03/17/2026
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This study found that owners who elected euthanasia reported lower levels of guilt compared with those whose pets were not euthanized.
These findings reflect how complex and deeply personal end-of-life decisions can be. Reduced guilt in euthanasia cases may be linked to active participation in decision-making, perceived support from the veterinary team, and the belief that the decision helped alleviate the animal’s suffering. The opportunity for a structured farewell may also contribute to this reduced sense of guilt. Consistent with this, owners who felt that the veterinary team was emotionally responsive tended to report lower guilt.
Conversely, higher guilt among owners of non-euthanized animals may stem from the emotional burden of decision-making, lack of guidance, and difficult memories of their pet’s final moments—especially when suffering was present and felt to be potentially avoidable. Individual factors, such as empathy toward animals and emotion regulation, may also play a role.
Interestingly, the data also showed a trend toward higher levels of grief among owners who chose euthanasia compared with those who did not, although this was not statistically significant and was not further explored in the study.
Importantly, the study also highlights the role of the veterinary team. Owners who felt excluded from the decision-making process reported higher levels of grief, anger, and prolonged grief, whereas those who perceived the team as emotionally responsive tended to experience lower levels of guilt.
Given the cross-sectional design and relatively small sample size, these findings should be interpreted cautiously.
Full study cited in comments.
