By YASEMIN TALAT
CAPTION: Dr Kate Ward said it was important for pet owner’s to discuss their pet’s health with a vet. 100376 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
IT IS never easy to say goodbye to a loved pet and it’s even harder when you need to make the decision to do so.
Last week the Australian Veterinary Association’s annual conference addressed the topic of “the right time to say goodbye” to a pet.
Wyndham Vet Clinic’s Dr Kate Ward said vets could help pet owners with making the decision.
“It’s a very weighty responsibility and nothing makes the process easy,” Dr Ward said.
“As well as wanting the best thing for your pet it’s also emotionally difficult to imagine not having them in your life,” she said.
“The only thing that does help is really believing in yourself that it is the right thing to do for you pet and part of our job as vets is to help you to see that.”
Dr Ward said pet owners with elderly pets or sick pets were often the people who might need to make such a decision.
She said it was a good idea for pet owners to identify the things their pet likes doing and assessing change in their behaviour towards it.
“I asked owners to consider the things that bring the most happiness to their pet and if it’s reaching a stage where they are no longer enjoying those things on a daily basis that might be when to say goodbye,” Dr Ward said.
Dr Ward said it was important for pet owners to visit the vet to find out how to maximise their pet’s quality of life.
