OverSixty April 2023 Digital

ISSUE 4 | APRIL 2023 | OVERSIXTY.COM.AU 22 LIFESTYLE their !nal appointment. But the more honest a client is, the better the clinic canprepare. For instance, theymay reserve a quieter,more pri- vate roomor book the appointment at the end of the day to give the client more time. Another increasingly popular option is at-home euthanasia. While it can be more expensive, it also allows your pet to pass away snuggled into their favourite cushion or blanket, surrounded by everything – and everyone – they love. It can also provide more closure for their humans. Reiner recalls a client who played the piano as their pet slipped into unconsciousness. Others have speci!c religious or spiritual ceremonies. Shroyer says it made all the di$erence to see Duckie die peacefully, at home, and for him to be by her side: “She deserved it.” Honour your grief Shroyer tells me that, while he knew he’d be sad, the depth and intensity of his grief in the months after Duckie’s death took himby sur- prise. I’ve had friends who sobbed for weeks after losing their beloved pets. I know I’ll be a wreck when my cat’s time comes – and that’s okay. While it may seem silly to take time o$ work, or to burst into tears whenever you see someone else with their pup, experts say that it’s normal. In somany ways, the relationship we have with our pets may be our purest and most uncomplicated. Helen Goldberg is a certi!ed pet loss grief support specialist. She says a lot of her clients beat themselves up for not being able to “get on with life” in a few days. Much of what she does is to give people permission to grieve without shame or judgment. She often suggests writing down the best memories of your pet, whether in the form of a letter to your pet or a record of all the endearing things they have done. In all cases, the idea is to remember how much love your pet brought into your life – and how much you gave them in return. MELISSA STARLING LIFESTYLE M y grumpy-but-sweet tabby, Link, has been a part of my life for nearly two decades. His comforting rumble has helped me through two cross-country moves, one shattering divorce, countless life bumps and bad days, several deaths and one pandemic. He chirps “hello” every morning and warms my feet every night. I cannot imagine life without him. But at nearly 19, Link long ago surpassed the av- erage lifespan of an indoor cat. He has both arthritis and diabetes, the latter requiring twice daily insulin injections. Already, in the past year, I’ve had several “Is it time?” scares. While he’s pulled through, I dread knowing I’ll have to make the choice to euthanise him soon. I don’t want to say goodbye, but I’d hate it even more if I knew he had su$ered. My struggle is a common one: many peo- ple experience intense grief when a pet dies. "at grief can be complicated by the guilt of choosing to euthanise. Even if you knew it was the right thing to do, the questions can be haunting: did I wait too long, or not long enough? Were they scared? Was I sel!sh? Youmay feel like you should have donemore tests, or fewer; tried more accommodations, more medications, or none at all. But while it will never be an easy time, there are ways to make it a kinder and more compassionate one – for you and your pet. Assess quality of life Sometimes it isn’t obvious to us when a pet’s quality of life begins to decline. Emily Reiner, who runs a veterinary hospice, says it’s important for elderly pets to see the vet at least once a year, and ideally twice. A vet can spot red %ags that you can’t and help you decide whether diagnostics are needed or if they’re only likely to make a terminally ill animal more miserable. On the happier side, they may even identify ways to address chal- lenges you thought were un!xable. Say, for example, your elderly dog is sliding all over your hardwood %oors – it could be mobility decline, or youmay simply need to put down some grippy yoga mats. A good vet will also evaluate your quality of life: how long can you keep carrying Max End-of-life care for your pet up and down the stairs? Can you a$ord the medication? People have a hard time valuing their own quality of life when it comes to elderly pet care, says Reiner, but even if you want to continue putting your pet’s needs before your own, it’s impossible – and it ultimately isn’t good for your pet or your relationship with them. “Once their joy is gone,” says Reine, “there’s no payo$.” It can be a relief to have a trusted expert to consult with. "at was the case for one of Reiner’s recent clients, Jesse Shroyer, who made the agonising decision to euthanise his