How do I handle end-of-life care decisions for a beloved elderly pet?

I’m sorry—you’re facing one of the hardest decisions that comes with loving an animal. The goal isn’t to find a “perfect” moment; it’s to make sure your pet’s remaining time is as comfortable, dignified, and free from suffering as possible.

Start with quality of life, not age

Being elderly by itself doesn’t mean it’s time. Instead, look at whether your pet can still experience reasonable comfort, function, and enjoyment. AAHA recommends considering things such as pain, eating and drinking, breathing, hygiene, mobility, social engagement, and whether there are more good days than bad.

For a week or two, if your pet is stable enough, keep a simple daily record:

• Comfort: Is pain or anxiety controlled?
• Appetite/thirst: Are they willingly eating and drinking?
• Mobility: Can they get up, walk, and reach food, water, and the bathroom?
• Hygiene: Can they remain reasonably clean and comfortable?
• Enjoyment: Do they still seek affection, favorite foods, walks, toys, sunlight, or other things they normally enjoy?
• Connection: Do they recognize and interact with you?
• Good vs. bad days: Is the overall trend getting worse?

A written log can help counter the tendency to remember the occasional good day more strongly than the overall decline.

Have a very direct conversation with your veterinarian

You don't have to figure this out alone. Ask questions such as:

“Is my pet suffering, even if they aren't crying?” “What symptoms are likely to worsen next?” “If we continue treatment, what will the next few weeks or months realistically look like?” “What would tell you that we're reaching the point where treatment is no longer helping?” “If this were your pet, what would you be watching for?” Ask your veterinarian to help you make both a daily plan and a crisis plan—including what you should do if your pet suddenly deteriorates at night or on a weekend. Veterinary end-of-life guidelines specifically recommend planning for disease progression and potential crises rather than waiting until an emergency forces the decision.

Understand that hospice and euthanasia aren't the only “all-or-nothing” choices

If your pet has a terminal or progressive condition, palliative care/hospice can focus on controlling pain, nausea, anxiety, breathing difficulties, mobility problems, and other symptoms while maximizing meaningful time together.

At some point, though, if suffering can no longer be adequately controlled, humane euthanasia may be the kindest option. Veterinary guidelines consider euthanasia a legitimate component of hospice/end-of-life care, not a failure to care for your pet.

If you choose euthanasia, you can discuss:

• Sedation beforehand to reduce anxiety.
• Whether you'd prefer at-home euthanasia or a veterinary hospital.
• Who you want present.
• Whether you want to hold or comfort your pet.
• What will happen during each step.
• Aftercare and memorial options.

You are also allowed to decide not to be present if you know that would be emotionally overwhelming. Veterinary guidance specifically says owners shouldn't be made to feel guilty either way.

One important distinction

Try not to make the decision based solely on “Can I bear to lose them?” That's an understandable question, but it's different from “Is my pet still having a life that is comfortable and meaningful to them?”

Sometimes loving an animal means continuing to care for them when there is still genuine comfort to preserve. Sometimes it means accepting that further days would primarily prolong suffering. Neither decision means you love your pet more or less.

And you don't have to wait for an unmistakable catastrophe to justify euthanasia. Planning ahead can allow your pet to have a peaceful goodbye rather than waiting until a severe crisis makes the decision for you.

If your pet is currently having severe difficulty breathing, uncontrolled pain, repeated collapse, or another acute crisis, contact an emergency veterinarian now rather than waiting for a quality-of-life assessment.

If you tell me your pet's species, age, diagnosis/health problems, and what changes you've noticed recently, I can help you work through the quality-of-life questions step by step and prepare a list of questions for your veterinarian.

Navigating end-of-life care for a cherished pet is one of the hardest parts of pet parenthood. Making these decisions requires balancing medical reality with your pet's quality of life and comfort.

Here is a structured, compassionate framework to guide you through this process:

1. Assess Quality of Life

Instead of focusing only on how many days your pet has left, focus on the quality of those days. Vets often recommend using the Helios HHHHHMM Scale (hurt, hunger, hydration, hygiene, happiness, mobility, and more good days than bad) to track daily well-being.

• Ask yourself: Is your pet still engaging in the activities they love? Can they eat, drink, and relieve themselves without severe distress or constant pain?
• Keep a daily or weekly journal to track their "good" vs. "bad" moments so you can spot trends objectively.

