Factors contributing to the decision for euthanasia of dogs with congestive heart failure.

摘要

Clinical information and factors affecting the decision for euthanasia were reviewed and recorded from medical records of 38 dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF). The dogs were euthanatized between January 1996 and June 1997 in Massachusetts, USA. Each owner was interviewed via telephone to determine whether their dog had anorexia or other clinical signs of disease before euthanasia, their perception of their dogs' quality of life, and the most important factor and contributing factors that influenced the decision to euthanatize their dog. Of the 38 dogs with CHF, >70% had weakness (35 dogs), coughing (33), anorexia (32), weight loss (32), dyspnea (30) or exercise intolerance (28) reported by their owners. Factors often named by owners as mostimportant in the decision for euthanasia were poor prognosis given by the attending veterinarian, recurrent clinical signs of CHF (i.e., coughing, dyspnoea, or ascites) and poor quality of life. Weakness, anorexia and recurrent clinical signs of CHF were the commonest contributing factors in the decision for euthanasia.