For the price of putting a pet to sleep, please submit the form to the right (including species and weight).

A  pet owner has  the responsibility for the quality of their pet’s death.

The concept of “quality of a pet’s death” through pet euthanasia brings tears to our eyes and makes our heads spin with emotions. Our pets are family. Some times we actually like our pets better than some human family members.  However, pet euthanasia is a moral responsibility in cases of extreme illness or injury. Also economic, emotional, and space limitations or changes in lifestyle also may cause an responsible pet owner to consider euthanasia for their pet.

Perhaps the kindest thing you can do for a pet that is extremely ill or so severely injured that it will never be able to resume a life of good quality is to have your veterinarian induce its death quietly and humanely through euthanasia. Your decision to have your pet euthanatized is a serious one, and is seldom easy to make.

What should I do?

Your relationship with your pet is special, and you are responsible for your pet’s care and welfare. Eventually, many owners are faced with making life-or-death decisions for their pets. Such a decision may become necessary for the welfare of the pet and your family.

A decision concerning euthanasia may be one of the most difficult decisions you will ever make for your pet. Although a personal decision, it need not be a solitary one. Your veterinarian and your family and close friends can help you make the right decision. Consider not only what is best for your pet, but also what is best for you and your family. Quality of life is important for pets and people alike.

How will I know when?

If your pet can no longer experience the things it once enjoyed, cannot respond to you in its usual ways, or appears to be experiencing more pain than pleasure, you may need to consider euthanasia. Likewise, if your pet is terminally ill or critically injured, or if the financial or emotional cost of treatment is beyond your means, euthanasia may be a valid option.

Your veterinarian understands human attachment to pets, and can examine and evaluate your pet’s condition, estimate its chances for recovery, and discuss its potential disabilities and long-term problems. He or she can explain medical and surgical options and possible outcomes. Because your veterinarian cannot make the euthanasia decision for you, it is important that you fully understand your pet’s condition. If there is any part of the diagnosis or the implications for your pet’s future that you don’t understand, ask to have it explained again. Rarely will the situation require an immediate decision and usually you will have some time to review the facts before making one.

Once the decision for euthanasia has been made, you may wish to discuss the care of the remains of your pet’s body with your veterinarian and your family. Your veterinarian can provide information about burial, cremation, and other alternatives.

What if the animal is healthy?

Euthanasia might be necessary if a pet has become vicious, dangerous, or unmanageable. Some undesirable and abnormal behavior can be changed, so it is important to discuss these situations with your veterinarian.

Economic, emotional, and space limitations or changes in lifestyle also may cause an owner to consider euthanasia for their pet. Sometimes it is possible to find another home for the pet and that option should be pursued prior to opting for euthanasia. Euthanasia should be considered only when alternatives are not available.

How do I tell my family?

Family members usually are already aware of a pet’s problems. However, you should review with them the information you have received from your veterinarian. Long-term medical care can be a burden that you and your family may be unable to bear emotionally or financially, and this should be discussed openly and honestly. Encourage family members to express their thoughts and feelings. Even if you have reached a decision, it is important that family members, especially children, have their thoughts and feelings considered.

Children have special relationships with their pets. Excluding or protecting children from this decision-making process, because they are thought to be too young to understand may only complicate and prolong their grief process. Children respect straightforward, truthful, and simple answers. If they are prepared adequately, children usually are able to accept a pet’s death.

Will it be painless?

Euthanasia is most often accomplished for pets by injection of a death-inducing drug. Your veterinarian may administer a tranquilizer first to relax your pet. Following injection of the euthanasia drug, your pet will immediately become deeply and irreversibly unconscious. Death will be quick and painless.

How can I say goodbye?

The act of saying goodbye is an important step in managing the natural and healthy feelings of grief, sorrow, and loss. Your pet is an important part of your life and it is natural to feel you are losing a friend or companion, because you are.

Once the euthanasia decision has been made, you and other family members may want to say goodbye to your pet. A last evening with your pet at home or a visit to the pet at the hospital may be appropriate. Family members who want to be alone with the pet should be allowed to do so. Farewells are always difficult.

How can I face the loss?

After your pet has died, it is natural and normal to feel grief and sorrow. For some people, spending some time with the pet after euthanasia is helpful. The grieving process includes accepting the reality of your loss, accepting that the loss and accompanying feelings are painful, and adjusting to your new life that no longer includes your pet. By understanding the grieving process, you will be better prepared to manage your grief and to help others in the family who share this loss.

