Assessing quality of life and planning for the end

While the death of a treasured animal friend is always sad, you should never think of euthanasia as a failure of your care. Choosing to say goodbye at the right time may be the final selfless act of care for your donkey.

Making the decision to euthanase your donkey is extremely hard. It can lead to feelings of guilt alongside the normal mourning process. However, there are certain things that you need to consider before euthanasia and after the death of a donkey. It is better to plan for these than to wait until the time comes, when you may be too stressed and emotional to deal with the practicalities.

This factsheet aims to help you with your decision to say goodbye and with the details you need to consider.

What is euthanasia?

Euthanasia (also known as ‘putting an animal to sleep’) is an important final act in the care of your donkey. It is always a sad decision, but it is a decision you need to make when your donkey’s quality of life deteriorates, or if your donkey no longer has a ‘good life’.

How is quality of life assessed?

Donkeys are very stoic in nature, which means they are good at hiding their pain. As donkeys age, painful conditions like arthritis, dental disease, foot problems and breathing problems become more common. These conditions can easily go unnoticed and a donkey’s quality of life may deteriorate gradually. For this reason, you should monitor your donkey carefully and regularly for any subtle changes in behaviour.

Is your donkey:

Moving around freely and comfortably, particularly when turned out?
Able to lie down and get up without help or difficulty?
Able to roll without difficulty?
Eating and chewing comfortably?
Breathing comfortably?
Maintaining a healthy weight?
Displaying normal behaviour?
Generally healthy?
Bullied by other animals in the herd?
Suffering from conditions that affect its physical or mental wellbeing?
On any long term medication?
‘Happy’?

You can record answers to these questions in The Donkey Sanctuary quality of life assessment pack. The pack helps you check for changes or trends, and has information that you will find useful when talking with vets or other animal health care professionals.

Our donkey welfare advisers can offer advice and support on caring for an older donkey. You can also speak to vets and animal health professionals.

Your vet can perform an annual geriatric health check. This is a good time to discuss any medical issues and how your vet thinks they are affecting your donkey’s quality of life.

For more detail information, download Dealing with Death and Euthanasia Factsheet