Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats (43 page)

I think this reveals something in the human-animal relationship that has not been understood—at least I didn’t understand it. For some people, caring for an animal is of immense importance; it represents something very basic about who they are. When that caring is not seen to succeed, the
sense of personal responsibility
is so great that it dominates everything else.

I don’t know the answer to this pain, but my thoughts about the situation run like this: It is a noble human feeling to be responsible for another; it is appropriate and we need more of it in the world. Nonetheless, we must realize our limitations as humans. It is simply the way things are that, in spite of our best efforts, all beings will die, many from diseases that are unfortunate. So one thing to realize is that if you have tried your best, then that is all you can do. Yes, theoretically there may have been something missed or a path not taken, but it is always that way. Hindsight is wonderful—just not available when we need it. So it may help to first reflect on that: You did your best at that time.

Let me ask you: What if you had not been there? What would have happened if you were not in the picture? I think questions like this can help to put things in perspective. That you were there has meaning. Sure, you can always think of things you could have done differently, but the fact is you were the one who was there. What you were able to do for your friend could not have been done by anyone else. It was a gift.

MAKING A CHOICE

If your pet is suffering and you are forced to consider euthanasia, familiarity with the procedure
and its alternatives may help you know what to expect.

Euthanasia:
The idea of “putting an animal out of its misery” has long been accepted as a humane option, even though we rarely accept it as a choice for ourselves.

Veterinarians perform euthanasia in their office or sometimes as a house call by injecting an overdose of a barbiturate anesthetic into a vein or the heart. The animal loses consciousness within a few seconds, slumps over, and the vital functions cease soon thereafter. It is considered painless. However, if the animal is agitated (perhaps by its upset human companion), that can make it harder for the doctor to do the job properly. It can be very helpful, especially in a situation where there is anxiety or pain, to use a tranquilizer before giving the final injection. There is then a period of relaxation first.

Personally, I’ve always found the whole process rather uncomfortable, and I think most veterinarians feel the same. Mercy killing can make sense, however, in cases where the animal is in great and prolonged pain and the death is slow but inevitable.

It’s unwise to make a hasty decision for euthanasia in a moment of anguish, before you clearly and rationally understand the animal’s chances of survival and any other alternative possibilities. Otherwise, you may be burdened with doubts and regrets, forever wondering if your pet would have survived. I have found this depends to a great extent on what the “diagnosis” is. The animal with itchy skin may go through much discomfort but one would never think of euthanasia because of this. If your pet has the diagnosis of cancer, however, then slight symptoms can be interpreted as the reason to make that decision—perhaps prematurely. I have overseen cases of cancer in pets that are doing quite well with minimal discomfort, even getting better; to have them “put down” because they did not feel well one day would have been rash.

It is really best to look past the diagnosis and directly at the situation of your animal. Are they relatively free of pain? Are they able to function? If so, then don’t come to a hasty decision. Consider one of the alternatives we will discuss in chapter 14. I have been blessed to be able to help many “dying” animals recover enough to live normal lives for some time.

Hospital care:
When your animal is so ill that you are considering hospitalizing it, ask the veterinarian for a realistic opinion of your pet’s chances of recovery. Special care often pulls an animal through a serious crisis and enables it to live a few more years. Some conditions, however, allow for little hope for recovery. Heroic efforts to prolong a pet’s life might involve extensive care and expense, as well as drawn-out suffering for the animal, only to prove futile in the end. I know it’s a tough call, but here are some thoughts to consider in making the decision.

The cost of emergency treatment for an animal in a crisis can very considerably. Typically, the cost can be several hundreds of dollars after just a few days of intensive care.
Compared with human care, it’s a real bargain. Still, the cost is a consideration, especially if extraordinary care is not going to make a significant difference.

Certainly there is a place for this kind of care in some situations. It may be obvious, however, that the animal can’t survive and that heroic measures are not really appropriate. This can be difficult for you to judge yourself, so don’t be afraid to ask your veterinarian for an assessment. Ask her to be frank with you. If it is clear that your pet can’t be saved, he can still be made comfortable without having to go through all the procedures involved in trying to “rescue” him. For example, a veterinarian can administer fluids and drugs that will allow the animal to rest quietly. As soon as it becomes apparent that death is near, most doctors then put the animal “to sleep” (with your prior permission).

Home care:
In the scenario in which death is expected and a decision is made not to continue the attempts to cure them, it is an option to allow your pet to die at home—like a hospice situation.

Many conditions that are terminal are
relatively
painless. The animal is not completely free of discomfort, but not suffering greatly. As a general guideline, if the animal seems reasonably comfortable and peaceful, you may wish to allow the process to unfold naturally. Later in this chapter I will describe some homeopathic treatments that can be used to ease the dying process.

There are some ways of dying that are
not
easy, however, and my recommendation is avoid putting pets through the suffering. Some examples of this are cats that have fluid accumulating in their chests (pleural effusion or hydrothorax), resulting in suffocation, or dogs having continual seizures. Use this guideline: If your animal is very agitated, crying in pain, restless, or struggling to breathe, then consider euthanasia rather than letting the process continue.

