euthanasia

Saying goodbye to a beloved pet is one of the hardest decisions a pet owner will ever face. When the time comes, we also sometimes need to decide where our pet will pass—at home or at a veterinarian’s office. There’s no right or wrong choice, only what feels best for you, your pet, and your family. Both options have their benefits, and understanding what to expect can help you make a choice that aligns with your pet’s needs and your emotional well-being.

Euthanasia at a veterinary office – Pros

• It can be comforting to be cared for by the staff and providers you’ve become familiar with over the years
• Veterinary offices usually have lower fees for euthanasia
  

Euthanasia at a veterinary office – Challenges

• Car rides and the vet office may be a source of anxiety for your pet
• The clinical setting can feel sterile, and you may feel rushed as the clinic continues to see other appointments

Euthanasia at home – Pros

• For pets in pain or with mobility issues, avoiding a car ride and trip to the vet office can be better
• Being in the home, in a familiar environment, is likely more comfortable for your pet (and for you)

Euthanasia at home – Challenges

• Mobile veterinarians are usually more expensive, and because there are fewer mobile vets, availability can become an issue
• If you suspect the particular location in your home will forever be a source of great pain for you, and don’t wish to have that painful memory in your home, then choose the vet office
  
  

Regarding the logistics of aftercare: Most vets (mobile and brick-and-mortar) have arrangements with at least one crematory and will offer to handle the transportation and logistics for you. It is perfectly acceptable to:

• bring a deceased pet home from the vet to spend more time with them
• select a crematory (or burial) option not “on the menu” (though expect to handle those arrangements and possibly transportation yourself)
• transport your pet to the crematory yourself
  
  

On the importance of planning ahead: When you plan ahead, you have the "luxury" of considering your options. Oftentimes, when we fail to plan ahead or have realistic conversations with ourselves about quality of life, it may be necessary to seek euthanasia services in an urgent care of emergency clinic setting. These clinics are staffed by compassionate and competent staff, but they are by design set up to handle emergencies. They may not take appointments, operating instead on triage principles. This is important and we need facilities like this, but euthanasia is usually not an emergency situation. It could be a protracted and dreadful wait. Whenever it's possible to make an alternative plan, I strongly suggest rolling the dice with an emergency clinic for euthanasia. 

Whatever the setting, you can be assured that your pet's final moments will be peaceful and pain-free. The most important thing is that you are there for them, offering love and comfort in their last moments.