05/09/2024
When I met Jackie for the first time, she was brought into the clinic by a good samaritan who found her sick. Despite her young age of one year old, she had been infected with the parvovirus. Unfortunately, the treatment for this illness was not within the budget of the kind person who had brought her in, so she became my responsibility.
I remember that shy moment when she came over to me, looking for a head pat. Luckily, Jackie was a fighter and beat the parvovirus to become my loving companion for the next 15 years. However, as she grew older, she developed severe arthritis and kidney failure.
One day, I realized that it was time to say goodbye when I took her to her favorite park, and she showed no interest in exploring. Although my husband disagreed about the right time to say goodbye, we kept her comfortable and waited for a few more weeks. Finally, as a family, we said our final goodbyes to Jackie, laying her on a blanket under a tree in our front yard with her loved ones surrounding her. She passed away peacefully.
It can be challenging to know when it's time to say goodbye to a beloved pet. But as a veterinarian, I am here to help you answer any questions you may have about your pet's illness and provide resources for assessing your pet's quality of life.