End-Of-Life Care

Compassionate end-of-life care for your pet

We know this is one of the most difficult decisions you will have to make regarding your pet's well-being. We want to assure you that we are there for you and your pet every step of the way.

Our clinical staff can help you understand your pet’s current quality of life, so you can make the best choice about end-of-life pet care. We'll explain the euthanasia process and how we can help make your pet comfortable and relaxed during the process.

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Why choose euthanasia?

It’s never an easy decision, but euthanasia may be right when:

A pet is severely disabled, ill, or injured
Quality of life has been greatly diminished
Advanced age affects mobility or bodily functions

When Is It Time?

Asking yourself the question “Does my pet have more bad days than good days?” is a good place to begin. These guidelines can also help inform your decision.

Does my pet have:

Chronic labored breathing or coughing
Incontinence or do they soil themselves frequently
No interest in most of their favorite activities, like playing with toys and other pets, going on walks, eating treats
Loss of or difficulty with mobility, unable to get up and move around
No appetite — your pet has stopped eating or must be force-fed
Chronic pain that cannot be controlled with medication

What to Expect

If you’ve made an end-of-life pet care appointment, plan to bring:

Your pet’s favorite toy or bed for comfort
A special treat
Anything else that helps to keep your pet calm

Saying Goodbye

Some people want to be with their pet when they pass, others prefer to say goodbye beforehand. This is a personal choice; there is no wrong way. You are also the best person to decide if your children should be present.

Other things to think about:

Plan when and how everyone wants to say goodbye
Consider having a family gathering with your pet to celebrate their life
Plan who will go to the vet and be present during the service

The Pet Euthanasia Process

When you first arrive, your veterinarian will explain the end of life pet care procedure. Feel free to ask any questions you still have. The actual procedure is simple, peaceful and done at a pace that will provide your pet the highest level of comfort.

Depending on your pet's unique needs, your veterinarian may give a sedative to help keep them relaxed and comfortable.

Next, your veterinarian will administer a final euthanasia injection. It’s quick, painless and peaceful.

Your pet’s muscles may involuntarily contract or they may breathe deep–this is normal and pain-free.

Your veterinarian will confirm that your pet has passed on.

You will then be able to spend time alone with your pet to say your final goodbyes.

After the procedure, you can choose:

Home Burial

If it’s allowed by your local, county, or state ordinances, you may bring your pet home for burial.

Private Cremation

A private cremation means only your pet is cremated. Your pet will be identified with a stainless-steel ID tag; the remains will be returned to you.

Communal Cremation

A communal cremation means multiple pets are cremated together. Your pet remains will not be returned, but you can choose to have a clay paw print to memorialize your pet.

Memorial for Your Pet

Celebrating the life of your pet after they pass is a good way to help you and your family process grief, mark the moment, and begin to heal. You could:

Hold a formal or informal funeral service for friends and family

Bury your pet’s body or ashes in a special location

Place your pet’s ashes in an urn to put a special place at home with a photo

Grief Resources

Losing a pet is one of the hardest experiences. You are not alone in this journey. These resources can help support you after the loss of a beloved pet.

Will euthanasia be painful for my pet?

No. Professionally provided end-of-life services are done in a humane and gentle way. Pets are treated with the utmost care by a team of trained medical professionals who are there to help your companion make a painless and comfortable transition.

During the visit, your veterinarian will be available to tell you more about the process and experience. We encourage you to ask questions so that you are as comfortable as possible with the end-of-life experience.

Can my pet eat or drink water prior to the procedure?

Yes, your pet is welcome to eat or drink.

Will my other pets grieve?

Yes, other pets will experience a grieving process. It will be important that they are supported and cared for similarly to the human members of the household. They may need a bit of extra attention, company, nurturing, and time to adapt to the loss.

Frequently Asked Questions About End-Of-Life Care

Stop by a clinic to speak with one of our compassionate staff members or call any location to schedule end of life pet care. Due to the nature of this service, you must be a current client.