Why would one consider taking this path? A chief reason is that home is familiar and comfortable, whereas being taken in a car to a strange place with strange sounds and smells creates anxiety. It seems a better thing for the dying animal not to go through this anxiety in the last hours of life. There are veterinarians that make house calls for the purpose of euthanasia, and this is better in terms of reducing anxiety.

The other reason for allowing an animal to die at home is the chance to be with them in the last hours, to take care of them at this time, and to ensure that the suffering is minimal.

If it is better to take your pet to the hospital for this, you can still comfort them at the last. Ask your veterinarian if you can be there, to hold them, when the injections are given. Many veterinarians allow, even encourage, this. Talk it over with your veterinarian. In some places I have worked, the doctor would perform the euthanasia procedure, then leave the room and allow the person to be alone with their friend for final good-byes.

WHAT CARE SHOULD BE GIVEN IN THE LAST HOURS?

In terms of physical care, don’t feed a dying animal; just give it water or vegetable juices. Provide a warm, comfortable, quiet place to rest. Occasionally your pet may need your help to go outside or to the litter box to eliminate. The dying animal may welcome the gentle and calm presence of those it loves, but do protect your pet from too much noise, activity, or disturbance.

When the end is very near, the animal will grow quite weak. The body temperature will drop below normal (for dogs and cats, below 100°F), and breathing may be faster than usual. At the moment of death there is often spasmodic or gasping breathing. The pupils may dilate and the animal may stretch out or perhaps pass urine. This final dying process usually lasts for only about a minute or less.

H
OMEOPATHIC
H
ELP
FOR
THE
D
YING
A
NIMAL

As I discuss in chapter 14, homeopathy is a method of treatment with the expectation that health will be restored. It also can be used to help the dying animal. In this instance, we do not expect recovery, and the treatment is intended to relieve pain, anxiety, restlessness and make the process as smooth as possible. I have considerable experience using remedies in this way, because many clients have asked for help in allowing their pets to die at home. (I would have used homeopathic treatment to help Miracle with the transition if I had known of it at the time.)

To forestall confusion later I will explain here that these medicines are also used in the
treatment
of other diseases and
they are not
drugs that cause death
. In fact, homeopathic remedies are not instruments of euthanasia in the usual sense, e.g., drugs that cause quick death. They are euthanasia in the
original
sense of the Greek word, which meant “an easy or happy death.” The difference, however, is that homeopathic remedies will not cause an animal to die if it is not already doing so. They can
ease
the transition, but they do not cause death. In a sense, we are treating the “condition” of dying to relieve pain and suffering. If the animal is close to death, it will come—perhaps not now, but in a couple of weeks. If they are not ready to go, then the remedy will have no effect and may actually improve them temporarily.

Here are the most useful remedies and their indications (to understand more about the use of homeopathy, see chapter 14.) Each one is accompanied by a brief description as to how the animal will look or act. Use this description as a guide for which remedy to use. It can happen that one state is relieved and another occurs, in which case you change to another remedy. What you are expecting to see is relief of the suffering, and if this happens after the treatment, then give nothing more. It is usual for just one remedy and one treatment to be sufficient. How long before relief can be expected? Very quickly,
in just a few minutes. If a half-hour goes by without any effect, then the remedy was not effective and another one can be chosen.

1. Arsenicum album
   30C is the one most useful and most often indicated (90 percent of patients). The animal will be restless, have extreme weakness (such as inability to stand), increased thirst, and a cold body. If you check the temperature it will be below normal (below 100°F). Not all of these elements need to be present at the same time for this remedy to be appropriate. It often happens, however, that you will notice restlessness or weakness coupled with a low body temperature. Give one dose of 1 to 2 pellets.
   
2. Tarentula hispanica
   30C is a remedy for similar symptoms as
   Arsenicum album
   , in that there is just as much discomfort and restlessness. What is different is the patient will roll back and forth, from side to side. There may be nervous-like movements of the right front and rear legs. Typically, they keep in constant motion; curiously, soothing music will sometimes relieve this discomfort. I tend to use this remedy when
   Arsenicum album
   has no effect.
   
3. Tarentula cubensis
   30C is a remedy that will not often be used at home. It is suitable for the animal dying from a severe infection. They will be very weak, perhaps not completely conscious, with a condition such as an overwhelming virus infection (like parvo-virus in dogs) or a bacterial infection such as blood poisoning. Another condition can be gangrene, where part of the body is dying, as may happen in some cancers. The affected areas tend to turn a purplish color. This remedy is particularly helpful in the very last stages of dying. In the homeopathic
   Materia Medica
   , the indication is that it “soothes the last struggles,” which is as good a description as any. Give one dose.
   
4. Pulsatilla
   30C is appropriate for the animal that is whimpering, complaining, or wanting to be held or carried about. It is also useful for the stage right before death when breathing becomes loud and labored (usually unconscious at this point). Give one dose.
   

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

During the span of years you spent together, there were ups and probably there were downs. Through it all you each learned, loved, and did the best you knew how. When you think of the past, let it be with gratitude for the beautiful times you had together. When you think of the future, let it be with faith that Life is always bringing such beauty your way.

But
now
is the only place life ever is, always new and full of marvelous things. And what more could we ask for?

CHAPTER 14

HOLISTIC AND ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES