How do I know when it’s time for euthanasia?

If your pet is nearing the end of life or facing a terminal diagnosis and you’re struggling with what to do – this page is for you. We’re here to help.

On this page you can find quality of life assessment tools, information on end-of-life decision making, articles about common conditions our pets face at the end of life, and articles about common illnesses and how they typically progress/what to expect. You can also schedule a private, 45 minute teleconsult with one of our compassionate and experienced veterinarians. 

dog sitting on green chair

How do I know when it's time?

It is one of the hardest decisions you may ever have to make. Read our comprehensive guide.

Quality of life scoring

Take our quality of life quiz to help you assess your pet’s quality of life.

Comprehensive Quality of Life Teleconsults

One of our doctors will sit with you and your pet over video chat to discuss how to know when it’s time to say goodbye, and help determine if there are things you can be doing to keep your pet comfortable and happy a little longer. Consultations are 45 minutes and include a comprehensive review of your pet’s medical record, a complete medical history, and a thorough discussion of all the options to help guide you to the best decisions for you and your family.  

What this includes:

  • Comprehensive medical record review

  • Review of your pet’s history and the procession of their symptoms

  • Thorough quality of life assessment including teaching YOU how to know what to look for

  • Review of all the options and guidance to help you decide what is best for your family member

  • In some cases, we may be able to prescribe medications over video consult

Price: $149

What our clients say

Your feedback allows us to provide the best care possible for your pet during this hard time. Thank you for your kind words about Paws at Peace.

We contacted Dr. Jessica for a consultation about Molly’s quality of life. Talking to Dr. Jessica helped take a lot of uncertainty and stress out of our family conversations. Without telling us what to do, Dr. Jessica helped us figure out how we will know when it is time to say goodbye to our pup, how we can make the best choices for her, and what we can be doing to keep her comfortable and happy in her twilight years.

When Oliver got his cancer diagnosis I was in shock and couldn’t think straight. My vet gave me a list of options but I didn’t know what option was best for Oliver. Dr. Jessica listened to me nonjudgementally and helped me envision how Oliver’s future might look if I chose each option. I am so grateful for her guidance and patience.