There are many stages of grief, but not everyone experiences them all or in the same order. Denial may begin when you first learn the seriousness of your pet’s illness or injuries. Often, the more sudden the death, the more difficult the loss is to accept.

Anger and guilt often follow denial. Your anger may be directed toward people you normally love and respect, including your family and your veterinarian. People coping with death will often say things that they do not really mean, perhaps hurting those whom they do not mean to hurt. You may blame yourself or others for not recognizing the illness earlier, for not doing something sooner, for not being able to afford other types of or further treatment, or for being careless and allowing the pet to be injured.

Depression You also may feel depressed. The tears flow, there are knots in your stomach, and you feel drained of all your energy. Day-to-day tasks can seem impossible to perform. Sometimes you may even ask yourself if you can go on without your pet. The answer is yes, but there are times when special assistance may be helpful in dealing with your loss.

Once you and your family come to terms with your feelings, you can begin to resolve and accept your pet’s death. When you have reached resolution and acceptance, the feelings of denial, anger, guilt, and depression may reappear. If this does happen, these feelings will usually be less intense, and with time will be replaced with fond memories.

Although the stages of grief apply fairly universally, grieving is always a personal process. Some people take longer than others to come to terms with denial, anger, guilt, and depression, and each loss is different. If you understand that these are normal reactions, you will be better prepared to cope with your own feelings and to help others face theirs. Family members should be reassured that sorrow and grief are normal and natural responses to death.

They may not understand

Sometimes well-meaning family and friends may not realize how important your pet was to you or the intensity of your grief. Comments they make may seem cruel and uncaring. Be honest with yourself and others about how you feel. If despair mounts, talk to someone who will listen to your feelings about the loss of your pet. Talk about your sorrow, but also about the fun times you and the pet spent together, the activities you enjoyed, and the memories that are meaningful.

I cannot forget

If you or a family member have great difficulty in accepting your pet’s death and cannot resolve feelings of grief and sorrow, you may want to discuss those feelings with a person who is trained to understand the grieving process, such as a grief counselor, clergyman, social worker, physician, or psychologist. Your veterinarian certainly understands the relationship you have lost and may be able to direct you to community resources, such as a support group or hot line.

Should I get another pet?

The death of a pet can upset you emotionally, especially when euthanasia is involved. Some people may feel they would never want another pet. For others, a new pet may help them recover from their loss more quickly. Just as grief is a personal experience, the decision of when, if ever, to bring a new pet into your home is also a personal one. If a family member is having difficulty accepting the pet’s death, getting a new animal before that person has resolved his or her grief may imply that the life of the deceased pet was unworthy of the grief that that is still being felt. Family members should agree on the appropriate time to acquire a new pet. Although you can never replace the pet you lost, you can obtain another one to share your life.

Remembering your pet

The period from birth to old age is much shorter for pets than for people. Death is part of the lifecycle. It cannot be avoided, but understanding and compassion can help you, your family, and your friends manage the grief associated with it. Try to recall and treasure the good times you spent with your pet. You may also wish to establish a memorial of some type or contribute to a charity in honor of your pet.

Schedule an appointment online at www.HillchesterAH.com

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There are now more pet cats than dogs in the North America.

Improved nutrition, prevention of infectious disease and advances in veterinary medical care have resulted in our cats living longer and healthier lives. In the last decade in North America, there has been a 15% increase in the number of cats over ten years of age and the proportion of the feline population aged fifteen years or older has increased from 5% to 14%.

What are some of the changes that occur in aging cats?

“Lack of exercise can result in a fall in energy requirements of up to 40%.”
Many aging cats are affected by osteoarthritis, which contributes to a lack of activity. The lack of activity then contributes to stiffening of the joints and worsens the symptoms of arthritis.
Reduction in exercise may result in reduced muscle tone, which may further reduce the cat’s ability to jump, climb or exercise.
When coupled with reduced activity, common in older individuals, this lack of exercise can result in a fall in energy requirements of up to 40%. If a cat maintains a good appetite, its daily food intake must be reduced to prevent excessive weight gain that can cause obesity-related health issues.
Inappetence or lack of desire to eat may develop in some senior cats, since the senses of smell and taste become dull with age.
Periodontal (dental) disease is common in senior cats, and may contribute to inappetance.
Intestinal function, including the ability of the intestines to absorb nutrients is reduced in many older animals.
Geriatric or degenerative changes in the liver, kidneys, and endocrine system will decrease the efficiency of digestive and other metabolic processes.
Thirst is often decreased, causing an increased risk of dehydration, especially when combined with concurrent renal insufficiency, a type of kidney disease common in older cats.

