FAQs
Do You Have Questions About End-Of-Life Veterinary Care For Your Pet? We Are Here To Answer Them.
Frequently asked questions about in home pet Euthanasia
How much does it cost?
If you wish to receive accurate pricing and information, please fill out our online form.
When and how do I handle payment?
To minimize stress during the appointment, we handle payment in advance. Our preferred method is e-transfer, sent at the time of booking. We also accept pre-authorization by credit card over the phone. This allows the visit to focus entirely on your pet and family without administrative distractions.
What areas do you service?
We provide mobile veterinary care within Guelph, Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo, Burlington, Oakville, Dundas, Brantford, Ancaster, Hamilton, Stoney Creek, Port Credit, Lakeshore, Puslinch, Milton, South Brampton, South Mississauga and area. A travel fee may apply for appointments outside of our primary service zone. Please fill out our online form for pricing and availability.
I need help immediately. Do you offer emergency services?
We operate 365 days a year during regular hours (generally 8:00 am to 8:00 pm) to provide urgent care and scheduled euthanasia appointments. However, we do not provide overnight emergency care. If your pet experiences a sudden, life-threatening crisis outside of our operating hours, please contact the nearest 24-hour emergency veterinary hospital for immediate assistance.
Are appointments available on evenings and holidays?
Yes, we strive to be available for families when they need us most, including evenings, weekends, and holidays. Please note that appointments scheduled outside of core veterinary hours (9:00 am – 7:00 pm) may be subject to an additional after-hours fee, which will be clearly communicated when you book.
What is at-home pet euthanasia?
We are a mobile veterinary service that focuses exclusively on at-home dog, cat, and small mammal end-of-life care. A veterinarian will come to your home and perform the euthanasia procedure, allowing you to peacefully say goodbye to your pet in the comfort of your own home.
How should I prepare my space for the visit?
e recommend choosing a location where your pet feels most comfortable and secure, such as their favorite bed, a spot on the sofa, or a quiet area in your yard. It can be helpful to have their favorite treats or blankets nearby and to minimize household distractions, like loud noises, during the appointment time.
How do I know when it’s time to consider euthanasia for my pet?
This is a difficult question to answer, as every pet is different. However, some signs that your pet may be suffering and may benefit from euthanasia include loss of appetite, difficulty breathing, and loss of mobility. You can use our self assessment tool or request a quality-of-life assessment to help guide you through your decision.
My pet has "good days" and "bad days." How can I possibly choose a time when they might be having a good day?
This is one of the most difficult challenges for loving pet owners. It’s common to hope for a sign or wait until there are only bad days left, but this often means waiting until your pet is in significant distress. Many owners find comfort in reframing the decision: choosing to say goodbye on a relatively good day allows your pet to pass peacefully, surrounded by love, rather than in a state of crisis or suffering. It is a final act of kindness to spare them from the inevitable bad days to come.
Do you offer quality-of-life assessments separately from euthanasia?
Yes, we offer in-home quality-of-life assessments. If you are uncertain about your pet’s condition and need guidance, this consultation allows the veterinarian to perform an assessment and discuss your concerns, helping you make an informed decision without pressure to proceed with euthanasia at that time.
My pet is extremely anxious or fearful of new people and veterinarians. How can you ensure the process is peaceful for them?
We specialize in managing stress and anxiety for sensitive pets. When you schedule the appointment, please let our care team know about your pet’s specific fears. In many cases, we can prescribe oral anti-anxiety and pain medication for you to give your pet before we arrive. This allows them to be calm and relaxed by the time our veterinarian enters your home, making the experience gentle and stress-free from start to finish. Our team approaches every visit with patience, moving slowly and allowing your pet to set the pace.
How long does the euthanasia process take?
