In-home euthanasia provides your ailing pet with a private and dignified passing. Knowing what to expect before, during, and after an end-of-life visit can help you prepare physically and emotionally for your pet’s final moments, and feel more at peace with making the difficult decision to say “Goodbye.”

Preparation for your pet’s appointment

When you contact Mobile Cat & Dog Vet to schedule an in-home euthanasia, we’ll ask a few questions about your pet’s condition to identify any urgent needs (e.g., uncontrolled pain or suffering) and ensure your pet receives timely care. Once your pet’s appointment is scheduled, we’ll discuss your aftercare preferences (i.e., burial or cremation), and collect your payment information. These pre-arrangements may feel macabre, but we are ensuring that on the scheduled day you can focus exclusively on your pet.

Once arrangements are made, you will need to choose the place for your pet’s euthanasia. This can be a favorite spot, a cozy bed, in your arms, or on your couch. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us, or make notes so you won’t forget to ask during your pet’s appointment.

Finally, take some time to complete a modified “bucket list” that includes your pet’s favorite things. Don’t forget to take pictures and videos, and to simply spend quiet time with your pet.

Appointment day—getting to know your pet

We strive to create a quiet, respectful, and reassuring presence for you and your pet, so no one will be wearing a white coat, and no extra staff members, scary instruments, or unfamiliar pet smells will make your pet anxious. Instead, we’ll start our visit by creating a relaxed atmosphere, speaking in calm, soothing tones, and spending quality time with you and your pet. If you’re already a Mobile Cat & Dog Vet client, we may ask about your pet’s backstory, what brought you together, or to share your favorite memories.

The plan—assessing your pet and outlining the process

Our veterinarian will perform a brief exam to assess your pet’s condition, discuss their exam findings, answer your questions about your pet’s health, and confirm your wishes for humane euthanasia.

Next, our veterinarian will walk you through the euthanasia process to ensure you understand what to expect, and each step’s purpose. This is another excellent opportunity to ask questions and be sure you understand the procedure, although questions are encouraged and welcome at any time. 

Ensuring comfort—your pet’s premedication

Pets with end-stage disease often are distressed because of uncontrollable pain, dysphoria (i.e., confusion), and difficulty breathing, which can cause intense anxiety or agitation. This stress obviously impacts your pet negatively and can be heartbreaking to watch. 

Therefore, prior to euthanasia, our veterinarian will administer a pain relief and sedative combination that promotes relaxation, relieves pain, and reduces or eliminates any obvious or unseen distress. This medication is injected under the skin or in the muscle, and generally takes effect in 5 to 10 minutes. You’ll notice your pet become visibly relaxed and sleepy, but still aware of their surroundings. 

Saying goodbye—the pet euthanasia

Once your pet is relaxed and pain-free, our veterinarian will administer the euthanasia injection into a vein in your pet’s leg. You can stay close to your pet as this injection is administered.

When you tell our veterinarian you are ready, they will administer the euthanasia solution. As the solution reaches the heart and enters general circulation, your pet will experience a progressive sleepiness similar to general anesthesia. Your pet’s passing is peaceful, calm, and pain-free.

Our veterinarian will check your pet with a stethoscope to confirm they have passed, and our team then will excuse themselves and let you grieve privately.

Final arrangements—pet aftercare and grief support

If you have requested pet cremation, Mobile Cat & Dog Vet will lovingly transport your pet’s body to our partnering pet crematory. If you request a private cremation, we will return your pet’s ashes. Communal cremation ashes are not returned, and often are scattered in a memory garden or open field. 

Pet loss is a grief unlike any other. If you find yourself struggling to cope after your pet’s in-home euthanasia, please reach out. Mobile Cat & Dog Vet can recommend pet grief resources and online support groups who will understand your sorrow and help you manage your grief in healthy ways.

Mobile Cat & Dog Vet promises a dignified and compassionate in-home pet euthanasia centered around the pet-owner bond. Our approach and the order of our actions ensure that you and your beloved pet feel cared for, honored, and supported at every step. If your senior or ailing pet’s time is near, request a quality-of-life consultation or schedule an in-home euthansia with Mobile Cat & Dog Vet.