You may stop by one of our hospitals to speak with one of our compassionate staff members or call any of our locations to schedule. Keep in mind, due to the nature of this service, you will need to be a current client and have already established a relationship with the Thrive hospital you would like to use.

These decisions are difficult and we understand that circumstances and timing are not always predictable. Ideally, calling a few days ahead gives both the family time to prepare and allows the best opportunity to choose the time and day that works best for everyone. Whether you have time to prepare, or the decision comes upon your family suddenly, please contact us when you know it’s time to make an end-of-life decision. 

Yes. The best thing to do is to have a scheduled consultation with the veterinarian to discuss the timing and options related to end-of-life services as soon as possible when you realize your pet may not live much longer. This way both you and the veterinary team can prepare and talk through any special circumstances. 

If your pet needs end-of-life services outside of your primary care clinic’s normal hours, please contact a nearby Thrive urgent care or emergency pet hospital in your area for assistance. 

The presence of children during an end-of-life procedure is a very personal decision. We leave this decision to you and trust your decision as you know your loved ones best.

This is a peaceful procedure that does not typically have complications or adverse events. Your veterinarian will explain any possibility of adverse events during your visit. If this is a concern, or you have experienced a poor end-of-life service with a previous pet, please bring these concerns to your veterinarian’s attention ahead of the procedure, so they can be fully discussed prior to proceeding. 

To make the end-of-life service completely focused on your pet and your loved ones, we recommend you come early to your appointment to spend some time with your pet in the exam room prior to any of the veterinary team entering to talk about the next steps. The procedure itself is less than a couple of minutes and is peaceful. The timing of the whole visit is largely based on your indications of readiness to the hospital team. Most end-of-life visits are between 30 to 45 minutes in length to allow time for the pet and family to spend a few moments together.  

If possible, we also recommend you come by the hospital prior to this visit to process payment and make all decisions related to cremation and memorial items.

End-Of-Life Care

Compassionate end-of-life care for your pet

Why choose euthanasia?

When Is It Time?

Does my pet have:

What to Expect

If you’ve made an end-of-life pet care appointment, plan to bring:

Saying Goodbye

Other things to think about:

The Pet Euthanasia Process

After the procedure, you can choose:

Home Burial

Private Cremation

Communal Cremation

Memorial for Your Pet

Grief Resources

Will euthanasia be painful for my pet?

Can my pet eat or drink water prior to the procedure?

Will my other pets grieve?

Frequently Asked Questions About End-Of-Life Care

How do I make an appointment?

How much notice does my primary care veterinarian need?

How much notice does my primary care veterinarian need?

Should I call if I suspect I will need services in the coming weeks?

Should I call if I suspect I will need services in the coming weeks?

What if I need a service in the middle of the night?

What if I need a service in the middle of the night?

Should children be present?

Should children be present?

Are complications possible?

Are complications possible?

How long does the process take?

How long does the process take?

End-Of-Life Care

Compassionate end-of-life care for your pet

Why choose euthanasia?

When Is It Time?

Does my pet have:

What to Expect

If you’ve made an end-of-life pet care appointment, plan to bring:

Saying Goodbye

Other things to think about:

The Pet Euthanasia Process

After the procedure, you can choose:

Home Burial

Private Cremation

Communal Cremation

Memorial for Your Pet

Grief Resources

Will euthanasia be painful for my pet?

Can my pet eat or drink water prior to the procedure?

Will my other pets grieve?

Frequently Asked Questions About End-Of-Life Care

How do I make an appointment?

How much notice does my primary care veterinarian need?

How much notice does my primary care veterinarian need?

Should I call if I suspect I will need services in the coming weeks?

Should I call if I suspect I will need services in the coming weeks?

What if I need a service in the middle of the night?

What if I need a service in the middle of the night?

Should children be present?

Should children be present?

Are complications possible?

Are complications possible?

How long does the process take?

How long does the process take?

If you’ve made an end-of-life pet care appointment, plan to bring:

If you’ve made an end-of-life pet care appointment, plan to bring: