This is the hardest part of the whole process, and I hear it constantly.

People worry they're giving up too early—maybe there are still a few good weeks left. Or they worry they've waited too long and their pet is suffering more than they realized.

Here's what I tell people:

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There's No Perfect Moment

You will never feel 100% certain. That's just the truth.

But here's the thing: we're fortunate that we CAN make this decision for our pets. We don't have to keep them around just because we're not ready to let go.

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Actions you can use to evaluate them

• Label each day on your calendar with "good day" or "bad day." Are there more bad days than good days now?

• List 5 things they are interested in today. These might be things like: watching the birds through the window, greeting you at the door, sleeping quietly in their favorite bed or getting excited when they hear the treat cabinet open.

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Here are some questions you can ask

• Is your pet eating and drinking enough?

• Can they get up and move? Or are they falling, struggling, unable to stand?

• Are they unable to get comfortable even while taking pain medication?

• Do they still seem interested in being with you? Or have they withdrawn?​

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You can ask your family or a close friend to help or we can talk it through. You don't have to make this decision completely alone.