2. Consult Your Veterinarian

Schedule a dedicated quality-of-life consultation with your regular veterinarian or a specialized palliative care vet.

• Ask them directly: "If this were your pet, what would you do?" or "How much pain are they experiencing, and can it be effectively managed?"
• Discuss whether at-home palliative care (pain management, sub-fluid therapy, mobility support) is a comfortable option or if the disease progression means suffering is imminent.

3. Explore Palliative and Hospice Care

If your pet isn't ready to go today but is declining, veterinary hospice can keep them comfortable.

• Look into local providers via the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care to find professionals who specialize in keeping elderly pets pain-free at home.
• Make small modifications at home: non-slip rugs, easily accessible water bowls, orthopedic beds, and ramps or steps to favorite spots.

4. Decide on the Setting and Method

When the time comes, decide whether you prefer a traditional clinic visit or a peaceful in-home euthanasia service . Many companies specialize in gentle, at-home transitions, allowing your pet to stay in their favorite spot surrounded by family.

• You can search for local compassionate at-home providers through networks like Lap of Love.

5. Process the Grief and Seek Support

Anticipatory grief (grieving before the loss actually happens) is entirely normal. Give yourself grace and permission to feel sadness, guilt, or relief.

• Reach out to dedicated pet loss support lines or local support groups, such as those offered through the ASPCA Pet Loss Support resources.

If you'd like, please share:

• What symptoms or conditions your pet is currently facing
• Whether you are leaning toward in-home care or clinical visits

I can help you prepare specific questions for your vet or help you evaluate your pet's current quality-of-life checklist.

I’m sorry—you’re facing one of the hardest decisions a pet owner can make. The goal isn’t to find a “perfect” moment; it’s to make the most compassionate decision you can, based on your pet’s comfort and quality of life.

Start with quality of life

Talk with your veterinarian about how your pet is doing in these areas:

• Pain and breathing: Can pain be controlled? Are they breathing comfortably?
• Eating and drinking: Are they willing and able to eat and stay hydrated?
• Mobility: Can they get up, walk, and reach food, water, or the litter box/toilet?
• Hygiene: Can they remain reasonably clean and comfortable?
• Happiness: Do they still seek affection, enjoy favorite activities, or show interest in their surroundings?
• Good days versus bad days: Over several days or weeks, are the good days still outnumbering the bad?

These are broadly consistent with current veterinary end-of-life guidance.

One especially important point: severe, unrelenting pain or extreme difficulty breathing are serious quality-of-life concerns even if your pet still has moments of happiness.

You can also keep a simple calendar and mark each day as good, mixed, or bad. That can make gradual deterioration easier to recognize when emotions make it difficult to judge.

Ask your veterinarian some very direct questions

You don't have to figure this out alone. Consider asking:

• “Is my pet suffering right now?”
• “Can their pain or other symptoms realistically be controlled?”
• “If we continue treatment, what will the next few weeks probably look like?”
• “What is the best-case and worst-case scenario?”
• “What signs would tell you that it is time to euthanize?”
• “If this were your pet, what would you be considering?”

Veterinary end-of-life guidelines emphasize a collaborative, individualized plan between the veterinarian and family rather than leaving the owner to make the decision in isolation.

Hospice and euthanasia aren't necessarily opposing choices

If your pet is comfortable enough, palliative or hospice care can focus on making their remaining time comfortable rather than trying to cure the underlying disease. Things such as pain control, comfortable bedding, easier access to food and water, mobility assistance, and environmental changes can make a substantial difference.

If suffering can no longer be adequately controlled, humane euthanasia can be a compassionate medical choice. Veterinary guidance describes its purpose as relieving suffering and minimizing pain and distress.

You don't necessarily have to wait until your pet is in a crisis. In fact, planning ahead can allow you to say goodbye during a relatively peaceful moment rather than being forced into an emergency decision.

If euthanasia becomes the right choice

Ask your veterinarian beforehand exactly what will happen. You can discuss:

• Whether you want to be present.
• Whether sedation will be used first.
• Whether the procedure can happen at home or in a quiet room at the clinic.
• Whether family members or other pets should be present.
• What you want done with your pet afterward—cremation, burial where legally permitted, ashes, paw prints, a lock of fur, etc.

