End-Of-Life Care

Compassionate end-of-life care for your pet

As a pet parent, we know this is one of the most difficult decisions you will have to make regarding your pet's well-being. We want to assure you that we are there for you and your family every step of the way.

Our clinical staff can help you understand your pet’s current quality of life so you can make the best choice about end of life pet care. We'll explain the euthanasia process and how we’ll keep your beloved family member comfortable and relaxed during the process.

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Why choose euthanasia?

It’s never an easy decision, but euthanasia may be right when:

A pet is severely disabled, ill or injured
Quality of life has been greatly diminished
Advanced age affects mobility or bodily functions

When is it time?

Asking yourself the question “Does my pet have more bad days than good days? is a good place to begin. These guidelines can also help inform your decision.

Does my pet have:

Chronic labored breathing or coughing Incontinence or do they soil themselves frequently
No interest in most of their favorite activities, like playing with toys and other pets, going on walks, eating treats and/or petting from family
Loss of or difficulty with mobility, unable to get up and move around
No appetite–your pet has stopped eating, or must be force fed
Chronic pain that cannot be controlled with medication

What To Expect

If you’ve made an end of life pet care appointment, plan to bring:

Your pet’s favorite toy or bed for comfort
A special treat
Anything else that keeps your pet feeling calm

Saying goodbye

Some people want to be with their pet when they pass, others prefer to say goodbye beforehand. This is a personal choice; there is no wrong way. You are also the best person to decide if your children should be present.

Other things to think about:

Plan when and how everyone wants to say goodbye
Consider having a family gathering with your pet to celebrate their life
Plan who will go to the vet and be present during the service

The Pet Euthanasia Process

When you first arrive, your veterinarian will explain the end of life pet care procedure. Feel free to ask any questions you still have. The actual procedure is simple, peaceful and done at a pace that will provide your pet the highest level of comfort.

Your veterinarian will give your pet a sedative to keep the pet relaxed and comfortable.

Next, your veterinarian will administer a final euthanasia injection. It’s quick, painless and peaceful.

Your pet’s muscles may involuntarily contract or they may breathe deep–this is normal and pain-free.

Your veterinarian will confirm that your pet has passed on.

You will then be able to spend time alone with your pet to say your final goodbyes.

After the procedure, you can choose:

Home Burial
If it’s allowed by your local, county or state ordinances, you may bring your pet home for burial.

Private Cremation
A private cremation means only your pet is cremated. Your pet will be identified with a stainless-steel ID tag; the cremains will be returned to you.

Communal Cremation
A communal cremation means multiple pets are cremated together. Your pet cremains will not be returned but you can choose to have clay paw print to memorialize your pet.

Have Memorial For Your Pet
Celebrating the life of your pet after they pass is a good way to help you and your family process grief, mark the moment, and begin to heal. You could

Hold a formal or informal funeral service for friends and family
Bury your pet’s body or ashes in a special location.
Place your pet’s ashes in an urn and put it in a special place at home with a photo

Grief Resources

Losing a furry companion is one of the hardest experiences of pet parenthood. You are not alone in this journey. These resources can help support pet parents and families grieving after the loss of a beloved pet.

Will euthanasia be painful for my pet?

No. Professionally provided end of life services are done in a very humane and gentle way. The pet is treated with the utmost care by a team of highly trained medical professionals who are there to help your companion make a painless and comfortable transition. During the visit, your veterinarian will be available to tell you more about the process and experience. We encourage you to ask questions so that all members of the family are completely comfortable with the end-of-life experience for your pet.

Can my pet eat or drink water prior to the procedure?

Yes, your pet is welcome to eat or drink prior to the service.

Will my other pets grieve?

Yes, other pets will experience a grieving process. It will be important that they are supported and cared for similarly to the human members of the household. They may need a bit of extra attention, some company, some extra nurturing, and some time to adapt to the loss of their housemate.

Frequently Asked Questions About End-Of-Life Care

Stop by a clinic to speak with one of our compassionate staff members or call any location to schedule end of life pet care. Due to the nature of this service, you must be a current client.

