Quality of Life

Knowing when to say goodbye is never easy.  Your beloved pet may have been diagnosed with a terminal illness or experience a significantly diminished quality of life as they grow old.  Dr. Jessica H. Smith will perform a quality of life exam prior to euthanasia to help ensure its time and answer questions you may have.  There are a few signs that can help you determine if your pet's quality of life is declining:

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• Your pet appears painful, unable to walk or rise on their own.

• Experiencing chronic pain that cannot be controlled with medication or other alternative methods.

• Loss of appetite; no longer interested in food or water.

• Frequent vomiting or diarrhea that is causing dehydration and/or significant weight loss.

• Loss of urinary bladder control and or defecation

• No longer interested in being around the family; constantly hiding.

• Chronic labored breathing

• When the "bad" days outweigh the good days

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