that difficult decision.  They are fearful of doing it too soon and giving up without a good fight.  Afterwards, however, most of these owners regret waiting too long.  They reflect back on the past days, weeks, or months, and feel guilty for putting their pet through those numerous trips to the vet or uncomfortable medical procedures.  The next time they witness the decline of a pet, they are much more likely to make the decision at the beginning of the decline instead of the end.  

Pain in animals is another important topic that all pet owners should be well versed on.  It’s the main topic I discuss during my in-home hospice consultations.  Myself, and many other professionals, believe that carnivorous animals, such as cats and dogs, do not hide their pain… it simply doesn’t bother them like it bothers humans.  Animals do not have an emotional attachment to their pain like we do.  Humans react to the diagnosis of cancer much differently than Fluffy does!  Fluffy doesn’t know she has a terminal illness, it bothers us more than it bothers her.  This is much different than prey animals like rabbits or guinea pigs, ask your veterinarian for more information.  If you’re interested in learning more about pain and suffering in pets, grab Temple Grandin’s book “Animals in Translation” and read chapter 5.  

               When discussing the decision to euthanize, we should be just as concerned about anxiety in our pet as we are about pain.  Personally, I feel that anxiety is worse than pain in animals.  Think about the last time your dog went to the vet.  How was his behavior?  Was he nervous in the exam room?  Did he give you that look that said “this is terrible!”?  Now think back to when he last hurt himself.  Perhaps scraping his paw or straining a muscle after running too hard.  My dog rarely looks as distraught when she’s in pain as she does when she’s anxious.  It’s the same for animals that are dying.  End stage arthritis makes up about 30% of my cases.  These animals begin panting, pacing, whining, and crying, especially at night time.  Due to hormonal fluctuations, symptoms can usually appear worse at night.  The body is telling the carnivorous dog that he is no longer at the top of the food chain; he has been demoted and if he lies down, he will become someone else’s dinner.  Anti-anxiety medications can sometimes work for a time but for pets that are at this stage, then end is certainly near.  

               As a veterinarian, my job is to assist the family in the decision making, not do it for them.  There is not one perfect moment in time in which to make that choice.  Rather, there is a subjective time period in which euthanasia is an appropriate decision to make.  This period could be hours, days, weeks, or even months.  Before this specific period, I will refuse to euthanize since there is clearly a good quality of life.  After this period, however, I will insist on euthanizing due to suffering of the pet.  During this larger subjective time, it is truly dependent on the family to make whatever decision is best for them.  Some owners need time to come to terms with the decline of their pet while others want to prevent any unnecessary suffering at all.  Everyone is different and entitled to their own thoughts.  After all, pet owners know their pet better than anyone, even the vet!  

Blog by:

Dr. Dani McVety

Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice

www.lapoflove.com

Click Here for Dr. Dani's biography and contact information

Dr. Dani helps families in the Tampa / St. Pete area. She also consults for veterinary clinics and industry on end-of-life care for our companion animals.

Posted by:  Mary Gardner, DVM

Dani McVety on Talking Animals

Dr. Dani McVety on 'Talking Animals'  WMNF 88.5 FM

Our very own Dr. Dani McVety was live in the radio studio on January 25th as the guest speaker on WMNF 88.5 FM's show "Talking Animals" (Tampa/St. Pete Florida area). 

She spoke about the growing trend in veterinary medicine, pet hospice... and helping families with their geriatric or terminally ill pet. Dr. Dani also discussed end-of-life options and answered a few callers' questions!


If you missed it - go to this link below and click the link "Click Here To Listen Again" :
http://www.wmnf.org/program_specials/680


Posted by:
Mary Gardner, DVM
Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice and In-Home Euthanasia
www.lapoflove.com

Hospice for Dogs and Cats - Congestive Heart Failure Story

 Hospice for Pets

Lady, a 16 year old spayed female Bichon Frise, was first diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF) 10 months prior to our first meeting.  The 4-legged child of 2 nurses, she was in good hands from the start!  As with most early-diagnosed CHF pets, proper medication and instructions from her regular veterinarian ensured her a good quality of life.  Her parents, Kim and Jim Griffin, were well educated on the “Rest plus 3-D’s” of heart disease treatment – Rest ensures lower demand on the heart, Diruetics (like Lasix) help reduce fluid accumulation, Dilators (usually Enalapril) help dilate vessels, and Dietary restriction of sodium reduces total retained fluids.  

Lady’s owners were consistent with the medication and were very happy with her quality of life.  Although she was considered a geriatric pet by this time, they maintain she still had energy to play fetch and even tussle with your younger sibling.  It wasn’t until 10 months after her diagnosis that she started to show signs of slowing down.  She began to tire quickly and cough, especially after any type of exercise.  As nurses, the Griffins knew this was a sign that her heart and lungs were overloaded with fluid.  Lady was becoming increasingly hard to pill, however, and they were very worried about her getting the proper medication to allow her heart to function.  She still had a good quality of life and they were not ready to take that from her.  That’s when I stepped in.

During the first home hospice visit, we discussed Lady’s average daily routine and addressed any issues that might be contributing to her dislike of the pills (bad teeth, neck pain, etc).  We determined it would be best to switch Lady to injectable medications to decrease the anxiety associated with the oral pills.  As nurses, Mr. and Mrs. Griffin were very comfortable with this option and readily agreed.  Luckily, Lady tolerated the injections quite well!  She received daily doses of Lasix and vitamin B-12 while discontinuing the other medications in order to focus on quality of life.  Her parents we well versed on the end-stage of congestive heart failure and even rented an oxygen tank in the event Lady began to have difficulty breathing.  They also kept injectable pain medication on hand in case Lady showed any signs of discomfort.  The sole purpose of this period of time was to ensure Lady did not suffer while they awaited my arrival for an in-home euthanasia, whenever that may be.

Two months later I received the call we all knew was coming, Lady was ready.  She had some difficulty breathing but the biggest sign for the owners was her disinterest in her favorite treat, her mom’s meatballs.  They knew it was time.  I arrived a few hours later and Lady passed peacefully in her parents’ arms.   

This case illustrates the importance of in-home hospice care, when appropriate.  Lady’s owners were willing, able, and educated enough to feel confident in their ability to treat and evaluate their little one’s condition.  Although not right for every family, the ability to think outside the box and to search for new alternatives to care is incredibly important in this rapidly evolving area of geriatric medicine.  This is best summed up in the words of the owners, “We wouldn’t change a thing.  Having Lady in her home until the very end was the best gift we ever gave her.” 

For more information on Hospice Care for your pet - click here.

For information on certain common diseases our pets suffer from - click here.

To join our e-mailing list - click here.

Blog written by:

Dr. Dani McVety

Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice and In Home Euthanasia

drdani@lapoflove.com

www.lapoflove.com

Click here for Dr. Dani's bio

Dr. McVety services all towns in and around Hillsborough and Pasco counties including Tampa, Seminole Heights, Carrollwood, New Port Richey, Wesley Chapel, Brandon, and surrounding areas.

Lap of Love - www.lapoflove.com - was founded by Drs. Dani McVety and Mary Gardner to provide at-home veterinary hospice and euthanasia care and services. Veterinary hospice is an adjunct service provided to clients, and is not designed to replace the care of a general veterinary practitioner. Lap of Love currently operates in Florida, North Carolina, and Tennessee with planned expansion to additional states in the coming months.