Bloom County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
We have a dog, Opus, who has been with us over 14 years. He is a super mutt that we rescued as a puppy from the SPCA. He has short legs, a longish spine, pointed, alert ears, and personality plus, attributed to his expressive, jet-black eyebrows. The years have been kind to Opus, though there are growing signs of deafness and reduced eyesight. A bit of arthritis makes for tender joints, exhibited in his new-found willingness to stand and stare at the passing squirrels, most of whom he formerly enjoyed chasing through our mountain enclave.
And no, he wasn’t named for the musical style, but instead for the lead character in the comic strip Bloom County, a philosophical penguin madly in love with Diane Sawyer.
I’ve been thinking about our Opus, happy that he remains in good health and spirits, enjoying his company each day as it comes, but also knowing that the end of our relationship is closer than the beginning.
“Weighing the End of Life,” an opinion column by Louise Aronson that appeared in the Sunday New York Times started me to thinking about how we address the end of life, both for our dearly loved pets, and for ourselves. (See link, below)
How do we know when it’s time to allow our pets to pass on, to relieve them of their misery? This is a question that Aronson discusses in great length in her column, brought home to a personal level by her mixed feelings about her own, aged dog, Byron.
He was 14, half-blind, suffering from dementia, and often walked around whining for no clear reason. At other times, Byron seemed lucid, ready to play or take walks. But even during the good days, he needed special attention. Water softened food, trips outside to relieve himself several times a night. As often occurs with older animals, Byron slept more than usual. Is that time peaceful rest, or the only relief the animal has from pain?
How does one tell when its time to mercifully help a long-time member of the family? How do we know it’s time for the scales to tip away from companionship in favor of ending pain and discomfort in the animal. How do we weigh the humane versus spending one more day with a loving and faithful pet?
It’s certainly a bridge I dread having to cross, even knowing it is still a ways into the future.
But this piece also got me to thinking about ourselves and our decision points as we age.
Aronson is a Geriatrician, a doctor who specializes in the care and disease states of older adults, who cares for the “frailest and sickest among them,” as she puts it. So her piece logically morphs into questions facing us all as we age.
Medical care technology has far outstripped our historical well-being, able in certain
Protest sign: The Nazis already tried death panels. How’d that work out? (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
cases to significantly prolong our lives, ignoring basic qualify of life questions. Is lying in a bed, fed by tubes, breathing by machine, living? Fear mongers have politicized the aging process, making claim to outlandish ideas of bureaucratic “Death Panels” making our end-of-life decisions for us.
But those are extremes. What of cases of severe or painful disease states, with no real hope of remission or cure? Perhaps someone with a long history of recurring heart disease, or a spreading cancer, wracking the victim with unbearable pain and nothing in the future but more of the same?
Photo credit: Wikipedia)
On the one hand is the overly optimistic doctor, compassion overruled by the latest experimental therapy. On the other, patient and family who fear the futility of one more surgery, one more course of treatments with little chance of a favorable outcome, only the chance to live a few more weeks or months.
Shouldn’t these very real situations be considered, a plan made, individual wishes made known ahead of time?
I’m concerned for the number of people who have not created an Advanced Medical Directive that clearly spells out their desires, who can make decisions for them, what courses to pursue once they are unable to decide on their own. It is such a simple, logical idea, to discuss with a trusted family member or close friend, exactly what care we want in the event of a catastrophe.
The unplanned alternative? I would never again want anyone to experience the family heartache and destruction caused by the likes of the Terry Schaivo case in Florida, a human trauma and disaster so easily avoided.
But that’s just me…
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/03/opinion/sunday/weighing-the-end-of-life.html
As far as pets go, I’ve come down with a hard fast rule. Cats – I’ve learned what to feel for when it comes to masses in the belly etc. Once that happens it’s time for euthanasia for kitty. Either that or 3 to 6 months of trying to pill a sick cat.
And regards last directives – mine will be a .45 thank you very much.
All the best to Opus and his family
Opus and his family are doing well. We went to the “big City” on Saturday night for a concert by Warren Hill at the Tower. AWESOME show. We went early for dinner, the show, then stayed overnight in Clovis. Had a great breakfast at Sandy’s Junction to make the weekend a treat!!!
