Should You Have Pet Euthanasia at Home?

Should you opt for home pet euthanasia? Sadly, very few pets die in their sleep, and having to say goodbye to your beloved pet is hard. It is probably one of the most heart-wrenching decisions you will ever have to make and the outcome is inevitable. But, having a choice of where and when it takes place, might help make it a little easier to cope with.

If you have time to think about it and plan, there are many advantages of home euthanasia that outweigh taking your pet to the Vet.

Not having to wrestle your cat into the basket or struggle to lift your dog into the car are just a couple of situations.

Planning a suitable day for home pet euthanasia

It may be that you want all the family around your pet when you say goodbye to them. Or, you may want to choose a time when certain family members are out.

We can take bookings in advance so you can plan ahead for a day that is suitable to you and your family.

As long as we have a vet available, we can book any day, evening or weekends.

In a crisis, if your pet suddenly deteriorates and needs to be put down at short notice, we can arrange this if a vet is available.

Once the arrangements have been made, you can focus on spending time with your pet in the comfort of your home and wait for the Cloud 9 Vet to arrive. You will not have to worry about driving to the veterinary surgery with the stress and upset of travelling.

How long does the home pet euthanasia process take?

The Cloud 9 Vet will arrive at the arranged time and will have an allocated hour and a half to spend with you. If needed, they can stay longer. The vet will use this time to talk things through with you and answer any questions. They can help you make sure you have made the correct decision, before carrying out the procedure when you are ready.

It is very important that this is a calm, sedate time, so that you and your pet are able to have the perfect precious last moments together.

Choosing the right place for home pet euthanasia

This can be anywhere you choose so your pet feels as comfortable as possible. It may be in their favourite place in the garden; their favourite bed; or on the sofa in front of the TV.

You can have candles and quiet music playing in a familiar environment, surrounded by loved ones and their favourite toys.

When it is time to say goodbye

Once you have signed the consent form and and you are ready, the vet will give your pet a painless sedation injection. After a short while this will put your pet in a state of calm or sleep. By this time, your pet will not be aware of what is happening and the vet will give the final injection slowly. Your pet will quietly drift away peacefully.

The care coordinators that arranged the booking can also make arrangements with the crematorium to collect. Or, the Cloud 9 Vet can take your pet away with them to the crematorium, so you don’t have to make the arrangements yourself.

Euthanasia at the veterinary surgery

Vets may try to encourage you to come to them, as a home visit takes a veterinary surgeon away from their surgery.

So you may have to disturb your cat from their bed and wrestle them into the cat basket. It could also lead to stress on the way to the vets. Or you may have to struggle to get your dog into the car when they are unable to jump.

At the veterinary surgery, the vets will always try and make the euthanasia as sensitive as possible. Unfortunately, it is very difficult for them to avoid certain situations, such as you having to wait outside in the car to be called in; or sitting in the waiting room for the vet to call you through.

There may be other clients in the waiting room with their pets – oblivious to your turmoil, who may want to chat. There will be unfamiliar surroundings and smells in a clinical environment.

Vet appointments often run late due to emergencies and appointments. Euthanasia is often booked for the end of consulting times which means you may be kept waiting. You may not have as much time to say goodbye and may feel a bit rushed.

Walking away, leaving your pet after the procedure and having to walk through the waiting room can be particularly hard.

Finally, coming back to the practice to collect the ashes is often difficult, as the feelings are still raw.

Can you have home pet euthanasia for your dog?

To avoid further upset of taking your dog to the vets for the final journey you can arrange for a Cloud 9 Vet to come and carry out the euthanasia at home. They will be in a peaceful and familiar environment. The vet can then take your dogs body with them afterwards or the crematorium can collect from you when you are ready. They can also deliver the ashes back to you. This makes it a bit easier during this difficult and emotional time.

Can you have home pet euthanasia for your cat?

Cats get stressed very easily. Not many felines like being put in their cat baskets or enjoy traveling in the car. Often they are very vocal during the trip. This is, sadly, their last journey and it would be very upsetting for you to hear them howling all the way there.

They have a really good sense of smell and so they will probably find the strong clinical smells of the veterinary surgery quite overwhelming. Not to mention them being frightened by a passing dog who comes too close to the basket for a sniff.

The longer they are kept waiting in their basket, the more stressed they get.

Cloud 9 vets can visit your cat at home to carry out the euthanasia.

The vet will adopt a soft and calm approach to keep your cat as relaxed and unstressed as possible.

The vet can then take your cat’s body with them afterwards or the crematorium can collect from you when you are ready. They can also deliver the ashes back to you. This makes it a bit easier at this difficult and emotional time.

Contact Cloud 9 Vets today to help you make this most challenging of decisions.