Euthanasia and Pain in Canine Patients with Terminal and Chronic-Degenerative Diseases: Ethical and Legal Aspects

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Euthanasia is a common procedure performed by veterinary professionals, which carries important ethical, moral, and legal challenges. In the case of dogs with chronic and terminal illnesses, the decision is highly influenced by owner-related perspectives, financial constraints, caregiver burden, and emotional attachment. Likewise, although the current legal framework in different countries states that euthanasia should be applied as a last alternative in those animals with incurable pain and suffering, the veterinarian must comply with both legal and social responsibilities. The present review explores the ethical and legal implications of euthanasia in canine patients, highlighting the importance of effective communication, ethical knowledge, and consideration of euthanasia as a multimodal resolution. ABSTRACT: Euthanasia is commonly performed in veterinary medicine to humanely induce the death of an animal when its quality of life is affected by pain or chronic degenerative diseases. The choice of euthanasia is a bilateral decision that represents a challenge for both the veterinarian and the owner of the animal due to the close emotional human–animal bond. Currently, there is legislation that can orient veterinarians concerning euthanasia and the causes that would justify this resolution. However, it is still controversial, and deciding it as the last available resort requires considering it from a medical, legal, and moral perspective. Therefore, this review aims to explore the ethical and legal implications of euthanasia in canine patients. It will analyze the reason that can justify euthanasia in animals with pain or terminal and chronic degenerative diseases, highlighting the importance of effective communication, ethical knowledge, and consideration of euthanasia as a multimodal resolution.