End Of Life Care: A Kindness You Can Choose to Give.
The most difficult decision you will make in your pet's life. Sadly, the life expectancy of our beloved pets is much shorter than our own and we will experience their loss. We strive to make their transition from life as calm, peaceful and respectful for pets and caregivers alike. This decision is never made lightly.
When your pet's time is drawing near, it's normal to second guess yourself, to feel doubt and anger and sadness.
It's so hard to know what the right thing is to do... or when.
- Evaluate whether enjoyable activities are still part of your pet's day on most days.
- Monitor your pet's appetite, activity level and weight. Small changes accumulate over time. It can be hard to notice because you see them everyday .
- Keep track of your pet's good days vs. bad days.
- If you find yourself saying they are just old when they do not greet you or cannot greet you.
- If they spend most of their time panting and unable to rest, especially if already under treatment for pain.
- If they are sleeping all the time and spend very little time awake or part of the family.
There is no way to make a goodbye easy but we can try to make it gentle. Depending on your pet they may require more or less sedation to soothe them. If your pet is prone to getting distressed we may recommend some oral sedation at home prior to coming into the clinic. Bring anything that may make them feel comfortable such as toys, beds or blankets. Special treats are good as well.
What happens/how it works:
1) Book Your preferred time.
2) Sign paper work
3) Decide on aftercare (this can be done on the phone if you prefer)
4) You can enter the front or you can inform the front reception team that you are here via phone and they can let you in the side entrance. If the weather is good you can also request we perform end of life care outside in the grass in the back yard or even in your car.
5) Set yourself and your pet up in the most comfortable position we can.
6) Sedate (either intravenous or under the skin) - how sedate we try to achieve depends on your pet
7) Sometimes a catheter is placed and sometimes it is not. It all depends on the health of your pet's veins
8) Euthanasia medication is an anesthetic: when a large volume is given your pet will drift to sleep first and then it will deepen. Because your animal is anesthetize with the medication they will not feel anything as it deepens.
Do not hesitate to ask questions through out the procedure if you are feeling anxious or unsure.
Aftercare:
Our staff will gently and respectfully prepare your pet's body for cremation.
Choices:
a) Communal Cremation - Your pet is cremated with other pets and the ashes are interned at the crematorium.
b) Ashes for Scattering: Your pet is cremated on their own and the ashes are returned to you in a cardboard scattering box. This option is for people who want the spread the ashes or find their own urn.
c) Ashes in an urn: Same as ashes for scattering but place in a urn with a plaque. On the plaque there is room for 3 lines. The urn they supply is a cedar urn or a ceramic urn. There are other urns you can choose at additional cost as there is necklaces that have reservoirs for ashes as well.
d) Burials are not encouraged by the city; if you are out of city limits you will need to have a hole at least 6 feet deep to prevent secondary contamination.
We have air dry clay to make an impression of your pet's paw print once they have passed on.