The typical in-home euthanasia appointment generally takes anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. However, the length of the appointment will depend upon your pet’s response to the sedation medication. Every pet, just as every human, responds differently to sedative drugs. The sedatives that are given are carefully selected based on your pet’s body weight, body composition, age, stress level, character, disease process, seizure threshold, and a number of other factors. Generally, most pets will fall asleep within 5-20 minutes of receiving one dose of the sedative drugs. If your pet is taking a little longer than this to fully relax, they may require more medication or a different medication. The beauty of in-home euthanasia is that we have the time to sit and support a pet through the progression to a very sleepy state. It is important to be patient with the process and remember that your pet will dictate the pace of the process.
Should I feed my pet or give them their regular medications on the day of the appointment?
Yes, absolutely. We encourage you to make your pet’s final hours as normal and enjoyable as possible. Please offer them their favorite foods, special treats (like ice cream, steak, or anything they love), and maintain their regular routine. You should also administer any prescribed pain or comfort medications as usual to ensure they are as comfortable as possible. Please include any medications on your intake form.
What happens after the euthanasia procedure?
You may choose to have your pet cremated or aquamated after the euthanasia procedure. We will assist with transportation and the aftercare arrangements.
Does euthanasia hurt?
Every pet responds differently to pain but there is very little discomfort associated with euthanasia. Your pet will be sedated either by intramuscular or subcutaneous injection based on a short assessment at the beginning of the appointment. There may be some discomfort associated with this injection but in some cases, your pet may not even notice what has happened. Once your pet is deeply relaxed, the final injection of an anesthetic agent will be given and your pet will pass peacefully in their sleep. Your pet will not notice this injection and it will not cause any pain.
Can I hold my pet for the sedation and euthanasia?
Do I need to be present for the euthanasia?
Will other pets in the home grieve?
Should other family pets be present during the euthanasia?
Most of the time this can be very helpful for closure. At the very least the other pets should be able to say their goodbyes before the euthanasia and then come in again to sniff or view the deceased pet so that they understand that their friend is gone. Some pets become too agitated or hyper when strangers come into their home and it may not be appropriate for them to stay for the entire procedure but this can be decided at the time of the visit.
What about children, should they be present for euthanasia?
Children should be considered carefully when making the decision to euthanize a family pet. Consider each child’s emotional maturity in the decision to have them present for the entire procedure.
If your child is old enough to understand, it may help to clearly explain what death is and what is about to happen and give them the choice to be present. Allow them to make a grown up decision and prepare them for the event. Openly discuss death and pet euthanasia and let them ask questions about it. Try your best to be direct with children and tell them the truth as you know it to be and share your feelings. There is no harm in telling your children that you don’t know where pets go when they die if you do not have any beliefs about this yourself.
Never imply to a child that they were at fault in the departure of a pet or that the physical separation isn’t permanent.
If children attend the euthanasia, consider having a partner, friend or relative present to assist with the children if they become too upset to stay.
It is also possible to have children say goodbye while the pet is still awake and then return once the euthanasia is complete to say a final goodbye for closure without having to watch.
Another way to create closure is by having a small funeral or candle-light ceremony at home, or burying or scattering a pet’s ashes together as a family in the pet’s favourite place.
Writing letters or drawing pictures for the pet can also be helpful. We can tuck these items in with the pet upon their departure from the home.
What can I expect to see as my pet passes away?
By the time the final euthanasia solution is given, many pets are already so relaxed from the sedation that the transition to death is very subtle.
- Most heavily sedated pets take just a few deep breaths and within a few minutes their hearts will stop. Some pets will be snoring or even panting as they pass but this is NOT a sign of distress or pain. This is simply the body’s unique response to the medication.
- Since pets’ bodies are so relaxed, urination and defecation can occur during the sedation or euthanasia period.
- Shortly after death there may be muscle movements such as contraction of the diaphragm or fasciculations of the tongue, skin or other muscles in the body – this usually only lasts for a few minutes and does not occur in all animals.
- Some pets will need a little more sedation than other pets or a little more of the euthanasia solution. Your vet will know what to do.
- In VERY rare occasions, a pet could make a noise or cry out as it passes away or may very briefly become rigid and arch its head backwards. Not to worry, this is not a pain response and lasts only a few moments.
