Euthanasia

Losing a furry family member is painful for all of us,  and we understand the difficulty in having to make that final decision. Our veterinarians are skilled in assessing a pet's quality of life and do not recommend euthanasia casually. We also make certain that the process of putting your pet to sleep is carried out in a humane and respectful manner.

When being euthanized, our pet owners are welcome to be in the room as their pet passes, and if they wish, a pet can be sedated prior to administering the euthanasia solution. This final injection is a chemical that mimics an overdose of anesthesia, allowing your pet to fall into their final sleep quickly and painlessly. As it enters the bloodstream, the chemical targets the brain and heart, first preventing nerves from sensing pain, then gradually stopping the heart from beating.

While the decision to euthanize is heart-wrenching, it is important for a pet owner to consider their pet’s physical or mental anguish before their own. In circumstances where putting your pet to sleep offers them relief from physical distress, ending misery can be the best decision you can make for their wellbeing.

Common reasons for euthanasia: 

• Behavioral problems, which cannot be corrected with training and medication.
• Progressive illness that would cause prolonged suffering. 
• Inability to afford involved medical procedures or long term disease management. 
• Organ damage or failure that cannot be repaired or reversed.  
• Terminal illness such as cancer.
• End of life or old age complications

What happens after euthanasia?

After putting your pet to sleep, you can choose to take your pet home with you for burial, have your pet cremated without getting their ashes back, or have your pet cremated and pick up their cremains in an urn.  Because saying goodbye is difficult, we recommend having after death plans arranged prior to your visit for euthanasia. No matter what you decide to do, don’t feel pressured to choose one option or another; choose the option that is best for you. Some pet owners feel that an urn with their pet’s remains helps the grieving process. Others think leaving the pet with the vet is easier for them emotionally. Because your pet has peacefully passed, it is now your decision to do what is best for you.

The bereavement process is different for every pet owner. Some only take a couple days for mourning while others take months. It is completely normal to mourn the loss of your pet, and you should never feel obligated to put a time limit on what is the “right” amount of time.

If you have any questions about the process of putting a pet to sleep, or want to schedule an appointment to see if it would be beneficial for your pet’s condition, contact our office at your convenience.