Best wishes with Opus. We had to put our dog down and it was heartrending, but past time. My son stayed with him for thirty minutes afterwards. I am grateful my grandmother and mother-in-law had directives for medical care, but also about the funeral arrangements. What they wanted to be buried in, favorite hymns to sing, passages to read, etc. Being the stewards of their wishes made it a tad easier as we were being instructed one last time. Take care, BTG
Luckily, we have a good lawyer who helped us draft up complete documents, including all the arrangements and details. We have DNR orders, and between us we have discussed extensively what our individual wishes are, (Luckily they are mostly all in sync) and who to notify. We are lucky to have a very trusted executor, who has copies of all our documents, and wills. The lawyer was also very helpful in specifying just how to word the will to prevent it being contested by angry siblings and insure the proceeds go where we want them to.
As far as Opus goes, luckily for me, he is equivilently healthier than I am! Lets hope it continues. He is a great dog, but is primarily my wife’s, so when he goes, I may have to go on a sabattical for a while!
Thanks for your wonderful comments
Working in health care, with many aging patients, I address these issues daily. Advance Medical Directives are pretty routine for any hospital admissions these days. I agree that each individual should contemplate these issues and discuss them with family and important friends. The hardest situations are when someone did not and is no longer in a position to voice an opinion, and the family is split between “let him go” and “keep him alive by any means”. Also, when the person’s body has given out the the mind has not, that individual is in a tough place. I often ask “What would give you meaning in your life at this time?” Of course, do not be in hurry to get to the next patient if you put that topic out.
Oscar
Its difficult to get through a doctors office or any hospital now without them specifically asking for these documents. More power to them. My wife and I have had these in place, along with powers of attorney and medical decision making forms in place for several years now. So in addition to having discussed and agreed amongst ourselves what our wishes are, we also have legally created documents to back that up.
Interesting that you mention the body giving out but the mind does not. I actually cut a paragraph out of my piece about this. I had read something along the lines of someone being completely paralyzed, unable to communicate, but the mind remained sharp. Over time, it described how easily one could go mad under these circumstances. I can’t imagine anything more horrifying.
And the keep him alive by any means school is usually driven more by guilt than compassion.
Thanks for the comment
Should I ever be in such a situation, I hope that some has the curtisey to put on Bach and not Fox News. That would be my line between sanity and insantiy!
A local hospital I visit for my medical care has banned all the internal TV’s from playing Fox News stations. CNN is OK, Fox is out.
Interesting
You’ve mentioned Opus before. I do not envy ytou the decision as I’ve had to make it before.
As to we humans, in Wshington State we passed a ‘Death with Dignity’ several years ago. Many on the right were afraid it would lead to (cought) ‘death panels’ but it did not. (surprise, suprise)
What it has done is given anyone wanting it the option to die with dignity.
So be we humans or animals, our quality of life is our life.
I believe also that Oregon has such a law on its books. Its about time that everyone had the right to manage their own lives, including end of lives. I’d certainly desire to go pain free at home, rather than suffer the indignities of being tied to a hospital bed by a myriad of tubes keeping my body functioning, if just going through the motions is considered functioning.
its a tough argument to get through peoples heads, but dying and death are part of life, and we need to accept that.
By the same token, if someone wants all the possible steps taken to keep them alive for every possible moment, (and they have made the financial arrangements to pay for all of it) then make that clear also.
Thanks for the comment
Good, thoughtful blog, Barney. Our son had a dog for 17 years that we dearly loved. He became quite sick toward the end of his life and my son tried everything he could do to prolong the dog’s life, until one cold Winter day the dog left the house never to return. They never did find any signs of him. He knew it was time to go. We humans tend to hang on when we should learn from that wonderful dog. There are problems with a living will, but I embrace the idea despite those problems.
I’ve seen many cases where, as you describe, animals know its time and faithful pets suddenly disappear. It happens in the wild also, when herd animals go off by themselves when its their times. Elephants are known for this.
Then why can’t we humans accept that death is part of life and living? I think we should avail ourselves of all reasonable care, all through our lives. I wouldn’t be here today had I not been able to take advantage of new technology. But neither would I want to be kept alive, in body only, long past when it makes any practical sense. If my only chance for life extension results in permanent residence in a bed, hooked to several machines, then I say, “No Thank You!”
Thanks for writing. I appreciate your comments