Will my pet’s eyes close once it has passed away?
No. Your pet’s eyes will remain open after passing away.
If I choose to bury my pet at home, what recommendations do you have?
If you choose not to have your pet cremated, and choose to bury your pets body instead, it is always best to plan ahead:
Several hours after death, your pet’s body will become stiff (this is known as rigor mortis). This can last for many hours, after which the body will become relaxed again. For this reason, it is best to arrange your pet’s body soon after the euthanasia (curled up in a blanket or placed in a small box).
Contact your city to inquire about by-laws (some cities do not allow backyard burials).
Avoid pipes and power/cable lines (check with the city/gas company before you dig).
Ensure that the ground is not frozen.
Dig a deep hole – 5-6 feet is recommended. The euthanasia solution, pentobarbital, is toxic to any animal that ingests it, including other family pets. You may wish to place fencing around the burial site for 6 months’ time to protect your other pets and wildlife.
What if my dog is very heavy?
In the event that your dog weighs more than 30 lbs, we would ask that a family member or friend helps the vet to carry your pet to the vehicle for transportation. At least two strong adults should be present to assist with pets weighing over 80lbs. If this is not possible, we can sometimes make arrangements for an assistant to come along, if we have enough notice. There may be an additional fee for this service.
Can I transport my deceased pet to the crematorium myself?
You may transport your pet but it is not necessary. Transportation is included in all cremation and aquamation options but you are welcome to deliver your pet’s body for cremation or aquamation and we can arrange this for you in advance. Please discuss alternate arrangements and requests with our staff before the appointment date.
What will happen with my pet’s body after euthanasia has occurred?
After you have had a chance to say goodbye to your pet, your Peaceful Passing veterinarian will assist in carrying your pet to their vehicle. They will wrap your pet in a blanket, towel, or sheet that you have provided. Larger pets will be carried on a hand-held stretcher to provide support.
Your pet will be cared for by your Peaceful Passing veterinarian until they are transferred to the care of one of our aftercare providers (cremation or aquamation). Rest assured that your pet’s body will be treated with dignity and respect during their aftercare journey.
Should you wish to deliver your pet to one of our aftercare providers directly, this can be arranged with advance notice. Please mention this to our Peaceful Passing Client Care Team and we will be happy to assist. Your comfort is very important to us.
I feel overwhelming guilt about making this decision. Is this normal?
Yes, what you are feeling is completely normal and is a profound sign of how deeply you love your pet. Guilt often stems from the weight of making a life-ending decision for a cherished family member. It may feel like you are giving up, but from a veterinary perspective, choosing euthanasia to prevent further suffering is a courageous and selfless act of compassion. You are taking on this emotional pain to ensure your pet’s journey ends in peace and dignity.
How can I support my surviving dog/cat after their companion passes away?
Pets often experience grief, which can manifest as lethargy, loss of appetite, or searching for their lost companion. The best way to support them is to maintain their daily routine as consistently as possible (feeding times, walks, etc.). Provide extra comfort and affection, but try not to reinforce anxious behaviors. Monitor their appetite closely, and allow them time to adjust. It’s generally advised to wait before introducing a new pet into the home until both you and your surviving pet have had time to grieve.
How is in-home euthanasia different from doing it at a veterinary clinic?
The primary difference is comfort and environment. At home, your pet is in their most familiar surroundings, free from the clinical smells and sounds of a hospital. They can be on their favorite bed, on the couch, or even in your lap, surrounded only by the people they love. This eliminates the stress of travel and waiting rooms, allowing the focus to remain entirely on a peaceful, private goodbye for both you and your pet.
Can I get a paw print or a lock of fur as a memorial keepsake?
Yes, we understand how important these keepsakes are for remembering your pet. We can assist in collecting a lock of fur during the appointment. Paw prints (such as ink prints or clay impressions) are also available as part of the aftercare services. When you arrange the appointment, please let our care team know which specific keepsakes you would like so we can ensure everything is prepared for you.