How might these aging changes affect my cat’s response to medication?

“Changes in physiology also affect the way many drugs are metabolized.”
Changes in physiology not only affect food and nutrient absorption, they also affect the way many drugs are metabolized. Liver and kidney disease occur commonly in older cats. When coupled with mild dehydration, these can result in reduced drug clearance rates and marked elevations in drug concentrations circulating within the blood. When treating geriatric patients, the dose and dosing intervals of some drugs may need to be altered.

Does my senior cat still need to have regular booster vaccinations?
Although little is known about the feline immune system, it is generally assumed that immune function deteriorates with age. This may in turn result in a reduced ability to fight infection or destroy neoplastic (cancer) cells. However, if your cat’s lifestyle means that it has a low risk of contracting certain of the common preventable diseases, your veterinarian will advise you on the most appropriate vaccination program for your cat based on its physical condition and lifestyle.

My senior cat becomes very distressed when we try to medicate her. Should we keep trying when it upsets her so much?
There is no simple answer to this question, and it should be discussed with your veterinarian. The proper advice for your cat depends on the specific disease being treated, and whether the treatment may lead to a cure or is aimed at controlling clinical signs. It also depends on how ill the cat is. Often, older cats do not tolerate excessive physical handling or environmental change, so while veterinary medicine may be able to offer complex therapeutic options, these may not be an option for your cat. It is important that each case be assessed individually. Treatment should not be attempted where it will be poorly tolerated for medical or temperamental reasons.

What diseases do senior cats commonly get?

“In older patients diagnosis and treatment may be complicated by several concurrent disease processes.”
The major health problems seen in older cats are:

Obesity
Periodontal disease
Hormonal disorders such as hyperthyroidism and diabetes mellitus
Kidney disease
Liver disease
Heart disease
Neoplasia or cancer
Infections such as feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)
Osteoarthritis
You should remember that, while young cats usually have only one disorder at a time, this is often not the case in older patients, where diagnosis and treatment may be complicated by several concurrent disease processes.

What can I do to make my senior cat as happy as possible?
Most cats age gracefully and require very little. Since older cats do not generally respond well to change, it is important that any changes be introduced slowly.

Elderly cats should have easy access to a warm and comfortable bed, situated where the cat can sleep safely without fear of disturbance.

You should feed your older cat a high quality, easily digestible food such as a premium brand senior diet. Although specific nutrient requirements are not yet determined for senior cats, it should be assumed that any older cat has some degree of subclinical or underlying disease, particularly of the kidneys and liver. Hence, a diet with moderate protein restriction is usually recommended.

Geriatric cats should always have easy access to fresh drinking water.

As cats age, some will experience a reduced ability to control urination and defecation. To reduce the risk of “accidents”, it may be necessary to provide multiple litter boxes located on each floor of the house that your cat may use, and near favorite sleeping and eating areas.

My veterinarian mentioned a Senior Care Program. What does this involve?

“The earlier we can diagnose a disease, the more the likelihood that we can slow or reverse it.”
The aim of any senior care program is to maintain the quality of the patient’s life and to slow the progression of age-related disease. Because most of the chronic diseases we see in senior cats are slow to progress, early recognition is usually only possible through diagnostic tests. The earlier we can diagnose a disease, the more the likelihood that we can slow or reverse its progression and maintain a longer period of high quality of life for your senior cat. Senior cats should have regular health checks (every six months).

Senior care programs usually include a thorough physical examination, blood and urine screening and chest or abdominal radiographs. Body weight should be recorded regularly and booster vaccinations should be given as determined by your cat’s lifestyle. We will provide you with additional details about our senior care programs upon request.

While it is true that “old age is not a disease”, older patients do merit special attention. This is important so that if your cat develops disease, we can recognize and treat it as early as possible, thereby maintaining its quality of life for as long as possible.

This client information sheet is based on material written by: Ernest Ward, DVM
© Copyright 2009 Lifelearn Inc. Used and/or modified with permission under license.

