Common questions
about euthanasia.

In-home euthanasia allows you and your pet to remain in the comfort and privacy of your own home during this very personal experience. You can be joined by friends, family, and other pets if you wish. It avoids the stress of travelling to a veterinary clinic, and it spares pets with mobility issues, chronic pain, or anxiety the difficulty of being moved. Your pet stays in the place where they feel safest.

Choosing the right moment for euthanasia is one of the hardest decisions a pet owner faces. There is no single right answer. Sometimes the decision is clear because of obvious suffering; other times it is less straightforward. A pre-euthanasia consult and quality-of-life assessment may help. Keeping a simple calendar of your pet's "good days" and "bad days" can be a useful guide as well.

You may choose a location in your home or on your property where you and your pet feel most at peace. We will discuss each step with you and your family and answer any questions. A consent form will be signed and payment processed in advance, so you can stay present with your pet. Your veterinarian will first administer a sedative under the skin, allowing your pet to become deeply relaxed. Once they are sedated, an IV catheter is placed and the euthanasia solution is administered through the catheter.

Yes. Your veterinarian will work with you to find a position that allows you to comfort your pet while the IV is placed and medication is administered.

You may choose to be present for all, some, or none of the visit. Some family members stay only for the sedation; others stay through the entire procedure; some return only after, to say a final farewell. There is no wrong answer.

This is a personal decision and depends on your child's age, emotional maturity, and ability to understand what is happening. If you choose to include them, talk openly about what is happening and why. Be direct and honest. Avoid phrases like "put to sleep" which can be confusing — use the word "died" if appropriate. Many pet-loss resources include guidance on helping children with grief.

It can be helpful for other pets to be present so they too can have closure. If they are excitable or rambunctious, they may say goodbye beforehand and view their friend afterwards. Pets express grief differently — some seem unaffected, while others may search, become depressed, or refuse to eat. Reach out if your other pets are struggling.

No. The word "euthanasia" comes from the Greek for "good death." Your pet receives a sedative via a small subcutaneous injection (similar to a vaccine) and becomes comfortable and sleepy over 10–15 minutes. Once relaxed, an IV catheter is placed and the final medications are given.

Most pets simply take a few deep breaths and their heart stops within seconds. You may see the last breaths as their chest moves. Occasionally there may be muscle twitching, tongue movement, or release of bowel/bladder. Very rarely a pet may vocalize from mild dysphoria. Their eyes will not close. Your veterinarian will listen for a heartbeat and confirm when your pet has passed.

Several options are available, and we will go through them with you. They include home burial (where regional by-laws permit; please bury at least 6 feet deep and away from utility lines and water pipes), communal cremation (no ashes returned), and private cremation (your pet's ashes returned to you in a scatter box or urn). Please see our memorialization page for more detail.