The AVMA specifically encourages veterinarians to discuss the process openly, accommodate owners' wishes when possible, and provide emotional support around the loss.

And please don't feel that choosing euthanasia means you are “giving up.” Sometimes preventing a pet's final period of suffering is the last act of care we can give them.

If you're struggling with guilt, a useful question is not “Can I bear to lose my pet?”—because of course you can't imagine that easily—but “What is my pet experiencing, and am I keeping them here for their sake or because I'm not ready to let go?” The latter feeling is completely human, and it doesn't make you selfish. It simply means you love them.

The The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center also has a particularly useful end-of-life guide for pet owners, including questions for evaluating quality of life.

If you tell me your pet's species, age, and what has been happening lately (eating, drinking, mobility, pain, breathing, bathroom habits, and what they still enjoy), I can help you think through their quality of life and the questions to take to your veterinarian.

Handling end-of-life care for a beloved elderly pet requires assessing their quality of life, consulting your veterinarian, and planning for their comfort or a peaceful goodbye.

Assessing Quality of Life

• Assess daily needs : Look at pain, appetite, hydration, mobility, and happiness.
• Use quality scales : Consider using tools like the HHHHHMM Scale to track good days versus bad days objectively.
• Minimize distress : Treat underlying pain and provide soft bedding to prevent pressure sores, as recommended by the ASPCA End-of-Life Care Guide.

Working with Your Veterinary Team

• Schedule a consultation : Talk openly about your pet’s prognosis, pain management, and palliative care options.
• Explore hospice care : Ask your vet about specialized pain medications, mobility slings, or sub-cutaneous fluids.
• Consider in-home euthanasia : Look into services that allow your pet to pass peacefully in a familiar, stress-free home environment.

Preparing for Aftercare and Grief

• Plan final arrangements : Decide ahead of time between communal or private cremation, or home burial where legal.
• Seek support : Acknowledge your anticipatory grief and reach out to professional counselors or communities like the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care for guidance.

If you'd like, tell me:

• What species and specific health issues your pet is facing
• Whether you are leaning toward at-home or clinic-based care

I can help you prepare a specific list of questions for your veterinarian.

Handling end-of-life care decisions for a beloved pet requires balancing daily comfort, monitoring overall quality of life, and planning for a compassionate farewell . This transitional phase is emotionally challenging, but focusing on objective measures can help you make decisions with clarity and love.

Assess Quality of Life

Pets cannot tell us when they are suffering, making objective tracking tools necessary.

• Use the HHHHHMM Scale : Rate your pet from 1 to 10 on H urt, H unger, H ydration, H ygiene, H appiness, M obility, and M ore good days than bad. A total score below 35 indicates a severely declining quality of life.
• Track Bad Days vs. Good Days : Mark a calendar daily with a color or symbol (e.g., green for good, red for bad). When red days consistently outnumber green days, it is a signal that their condition is worsening.
• Watch Behavioral Shifts : Note if they hide in unusual places, completely withdraw from family interactions, or stop showing interest in their favorite treats.

Maximize Home Comfort

Palliative and hospice care focus entirely on pain management, hygiene, and environmental modifications to minimize distress.

• Optimize Pain Management : Consult your vet to adjust medications like NSAIDs, gabapentin, or appetite stimulants.
• Enhance Sleeping Areas : Provide extra-thick, supportive bedding to prevent pressure sores for pets with limited mobility.
• Manage Incontinence : Check your pet frequently for wetness, use absorbent pee pads, and use a specialized lifting sling or towel to gently assist them outside.
• Create a Sanctuary : Keep their main resting spot quiet, warm, dimly lit, and easily accessible without requiring them to navigate stairs.

Understand Your Options

You have multiple paths to choose from depending on your pet's medical state, your financial capabilities, and your caregiving capacity.

Plan the Final Goodbye

Making decisions ahead of time reduces panic and stress during a crisis.

• Choose the Environment : Decide between using an in-office appointment or hiring an in-home provider like Lap of Love or The Kindest Goodbye to allow your pet to pass away peacefully in familiar surroundings.
• Determine Aftercare : Select between private cremation (where you receive the ashes back), communal cremation, or home burial in accordance with local regulations.
• Decide on Attendance : Decide who will be present in the room. If children are involved, give them the choice to attend or say goodbye beforehand in a way that respects their emotional boundaries.