Schedule an appointment online at www.HillchesterAH.com

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Bladder stones (uroliths or cystic calculi) are rock-like formations of minerals that develop in the urinary bladder. There may be a large, single stone or a collection of stones that range in size from sand-like grains to gravel. Many times, there is a mixture of both large and small stones present.

What other kinds of stones are there?

Gallstones form in the gall bladder and contain bile salts. Kidney stones are mineralized formations that develop in the kidney. Neither of these is directly related to bladder stones. Even though the kidneys and urinary bladder are both part of the urinary system, the development of kidney stones is not usually linked to the development of bladder stones. All stones form because of disease or inflammation in the affected structure.

What are the clinical signs of bladder stones?

The most common symptoms of bladder stones in the cat are hematuria (blood in the urine) and dysuria (straining to urinate). Hematuria occurs because the stones rub against the bladder wall, irritating and damaging the tissues and causing bleeding. Dysuria may occur from inflammation and swelling of the bladder walls or the urethra, from muscle spasms or due to a physical obstruction to urine flow caused by the presence of the stones. Veterinarians assume that the condition is painful, because people with bladder stones experience pain, and because many clients remark about how much more active their cat becomes following surgical removal of bladder stones.

“The most common symptoms of bladder stones in the cat are hematuria (blood in the urine) and dysuria (straining to urinate).”

Large stones may act almost like a valve or stopcock, causing an intermittent or partial obstruction at the neck of the bladder, the point where the bladder attaches to the urethra. Small stones may flow with the urine into the urethra, where they become lodged and cause an obstruction. This problem occurs more frequently in male cats, because of their anatomy.

If an obstruction occurs, the bladder cannot be emptied fully. This is very painful, especially when pressure is applied to the abdomen. If the obstruction is not relieved, the bladder may rupture. A complete obstruction is potentially life threatening and requires immediate emergency treatment.

How did my cat get bladder stones?

“The most commonly accepted theory for stone formation is called the Precipitation-Crystallization Theory.”
There are several theories of how bladder stones form. The most commonly accepted theory for stone formation is called the Precipitation-Crystallization Theory. This theory states that one or more stone-forming crystalline compounds are present in elevated levels in the urine. This may be due to abnormalities in diet or due to some previous disease in the bladder. When the amount of this compound exceeds a threshold level, the urine becomes saturated and cannot hold any more of the compound. The saturation level depends on the specific minerals that are present and the pH of the urine. The excess precipitates out of solution and forms tiny crystals. The sharp crystals irritate the bladder lining, causing a production of mucus. The crystals and mucus stick together, forming clusters that gradually enlarge and harden into stones. This is similar to the way “rock candy” is formed.

How quickly can bladder stones form?
Bladder stones can develop within a few weeks or may take months to form. The rate of urolith formation and growth is variable, depending on factors such as on how much crystalline material is present in the urine, the pH of the urine, etc.

How are bladder stones diagnosed?
Inflammatory diseases of the bladder are common in cats, and produce the same symptoms as bladder stones. Therefore, we do not assume that a cat has bladder stones based only on these clinical signs.

Some bladder stones can be palpated or felt with the fingers through the abdominal wall. However, failure to palpate bladder stones on examination does not rule them out because many are too small to be detected in this manner.

Most bladder stones are visible on radiographs (x-rays) or an ultrasonic bladder examination. These diagnostic imaging techniques should be performed on cats that show signs of abdominal pain or have recurrent episodes of hematuria or straining.

Some bladder stones are radiolucent, or are not visible on radiographs, because their mineral composition does not reflect x-ray beams. They can be detected by an ultrasound examination or with ‘contrast radiographs’ a specialized technique that uses dye or contrast material to outline the stones within the bladder.

How are bladder stones treated?

There are two options for treatment. The fastest solution is to perform a cystotomy, or surgically open the bladder and remove the stones. This routine surgery is the most common choice for most clients, and cats usually make a speedy post-operative recovery. Cats with a complete urethral obstruction caused by large stones require immediate surgical intervention. In some cases, a cystotomy may not be necessary if the obstruction can be relieved by passing a catheter, especially if it is caused by soft plugs of crystals and mucus or urethral spasms. Surgery is not the best option for patients that have other health concerns.

