Five Things I Wish Everyone Knew About Behavioral Euthanasia 

It’s no one’s first choice – Some people think it’s the easy way out, the owner hasn’t done enough, or the dog just isn’t trained. In all of my years as a veterinarian, both in residency and general practice, I’ve never discussed behavioral euthanasia as a first option. We talk about medication, behavior modification, and management all before we get to that point. In fact, I find myself bringing it up to owners first because I’m worried about the safety of the family and community. Owners who elect behavioral euthanasia are often the most loving and dedicated pet owners that I have met.

The reason for making the decision to behaviorally euthanize is different for everyone – everyone’s life and home situation is different, and we have to understand and accept that as an important factor in behavioral euthanasia. What about a dog that bites if someone tries to take his toys? That should be fine if no one takes his toys, right? But what if he lives with toddlers? Then do they keep them separated? Do the owners have the space for that? What if a mistake happens and the dog and toddler are out at the same time? Is that a risk that can be taken? What about rehoming the dog? The dog has a bite history, so it isn’t a good rehoming candidate. Or would they become a risk to the new family or public? These are the kind of logistics that you have to work through, and sometimes the answer is, we just can’t do it.

We should think of it the same way as we think about euthanizing a pet who had cancer – Most patients that are euthanized for behavioral reasons are related to aggression. For many of these patients, aggression is towards their owners or other people. Imagine being so fearful, anxious, or dysregulated that you are aggressing towards the people you love and care most about. That is suffering. We don’t question euthanizing an animal with cancer or debilitating arthritis, so why is this type of suffering any different? We just can’t see it or measure it with lab work or X-rays. It doesn’t mean the suffering is less severe.

The people involved matter – My patients are my first priority always. But there’s no question that my second priority is the people who care for them. When talking to pet owners who are considering humane euthanasia, I find people who are emotionally and physically exhausted. They can only walk their dogs after dark, so in the summer, they are up until 11PM and again at 5AM, exercising their dog. They haven’t had friends or family over in a year because their dog isn’t safe around other people. They haven’t been able to leave the dog alone for two years, because if they do, the dog injures itself trying to escape, and now they are at risk of losing their job. The physical and mental health of my clients matters, and their suffering needs to be taken into account as well.

It’s really, really hard – The time after behavioral euthanasia is still difficult. It doesn’t end when the pet passes. As noted above, these are some of the most dedicated people who loved their pet. Sometimes there’s a period of guilt, especially if there’s any sense of relief. Grief is not a linear experience, and some days are easier than others, but no matter what, it isn’t easy. There are resources that can help you process through these difficult times. There are veterinary social workers, personal therapists, and other mental health professionals who can help you through these times. There are also pet loss and behavioral euthanasia support groups I’ve linked below.