Euthanasia at Home
Our Services
When the time is right
Our experienced team will assist you and your pet during the End-of-life appointment. Our pet Home Euthanasia appointments are never rushed and we take as much time as needed to answer any questions you may have and to explain the whole process. The appointment is carried out in a relaxed and familiar environment for your pet and it can take place in any room of the house where your pet is most comfortable.
If it should be…
we understand how difficult can be to make the decision to say goodbye to our loyal companions. We have gone through exactly the same experience with our pets over the years and it can be complicated to put ourselves in our pets’ position and look at their world with their eyes.
This anonymous poem can help with reassurance when it comes to dog or cat euthanasia at home, and it can also ease a bit the hard load we carry on our shoulders when we are considering giving this step.
Quality of Life Assessment
Knowing when it’s time to say goodbye to a beloved pet is one of the hardest decisions we face. While a pet’s appetite and thirst are essential for survival, they don’t always paint the whole picture of their well-being. Here at Hensol Vets, we understand the importance of looking beyond basic needs to assess your pet’s overall quality of life.
There are, however, several tools that can be of help in order to assess objectively our companion’s days. You can keep track of your pet’s good and bad days by using ticks/crosses or smiley/sad faces in a calendar.
Alternatively, questionnaires can give us an accurate idea of their Quality of Life…
Remember, you are not alone. Please, get in touch with us if you need further help and support with the decision-making process. Let’s work together to ensure your pet’s comfort and dignity.
How Does Home Euthanasia Work?
During the Appointment
During the appointment, we will first have a conversation about your pet’s health and the reasons for a euthanasia.
We will then ask you to sign a consent form which will legally allow us to proceed with the appointment and will give you the opportunity to choose an option for the after care of your pet between home burial or cremation (communal or individual).
The Euthanasia Process
During the process of home pet euthanasia, we will clip a little patch of fur on one of your pet’s legs (can be either front or back leg) in order to place a small intravenous catheter. This is a port that will give us safe and secure access to your pet’s bloodstream in order to ensure a quick and smooth administration of the medication that will put your pet to sleep.
This feels like a slight pinch on the skin (it is a small needle) and most pets tolerate it well. In some cases, a gentle restraint is needed which can be carried out either by yourself (if desired) or our experienced veterinary nurse. Generally, there is no need for sedation, however, if a pet becomes very stressed or anxious, is aggressive, painful or uncomfortable when is being handled, an option of a sedation injection is available.
The Medication
The medication that will put your pet to sleep is a drug that was used as pre-anaesthetic medication in the past and will make your pet to fall deeply asleep and will halt their respiration and heart functions within a few seconds.
This is a completely painless and peaceful process. Once the vet has finished the administration of the medication, she will carry out heart auscultation in order to confirm that you pet has passed away.
Support
Our support does not end up here, since we understand the process of grieving after a home pet euthanasia appointment. We are always only a phone call away if you need reassurance or to have a chat. Alongside our home euthanasia for dog and cat services, we can also provide you with several free Pet Bereavement Support Services that can help you and your family deal with the loss of your companion.