“The fastest solution is to perform a cystotomy…”

The second option is to dissolve the stone with a special diet. This avoids surgery and can be a good choice for some cats. However, it has three disadvantages:

It is not successful for all types of stones. Unless some sand-sized stones can be collected from the urine and analyzed, it is not possible to know if the stone is of the composition that is likely to be dissolved.
It is slow. It may take several weeks or a few months to dissolve a large stone so the cat may continue to have hematuria, dysuria, and recurrent infections during that time. The risk of life-threatening urethral obstruction is present during the dissolution process.
Not all cats will eat the special diet. The diet is not as tasty as the foods that many cats are fed. If it is not consumed exclusively, it will not work.

Can bladder stones be prevented?
Prevention is possible in many cases. There are at least four types of bladder stones in cats, each based on their chemical composition. If bladder stones are removed surgically or if small ones pass in the urine, they should be analyzed for their chemical composition. This will permit us to determine if a special diet or medication is appropriate. Periodic urinalysis or ultrasound examination may be helpful in some cases to detect early recurrence of the problem and allow adjustments in diet or treatment.

This client information sheet is based on material written by: Ernest Ward, DVM
© Copyright 2009 Lifelearn Inc. Used and/or modified with permission under license.

Schedule an appointment online at www.HillchesterAH.com

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What is cognitive dysfunction and how is it diagnosed?

It is generally believed that a dog or cat’s cognitive function tends to decline with age, much as it does in people. If your dog or cat has one or more of the signs below and all potential physical or medical causes have been ruled out, it may be due to cognitive dysfunction. Of course, it is also possible that cognitive dysfunction can arise concurrently with other medical problems, so that it might be difficult to determine the exact cause of each sign.

“The acronym DISHA has been used to describe the signs associated with cognitive dysfunction.”

Traditionally the acronym DISHA has been used to describe the signs associated with cognitive dysfunction. DISHA refers to Disorientation, Interactions that have been altered between pets and their family members or other pets, Sleep-wake cycle changes, Housesoiling and Activity Level changes. With further research into brain aging in dogs and cats, behaviorists have recognized additional signs associated with cognitive dysfunction. An updated list of signs associated with cognitive dysfunction includes:

Disorientation – such as getting lost in familiar areas, not recognizing familiar people, going to the wrong side of the door.
Interactions – Social interactions might be altered between the pet and owner or pet and other pets – some pets may appear to be more clingy while others might be disinterested or even irritable when petted or approached.

Sleep-wake cycle changes – Your pet may be sleep more during the day, wake at nights or have irregular sleep-wake cycles.

Housesoiling – Pets begin to soil in areas where they were previously unlikely to soil including indoors or unusual places outdoors – dogs may stop signaling when they need to eliminate.

Activity levels – Initially there may be an overall decrease in activity levels, or a decreased interest in play. However, with increasing age some pets become more active in that they are restless, cannot settle, wander aimlessly or develop repetitive behaviors such as licking.

Anxiety – An increase in anxiety and agitation, which might be expressed as vocalization, newly emerging fears or phobias or becoming more clingy and overly dependent on owners.

Learning and memory – Recent research has shown that there is indeed a decline in memory and learning as dogs age, and that in controlled neuropsychological tests that determine the pet’s ability to find hidden food, a loss of memory or learning ability may begin several years before clinical signs are obvious. While there are not yet any standardized memory and learning tests in pets, you should be aware of any change in behaviors that might indicate that your pet is unable to do the tasks that it has been previously taught. Also, realize that when things change in the household or the pet’s schedule, your aging pet cannot adapt or learn as quickly as in the past. Although these may be signs of brain aging, they may also be signs of other medical problems and should therefore be reported to your veterinarian as soon as they are noticed.

At what age might cognitive decline begin to arise?

In one study of dogs that were 11-16 years of age, 28% of owners of 11 to 12 year old dogs and 68% of owners of 15 to 16 year old dogs reported that their dog exhibited at least one of the signs above. However, it’s important to note that these are signs noticed by pet owners in comparison to when their dog was younger. Research has shown that if you were to try and train your dog on some new learning tasks, that after about 7 years of age many dogs begin to show a decline in memory and learning ability.

“Treatment options tend to be most effective at slowing or reversing decline when they are instituted early in the course of disease.”

Similarly 35% of owners of older cats between 11 and 15 years of age reported at least one sign of cognitive decline and that this rose to 50% in cats over 15. Treatment options tend to be most effective at slowing or reversing decline when they are instituted early in the course of disease. Therefore, be certain to report any of these signs to your veterinarian immediately.

Schedule an appointment online at www.HillchesterAH.com

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