Coping with Anticipatory Grief

Grieving your pet before they pass away is an entirely normal and healthy emotional response. Lean on dedicated loss networks like the ASPCA Pet Loss Support Program or veterinary grief support groups to help navigate the heavy emotions of this transition.

To help tailor this advice, could you share what specific symptoms or medical diagnoses your pet is facing, and whether you are noticing more good days or bad days lately?

I’m sorry—you’re facing one of the hardest decisions a pet owner can make. The goal isn’t to determine the exact “right day,” but to make the decision around your pet’s comfort and quality of life, rather than around how difficult it is for you to say goodbye.

Start with quality of life

Look at the overall pattern over several days, rather than one unusually good or bad day. Consider:

• Pain: Can your pet rest comfortably, or are they frequently panting, trembling, pacing, crying, or unable to settle?
• Eating and drinking: Are they still willing and able to eat and stay hydrated?
• Mobility: Can they stand, walk, get outside or to the litter box, and reach food and water?
• Hygiene: Can they remain reasonably clean and comfortable?
• Happiness: Do they still seek affection, enjoy favorite foods, sniff around, play, watch birds, greet you, or otherwise show interest in life?
• Good days vs. bad days: Is the balance gradually shifting toward more bad days? Quality-of-life assessments commonly look at pain, appetite, hydration, hygiene, mobility, happiness, and this overall balance.

A simple daily record can be surprisingly helpful. Write down a few observations each evening. It can make a gradual decline easier to see when your emotions are telling you, “Maybe tomorrow will be better.”

Have a very direct conversation with your veterinarian

You don't have to make this judgment alone. Ask questions such as:

• “Is my pet suffering, even if they aren't crying?”
• “What symptoms can we still treat?”
• “If we continue treatment, what will the next few weeks likely look like?”
• “What signs would tell you that comfort can no longer be maintained?”
• “If this were your pet, what would you recommend?”

Your veterinarian can also help distinguish normal aging from something treatable and discuss hospice or palliative care if continued comfort is possible.

Don't wait for a crisis if you can avoid it

One of the most painful situations is waiting until a pet is in severe distress because you're hoping they'll tell you when it's time. Planning ahead can allow a peaceful goodbye before an emergency occurs.

If your pet develops difficulty breathing, collapse, uncontrolled bleeding, repeated vomiting, or severe/uncontrolled pain, contact a veterinarian or emergency veterinary hospital immediately.

If euthanasia becomes the kindest option

Choosing euthanasia isn't giving up. When suffering can no longer be adequately controlled, euthanasia can be a way of taking that suffering onto yourself rather than asking your pet to endure it.

You can also ask about in-home euthanasia. For some pets, remaining in their familiar bed, surrounded by their people and familiar smells, is much less stressful than traveling to a clinic.

And it's okay to plan the goodbye: decide who wants to be there, whether you'd like a favorite meal or treats beforehand, what keepsake you'd like, and what you want done with their remains. Having those decisions made beforehand means you can concentrate on your pet when the moment arrives.

info.lapoflove.com can also give you a structured way to assess what you're seeing and discuss it with your veterinarian.

Most importantly: you don't have to wait until you're 100% certain. If you're asking yourself whether your beloved pet is still having a life that feels comfortable and meaningful to them, that's already a good reason to have the conversation with your vet.

If you tell me your pet's species, age, diagnosis (if any), and what changes you've been noticing, I can help you think through the quality-of-life questions without trying to make the decision for you.

I’m sorry—you’re facing one of the hardest parts of loving an animal. The goal isn’t to find a “perfect” moment; it’s to make the most compassionate decision you can, based on your pet’s comfort and quality of life.

1. Start with your veterinarian

Ask for a frank assessment of:

• What is causing your pet’s decline?
• Is the condition treatable, manageable, or terminal?
• How much pain or distress is your pet likely experiencing?
• What can medication, nutrition, mobility support, or hospice care realistically accomplish?
• What changes would tell you that treatment is no longer helping?

The AVMA specifically recommends discussing these issues ahead of time and identifying signs that would indicate declining quality of life.

