Euthanasia Appointments

We know this is a difficult time for you and your family. We want to prepare you for your appointment to hopefully ease any anxiety and worry you may have and to ensure the appointment goes as smoothly as possible. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have prior to or after your appointment. We are here to support you.

Prior to your Appointment

We recommend pre-appointment anti-anxiety medication to minimize stress and ensure that your pet is relaxed during the visit. The medication is given by mouth 2-3 hours before your appointment. Your pet may be quieter or a little sleepier than usual. Please let us know if you're comfortable proceeding with this recommendation and we can make up the pre-appointment medication for your pet.

If you prefer, we can provide information regarding care of remains and memorial options, and take payment, prior to your appointment. Please let us know if you would prefer this.

The Day of your Appointment

When you arrive at the clinic, you and your pet will be guided into one of our consultation rooms. It will be set up with bedding and soft lighting to comfort you and your pet.

One of our staff will come into the consultation room and go over care of remains, memorial options, and payment, if not already completed. Generally, pet owners prefer to complete this step prior to the procedure, so they may leave the clinic when they are ready. However, you may request to do this after the procedure, as well.

We will ask you to sign a consent form to perform euthanasia. Once this has been completed, a veterinarian will come in and go over the procedure with you.

Sedation

To ensure that the procedure is as humane and peaceful as possible, an injection of sedation will be given. The sedation injection may be given under the skin or in the muscle. Depending on the combination of medications used for sedation, the injection may sting or burn very briefly, but this sensation goes away quickly.

Once it is given, it may take several minutes for your pet to relax completely.

Hair Clipping and IV Catheters

Intravenous (IV) catheters are standard of care for humane euthanasia. Because your pet has received sedation, they will be relaxed while the team places the IV catheter. A team member will shave an area on your pet’s leg with electric clippers. Sedation will also help to minimize any noise distress.

Once the area has been shaved, it is cleaned and the IV catheter is inserted.

The Euthanasia Procedure

The procedure is specifically designed to be as painless and stress-free as possible for your pet. Once the catheter is in place, we will offer you some time alone with your pet. This will be the final few moments you get to share with your companion before saying goodbye, so do not be afraid to take the time you need.

Once you are ready, the veterinarian will re-enter the room. They will let you know what to expect in your pet’s final moments.

You can help hold your pet or cradle them in your arms at the time of euthanasia. Your veterinarian will try to accommodate your wishes.

After the Euthanasia

Once you have said your goodbyes, we will wrap your pet up in a blanket and take their remains to our treatment area to prepare for transport to our cremation service. We will care for their remains with respect as we would for our own pets.

You can find grief resources through Pets Furever.

If you have decided on private cremation or SPAWTs, we will contact you in your preferred method of communication to let you know they are available for pick up. Cremation ashes can take about a week, and SPAWTs can take 3-4 weeks.