Euthanasia

End-of-Life Care

We understand how difficult end of life decisions are for everyone involved. We offer same day euthanasia services and end of life consultations to help you and your family understand all your options and provide a peaceful passing if humane euthanasia is elected as the best option for your furry family member.

We encourage owners to be present during euthanasia and take the time to explain each step of the process. We also provide as much time as you need both before and after to visit with your pet. We have a special room for euthanasia visits that is furnished like a living room to try and minimize stress and the feeling like you are in a clinic. We offer mild sedation options as part of the process for particularly stressed or scared pets.

We work with West Coast Pet Memorial Services to provide cremation options for your pet's remains. Your pet can be communally cremated or privately cremated in order to get their ashes back. There are also memorial products to pick from including clay paw prints, ink paw prints, ink nose prints, and fur clippings. If you do not want to pursue cremation, you are welcome to take the remains home for a home burial.

Our goals will always be to support you and your pet during this time and help you to make the best decision possible.

When Is Euthanasia the Best Option?

One of the hardest decisions that you will have to make as a pet parent is choosing euthanasia, but sometimes this is the best choice for your beloved  companion; especially when they are severely injured or extremely ill. Some of the following may indicate that quality of life is reduced and end of life should potentially be considered:

• Difficulty breathing
• Inability to move themselves around
• Loss of appetite
• Ongoing pain
• Incontinence
• Loss of interest in doing their favorite things  (whether that be playing, going on walks, snuggling with you, enjoying attention, etc.)

Even with these signs, it can be very challenging to know when it is time. We encourage you to start marking the calendar with your pets good days and bad days. If the bad days are prevailing, euthanasia would be a reasonable option. Another way to monitor is to make a list of your pets 5 favorite activities. If they are only able to do 1 or 2 of them, that typically indicates they have a reduced quality of life.

What About a Natural Death?

While the idea of a pet passing quietly at home in their sleep is nice, it is rarely the reality. The natural dying process can take many days and often is a very painful process. Pets often hang on for days prior to passing away and experience pain and suffering in this time. Euthanasia is a true kindness that we can provide to our pets in order to prevent suffering and ensure a peaceful passing.