2. Look at quality of life, not just diagnosis

Try to judge your pet's day-to-day experience. Consider:

• Pain or difficulty breathing
• Appetite and ability to stay hydrated
• Mobility and ability to get outside/use the litter box
• Ability to stay clean
• Interest in you, favorite activities, food, or surroundings
• Anxiety, confusion, or inability to settle
• Whether there are still substantially more good days than bad days

Writing observations down each day can help because gradual decline is surprisingly difficult to recognize when you're with your pet every day. Quality-of-life assessments commonly look at pain, appetite, hydration, mobility, hygiene, happiness, and good-versus-bad days.

3. Don't assume euthanasia is the only option

If your pet isn't yet suffering uncontrollably, ask about palliative or hospice care. This can focus on pain and symptom control, mobility assistance, nutrition, hygiene, and keeping your pet comfortable rather than trying to cure the underlying illness.

Hospice can also give you a little time to prepare rather than forcing you to make the decision during a crisis.

4. Decide what your “red lines” are beforehand

This can be enormously helpful. For example, you might tell yourself:

“If their pain can no longer be controlled, they can no longer eat or drink adequately, they can no longer breathe comfortably, or they no longer have meaningful enjoyment, I'll call the veterinarian.”

That isn't a rigid formula—your veterinarian can help tailor those thresholds to your pet's disease.

And don't wait for a catastrophic event simply because you're afraid of saying goodbye “too soon.” Conversely, don't feel guilty if you need to act when suffering has become difficult to control. The AVMA notes that euthanasia can be the humane choice when an animal's quality of life can no longer be maintained.

5. If euthanasia becomes the right choice

Ask your vet exactly what will happen. Typically, a sedative may be given first so the pet can relax, followed by medication that produces deep unconsciousness and then death. The AVMA describes the process as quick and painless; reflexive movements or deep breaths can sometimes occur afterward and don't mean the pet is suffering.

You can also decide beforehand:

• Whether you'd like it done at home or at the clinic
• Who should be present
• Whether family members or children want to say goodbye
• Whether you'd like paw prints, fur, photographs, or another keepsake
• Burial or cremation arrangements

Making those practical decisions in advance can spare you from having to think about them while grieving.

And emotionally…

There is no prize for waiting until you're absolutely certain. Uncertainty is part of loving an elderly pet. You may feel guilty whichever decision you make, but guilt doesn't necessarily mean you made the wrong choice.

A useful question is not “Can I bear to lose my pet?”—because of course you can't imagine it. Try instead:

“If my pet could tell me how they feel today, would they say that they are still having a life they want to continue living?”

If you tell me your pet's age, species/breed, diagnosis or symptoms, what they can and can't do now, and what their good and bad days look like, I can help you think through the quality-of-life question with you—without trying to make the decision for you.

Handling end-of-life decisions for an elderly pet is one of the hardest parts of pet parenthood. Approaching this with compassion for both your pet and yourself involves a thoughtful, step-by-step process:

1. Assess Quality of Life

• Daily monitoring using practical frameworks like the HHHHHMM Scale (Hurt, Hunger, Hydration, Hygiene, Happiness, Mobility, More good days than bad) to objectively evaluate your pet's daily experience.
• Veterinary consultation to discuss your pet's specific diagnosis, pain levels, and whether treatments are managing symptoms or just prolonging discomfort.

1. Understand Your Options

• Palliative and hospice care focused on pain management, comfort, and maximizing good days at home with support from specialized veterinary teams.
• In-home euthanasia allowing your pet to pass in a familiar, stress-free environment surrounded by family and favorite spots.
• Clinic euthanasia providing a controlled, professional setting with immediate access to all necessary medical equipment and support staff.

1. Prepare for the Procedure

• Beforehand decisions such as choosing between a peaceful passing at home or a clinic, deciding who should be present, and planning comforting touches like favorite blankets or treats.
• Aftercare choices including individual or communal cremation (with or without ashes returned) or home burial (where locally permitted).

1. Navigate Grief and Healing

• Acknowledge your loss and give yourself permission to grieve deeply—the bond with an elderly pet is profound and life-shaping.
• Seek support through pet loss support groups, counseling, or sharing memories with friends and family who understand the depth of your love for your animal companion.

If you'd like, you can tell me:

• What symptoms or changes your pet is currently experiencing
• Whether you are leaning toward at-home or clinic-based care

I can help you prepare specific questions to ask your vet or guide you through creating a comfort plan.