dog, a Rhodesian Ridgeback named Duckie, last July. Shroyer knew his gentle, pizza-loving pet was slower and sti$er than she once was; he often had to carry her, and sometimes she didn’t want to go outside. But she still enjoyed treats and was a$ectionate, and he had no idea if it was time. “I needed to hear, ‘Jesse, it’s the right thing,’” he says. Know your bottom line Lianna Titcombe is a veterinarian and veter- inary hospice founder at a practice devoted to end-of-life care for pets. She recommends that people decide, with a clear and unemo- tional mind, what the “personal bottom line” is for their pet. “It’s better a day too soon than a moment too late,” she says. Titcombe used the technique to decide when it was time to say goodbye to her own dog, a German Shepherd mix named George. A big, outdoorsy animal, George loved to run the half-kilometre trail on her property. Long before George became sick with a spinal condition that took away his mobility, Titcombe had decided her “bottom line” was the moment George couldn’t walk the trail independently; he would lose too much of what made him George. As soon as he started getting weak, she didn’t hesitate. “I knew,” she says, “and I could let him go.” Evaluate your options Some people, like Shroyer, can’t bear to think of their pet’s !nal moments being on an exam table. Many pets experience anxiety at the vet’s o#ce, which can exacerbate guilty feelings. But there are ways to make that last visit better, says veterinarian Maggie Brown- Bury. She’s noticed that many people have a hard time being upfront about the reason for CHERYL MADDOCKS GARDEN P lants aren’t cheap and starting or im- proving a garden can be economically daunting. But unless you want an instant garden, there are certain tasks that you can undertake to help the budget. Taking cut- tings and collecting and saving seeds is an e$ective money-saving strategy. Watching the cuttings you’ve lovingly nurtured and the seeds you’ve collected grow into mature plants will increase your gardening knowl- edge. Here, we show you how. Taking cuttings Summer and autumn are the seasons to take herbaceous and semi-ripe cuttings. Prop- agate immediately or store the cuttings in large polythene bags in the fridge or a cool, shady spot. HERBACEOUS CUTTINGS • Take 75-100mm long cuttings from new growth, with the base cut just below a node and with at least three nodes (where the leaves join the stem) on the stem. "e soft new growth of herbaceous plants such as pelargonium, coleus and cane begonia grow roots in water in about 10-14 days. • Remove leaves, leaving 2-3 at the top. Put in a glass of water, then pot or plant in a bed when roots form. Water with a seaweed solu- tion. Keep moist until new growth appears. SEMI-RIPE CUTTINGS Semi-ripe, or semi-hardwood cuttings are taken from hardened spring growth. Take cuttings in the morning when the stems are swollen with moisture. "e following plants are all ideal to propagate, but you can give anything a go: Abelia, azalea, bay, bottlebrush, begonia, box, fuchsia, camellia, gardenia, Geraldton wax, grevillea, hibiscus, lavender, lillypilly, mint bush, murraya, pelargonium, New Guinea impatiens, plumbago, photinia rosemary, roses and westringia. • Choose stems from wood that has been growing for a couple of months and that snaps easily when bent. • Fill a 100mm pot with a premium propa- gating mix. Using secateurs, cut 4-5 healthy stems 100-150mm long with at least three nodes, cutting just below a pair of nodes. • Remove leaves, leaving 2-3 at the top. Dip into a cutting powder. Make holes, then in- sert the cuttings by at least half their length. Firm the mix around the stems. • Transplant rooted cuttings into individu- al 100-150mm pots !lled with a premium potting mix. Place in a warm shady spot and water regularly. Feed fortnightly with half- strength soluble plant food and keep in the pot until large enough to be transplanted into the garden. • Semi-ripe cuttings need humidity to root. You can buy mini greenhouses that provide perfect humidity for cuttings or make one by placing the pot of cuttings in a wooden or polystyrene foam box and covering the box with a piece of glass. Other options are to in- sert small bamboo stakes around the edge of Learning more about how you and your pet can navigate their #nal days makes a tough situation less painful Photo: Getty Images LIFESTYLE Propagate your plants Boost your plant supply by taking cuttings and collecting seeds While it will never be an easy time, there are ways to make your pet’s !nal transition a kinder and more compassionate one – for both you and them