At-home Euthanasia

Euthanasia is gentle, simple and peaceful. Once you and your pet are ready, a small injection of an anesthetic is given under the skin using a "whisker-thin" needle, for which most pets do not even realize that it has been given. 

The process can take place anywhere that your pet feels most comfortable, whether that be a favorite sun-filled chair, your bed, or outside. 

Over a period of about 5-10 minutes, your pet will gently fall asleep, and the only thing that he or she will experience is feeling your love as you sit by his or her side, or cradle him or her in your arms. 

Once your pet is fully anesthetized, the final drug is given. This is given by an injection into the belly, under a blanket so it is not seen, and your pet will not experience any sensation of it being administered. 

This is preferred to an intravenous injection (in the vein), as we do not have to place an IV catheter. In this way, we do not have to disrupt your quiet connection with one another by "doing something clinical." 

Unlike an IV injection, in which passing occurs in a couple seconds, a "belly" injection is a more gentle and slow process and allows you to be fully present during the journey.

Once this final injection is given, your pet will begin to fall into a deeper sleep, heart and breathing will begin to slow, and he or she will gently pass away over a period of another 15 minutes on average. 

We will care for every possible need so that your only focus is being with your pet.

We provide soft blankets, “potty pads,” and arrange for a paw print to be made by the crematorium (we can no longer do this in your home at this time due to COVID-19)

We care for all of your pet’s cremation and transportation arrangements, and provide a stretcher that allows for the gentle movement of pets from their home to our vehicle.

We care for notifying your veterinarian(s) so that you do not need to make that difficult call.

We are dedicated to making these final moments feel as supported as possible.

You can feed your pet or offer favorite treats if he or she is eating.

On rare occasion, nausea can happen following sedation, but this is generally due to either your pet's underlying disease process or sensitivity to medication, not the fact that you let your pet enjoy a favorite treat or meal.

The only medications we recommend you give your pet on the day of euthanasia are "comfort medications" such as pain or anti nausea medications, if you are giving them, and they will not interfere with the euthanasia process.

We understand that new people can be intimidating and that some pets experience "stranger danger." 

In the situation where a pet may be extra nervous, or potentially prone to biting, please let our Care Coordinators know.  

We will work with you to develop a specialized approach, helping to remove any anxiety or fear and in turn making these moments as stress-free as possible for both you and your pet.

Children should ideally have the opportunity to say goodbye to their companion. In our experience, children over 5 years old are amazingly present and engaged, and will often impress with their understanding and acceptance.

Of course, this decision is ultimately the choice of the parent.  

Some parents elect to have children at home but in a different room for the actual passing. This helps ensure they are insulated from the parent's emotions (which is usually harder for them to deal with than the actual loss of the pet), but still allow them to say their goodbyes after the passing, before the pet leaves the home.

For children younger than 5, they seem to be unsure about what's going on and are, again, more upset by the parent's emotions than by the loss of the pet.  

Still, we believe open communication about the loss is usually the best policy even for this age.

Our Care Coordinators can email you a helpful resource from the Ohio State University that shares how to best help children cope with serious illness or death of a pet.

It is our experience that other household pets absolutely need this time to say goodbye, just like any other family member. Most pets seem to understand what is going on, and will sit quietly and attentively, honoring the process much in the same way as you do. If you feel your pet may be disruptive to the process, they can be placed in another room and allowed to say goodbye once their friend has passed. Being able to see and smell their friend allows for closure, which is important in the grieving process. Following the loss of their friend, they may act depressed for a day or so after, but generally return to their normal behaviors and routines following this time.

We offer as much time as needed for all members of the family to say their goodbyes.