You may stop by one of our hospitals to speak with one of our compassionate staff members or call any of our locations to schedule. Keep in mind, due to the nature of this service, you will need to be a current client and have already established a relationship with the Thrive hospital you would like to use.

These decisions are difficult, and there is no perfect timing. Ideally, calling a few days ahead gives both the family time to prepare and allows best opportunity to choose the time of the day that works best for everyone. But we understand that circumstances and timing are not always predictable. Whether you have time to prepare, or the decision comes upon your family suddenly, please contact us when you know it is time to make an end-of-life decision.

Yes. The best thing to do is to have a scheduled consultation with the veterinarian to discuss the timing and options related to end-of-life services. This way both you and the veterinary team can prepare and talk through any special circumstances.

If your pet needs end-of-life services outside of your primary care clinic’s normal hours, please contact a nearby Thrive urgent care or emergency pet hospital in your area for assistance.

The presence of children during an end-of-life procedure is a very individual family decision. Click here for some recommended grief resources to help your family make the appropriate choice.

This is a very peaceful procedure that does not typically have complications or adverse events. Your veterinarian will explain any possibility of adverse events during your visit. If this is a concern, or you have experienced a poor end-of-life service with a previous pet, please bring these concerns to your veterinarian’s attention so they can be fully discussed prior to proceeding.

To make the end-of-life service completely focused on your pet and your family, we recommended you come early to your appointment to spend some time with your pet in the exam room prior to any of the veterinary team entering to talk about next steps. The procedure itself is less than a couple of minutes and is very peaceful. The timing of the whole visit is largely based on your indications of readiness to the hospital team. Most end-of-life visits are between 30 to 45 minutes in length to allow time for the pet and family to spend a few moments together.

If possible, we also recommended you come by the hospital prior to this visit to process payment and make all decisions related to cremation and memorial items.

End-Of-Life Care

Compassionate end-of-life care for your pet

Find A Location

The Pet Euthanasia Process

Your veterinarian will give your pet a sedative to keep the pet relaxed and comfortable.

Next, your veterinarian will administer a final euthanasia injection. It’s quick, painless and peaceful.

Your pet’s muscles may involuntarily contract or they may breathe deep–this is normal and pain-free.

Your veterinarian will confirm that your pet has passed on.

You will then be able to spend time alone with your pet to say your final goodbyes.

Frequently Asked Questions About End-Of-Life Care

Stop by a clinic to speak with one of our compassionate staff members or call any location to schedule end of life pet care. Due to the nature of this service, you must be a current client.

If your pet needs end-of-life services outside of your primary care clinic’s normal hours, please contact a nearby Thrive urgent care or emergency pet hospital in your area for assistance.

The presence of children during an end-of-life procedure is a very individual family decision. Click here for some recommended grief resources to help your family make the appropriate choice.

If possible, we also recommended you come by the hospital prior to this visit to process payment and make all decisions related to cremation and memorial items.

End-Of-Life Care

Compassionate end-of-life care for your pet

Why choose euthanasia?

When is it time?

What To Expect

Saying goodbye

The Pet Euthanasia Process

After the procedure, you can choose:

Grief Resources

Will euthanasia be painful for my pet?

Can my pet eat or drink water prior to the procedure?

Will my other pets grieve?

Frequently Asked Questions About End-Of-Life Care

How do I make an appointment?

How much notice does my primary care veterinarian need?

Should I call if I suspect I will need your services in the coming weeks?

What if I need a service in the middle of the night?

What about children, should they be there?

Are complications possible?

How long does the process take?

End-Of-Life Care

Compassionate end-of-life care for your pet

Why choose euthanasia?

When is it time?

What To Expect

Saying goodbye

The Pet Euthanasia Process

After the procedure, you can choose:

Grief Resources

Will euthanasia be painful for my pet?

Can my pet eat or drink water prior to the procedure?

Will my other pets grieve?

Frequently Asked Questions About End-Of-Life Care

How do I make an appointment?

How much notice does my primary care veterinarian need?

Should I call if I suspect I will need your services in the coming weeks?

What if I need a service in the middle of the night?

What about children, should they be there?

Are complications possible?

How long does the process take?