The advancements in taking care of animals’ health have been absolutely phenomenal. From sophisticated means of peering into their bodies such as MRI and CT scans to emerging treatments such as stem cell therapy and even the promising work on developing drugs to reverse aging, our capacity to assist our cherished pets to live longer is growing rapidly. But with these technological advances come some very important ethical issues: just because we can extend the life of a pet, should we always do it, regardless of the circumstances?

The Promise of Longer Lives: A Tricky Situation

The want to keep our furry friends with us as long as we can is a strong component of the connection that we share. The concept of putting years on the life of a pet, possibly through drugs or new treatments, is tempting, and understandably so. Even companies are spending a great amount on research to reverse aging in pets as such, with some medicines having potential to increase both how long they live and how long they remain healthy.

But attempting to make them live longer is not always easy. While assisting a healthy pet in living a long life full of joy and activity is a wonderful objective, creating a life longer that is one of continuous pain, serious sickness, or having a really terrible quality of life raises severe ethical issues.

Quality of Life: What Matters Most

Animal care professionals and ethics more and more insist that quality of life is most paramount when making decisions about the end of life in pets. While people can frequently express what they want, our pets have us represent them by expressing their welfare. Determining their quality of life includes consideration of many factors:

• Pain and Comfort: Is the pet in persistent pain that can’t be well controlled? Are they comfortable and resting peacefully?
• Mobility: Can the pet get around by themselves and do things they once loved? Are they eating, drinking, and having bowel movements without a lot of difficulty?
• Appetite and Hydration: Are they eating and drinking adequately and with enthusiasm?
• Cognitive Function: Are they still cognitively aware of their surroundings and aware of their family? Are they experiencing significant mental decline that annoys them?
• Happiness and Engagement: Are they still happy and engaging with their world and loved ones? Do they still appear interested in things they enjoyed?

Extending an animal’s life by subjecting them to vigorous treatment when they’re not living very good lives may in fact just make them suffer for a longer time, prioritizing our own want for them to live longer over their own well-being.

The Financial and Emotional Cost

Expensive high-tech pet health care can be very costly. Special tests, specialized surgery, and continued treatment can be very costly, which can lead to emotional distress and financial hardship for pet owners. Pet insurance can cover these expenses, but not everyone has it, and what it covers may be different.

The emotional toll that a prolonged sickness and intense care on the animal and owner themselves is another completely valid thing to take into consideration. Ongoing administration of medications, constant veterinary visits, and seeing a loving pet deteriorate can be physically and emotionally debilitating and impact everyone’s well-being in the house.

The Role of Euthanasia: A Kind Choice

Euthanasia, though always difficult to discuss, is increasingly viewed as a compassionate alternative when an animal’s quality of life has deteriorated markedly and irreversibly. It lets us end pain when additional medical intervention would only prolong a suffering existence. Coming to this conclusion is one of the most loving acts a pet parent can take, motivated by love and a desire to do what’s best for their animal.

Dealing with the Tough Decisions

• The choice of whether or not to apply high-tech therapy to extend a pet’s life is highly personal and complicated. It involves serious consideration of:
• The likelihood of the pet’s recovery and the quality of their life with and without treatment.
• The cost and whether the owner can continue to care for the pet.
• The emotional burden on the pet and the family.
• The moral concept of prioritizing the well-being of the pet and minimizing suffering.
• Open and honest discussions with a trusted veterinarian are truly critical. They can provide valuable insight into the condition of the pet, talk through treatments and how they would impact quality of life, and assist you in making the most compassionate choice.

Ultimately, the objective of animal health care shouldn’t be to keep pets alive for as long as possible at all costs, but to ensure that our pets have lives as healthy, comfortable, and happy as possible, for as long as possible. Advances in high technology present wonderful potential, but we must always employ them with a profound dedication to what’s in the best interest of each and every animal and their overall well-being.

Also read: ONEPACK Pet Insurance Launches for Canadian Employers