Handling end-of-life care for an elderly pet requires balancing compassionate observation, professional veterinary guidance, and personal emotional readiness . The primary focus shifts from seeking a cure to maximizing palliative comfort, dignity, and quality of life . Evaluating your pet's daily experiences and working closely with specialized veterinary hospice providers can help clarify when a pet's bad days outnumber their good days.

Assessing Quality of Life

• Daily tracking : Use standardized tools like the Hhhhmmm Quality of Life Scale to score metrics including hurt, hunger, hydration, hygiene, happiness, mobility, and more good days than bad.
• Behavioral shifts : Monitor whether your pet still engages in favorite activities, responds to affection, or shows chronic signs of distress like labored breathing or unmanageable pain.
• Consulting professionals : Partner with your primary veterinarian or an animal hospice specialist for objective assessments of your pet's prognosis and comfort needs.

Providing Comfort at Home

• Environment adjustments : Provide heavily cushioned, warm bedding to prevent pressure sores, and use slings or supportive towels to help with mobility.
• Symptom management : Administer prescribed veterinary medications for pain, nausea, or anxiety, and offer easily digestible foods or hydration support via broths.
• In-home transition : Consider in-home euthanasia services to allow your pet to pass peacefully in a familiar, stress-free environment surrounded by family.

If you'd like, tell me:

• What species and breed is your pet?
• What specific symptoms or changes are you noticing most right now?

I can help guide you through specific comfort measures or assessment tools.

Making end-of-life decisions for a beloved pet is one of the hardest parts of caring for an animal companion. The goal is usually not to decide “how long can we keep them alive?” but rather “how can we protect their comfort, dignity, and sense of safety for as long as possible?” Your veterinarian can help you weigh medical options, but your observations of your pet’s daily life are essential.

Here are some ways to approach the decision:

1. Start with quality of life, not just age

Age alone does not determine whether it is time. Consider:

• Pain and comfort: Is pain controlled? Are there signs of distress, such as restlessness, hiding, trembling, or difficulty breathing?
• Eating and drinking: Does your pet still enjoy food? Can they stay hydrated?
• Mobility: Can they get up, move around, and reach places they need to go?
• Hygiene: Can they stay clean and comfortable, or are they frequently soiled or distressed?
• Joy and engagement: Do they still enjoy favorite activities, people, toys, walks, or affection?
• Balance of days: Are there more good days than bad days?

A commonly used framework is the “HHHHHMM” quality-of-life approach: Hurt, Hunger, Hydration, Hygiene, Happiness, Mobility, and More good days than bad. It is not a substitute for veterinary judgment, but it can help organize your observations.

2. Have an early conversation with your veterinarian

You do not have to wait until there is a crisis. Ask questions such as:

• “What changes should I watch for that would tell me my pet is suffering?”
• “What symptoms can we manage, and what symptoms mean we are reaching the limits of treatment?”
• “If this were your pet, what signs would you consider important?”
• “What would a comfortable final stage look like?”

Many veterinarians can help create a hospice or palliative-care plan focused on comfort rather than aggressive treatment.

3. Track changes objectively

When you love an animal deeply, it can be difficult to notice gradual decline. Some families find it helpful to:

• Keep a simple daily journal
• Mark “good day” versus “hard day”
• Note appetite, sleep, mobility, bathroom habits, and favorite activities
• Take occasional photos or videos to compare changes over time

Tracking trends can make conversations with your vet clearer.

4. Think about what your pet would choose

A useful question is:

“Is my care helping my pet have a comfortable life, or am I mainly trying to avoid losing them?”

Wanting more time with a cherished companion is completely natural. The difficult part is balancing that love with the responsibility to prevent unnecessary suffering.

5. Plan for the goodbye before an emergency

If euthanasia may become part of the plan, discussing it ahead of time can reduce panic later. You can ask about:

• In-clinic versus at-home euthanasia options
• Who you want present
• How to make the final day peaceful
• Aftercare options (cremation, burial where permitted, keepsakes)

6. Give yourself permission to grieve

The bond with a pet can be profound, and anticipatory grief often begins before a pet passes away. Many people find comfort in creating a ritual: a favorite meal, a quiet walk, photos, a letter, or simply spending intentional time together.

If you’d like, you can tell me:

• what kind of pet you have,
• their age,
• what changes you’re seeing,
• and what your veterinarian has said so far,

and I can help you think through the situation.