6 Reasons to Choose an In-Home Euthanasia For Your Pet
Saying goodbye to a pet is one of the hardest things we do, not only as pet lovers, but as humans. When the time comes to help your companion animal die peacefully via euthanasia, it is important to consider how you want to experience those last moments, as they will be forever remembered.
Why choose an In-Home Euthanasia for your pet?
There are many reasons a home pet euthanasia may be best for your family. Here are the top six.
A more Personalized Experience
At home there is opportunity for all members of the family to gather, whether that be a single person, couple, family with children, extended family, friends, pet sitters, etc. AND other household pets. Allowing all those who loved your beloved animal to say goodbye is an important part of a healthy grieving process. That being said, it is also OK if a loved one chooses not to be present during a home euthanasia. This is a deeply personal and individual choice. Families should take the time to talk about it together and discuss their feelings about being present during a euthanasia. Any concerns or questions can also be addressed with your mobile hospice veterinarian, who is comfortable and used to having these difficult conversations with pet families, supporting and guiding them through the experience.
Love poured through my every being as I walked back in through the family’s door to hear this powerful song being sang a capella by the beautiful voice of my client, singer/songwriter Pamela Gerrand. She was sitting on her couch holding her beloved Rufus in her arms as he welcomed sleep from the injectable medications given earlier. I felt this very special energy set with love, intention, and vibration. It filled the house, it filled me up, I can only imagine how it must have affected both Pamela as she sang and Rufus as he listened and felt the healing power of this gospel sound.
Pamela Gerrand, see also The Healing Power of Sound Blog
In Dreams’ by the kundalini yoga teacher and singer Jai Jagdeesh: Know you are loved.
2. There is more Time
Away from the busy setting of a vet clinic, there is more time for your pet to settle and relax, and feel comfortable in the presence of a new face (the mobile vet). Also, there is more time for the pet family to prepare to say goodbye, understand the process and ask questions, perhaps, even, look at memorial keepsake options (urns, paw prints, etc.) if they wish to do that during their appointment time. It is so important not to feel rushed during a euthanasia. As, I mentioned previously, these last shared memories stay with us forever.
The bond between a person and their pet, especially if that pet is their 'heart pet' or 'soul pet', runs deep to the bone. I helped a young woman, Hayley, who shared with me that her cat, Tuxedo, had been there with her through so much in her life. He was more than 'just a cat', he was her support system, her baby. During our home appointment together, we spent time going over the events leading up to his euthanasia. While I listened to her share, I reassured her that she was making the right decision for her boy. Together, we reviewed the process and looked at specialty ceramic paw print options, discussing the differences amongst the beautiful keepsakes. Once Tux had passed, it was important for Hayley to spend some time with him before he was bundled up to travel back with me for cremation. Afterwards, she thanked me for allowing her the time she needed to share, be heard, supported, and say goodbye.
Tux’s beautiful Paw Print is lovingly displayed at his favourite spot to rest and sun bathe.
As a thank you, my client gave me this beautiful planter of Heath, incidentally, under the name Erica (its genus name), so we both thought that was special.
3. Reduced Stress for your Pet & Family
At home, pets are more relaxed, less stressed, and less anxious, and so are their family members. It makes sense that so many pet families are choosing in-home euthanasia as the best option for their pet. This is typically the case for many cats, who, after spending some time in their carrier, are stressed out at the vet clinic. Saying goodbye at home, may be a good option to consider if your pet demonstrates any fear, stress, anxiety, or aggression at the vet clinic, or when travelling. We want to prevent or limit these feelings and body sensations for your pet, especially during their final moments. It is always best to share your pet’s typical, or perhaps, expected behaviour at the vet or around new people when requesting a home euthanasia. This allows the mobile vet to help coordinate pre-visit medications that you can give by mouth before the day of your house call. These can either be arranged directly with your mobile vet, or in coordination with your primary care vet. We all want the most gentle, calm, stress-free, AND safe experience possible for you, your pet, and our mobile vet team.
I helped a pet family with a younger fearful, and painful dog, Keeper, who was very aggressive towards almost everyone. Poor Keeper had multiple painful conditions, which were limiting his activities of daily life and his quality of life. Despite all the best pain medications, his small joys were becoming few and far between. But since he couldn't be touched by anyone, this family didn't know what to do :(
After we connected and created a plan of action together, the family was able to say goodbye at home. The experience was far better than they were imagining and, although devastated, they were relieved he was no longer in pain.
Keeper, a handsome boy who benefited from the lower stress of a home euthanasia.
4. There is Great Comfort and Familiarity Being at Home for a Pet
Pets feel most comfortable at home - the smells, furniture, beds, blankets, toys, food, and people all are familiar to them.
If I asked you “how do you envision your pet’s end-of-life or euthanasia experience? What is important to you?”
What would you say?
“I want them to be and feel comfortable” is a common answer.
In preparing families for what to expect during a home euthanasia, I guide them through the process, allowing time for thoughts and questions along the way. One question I had from the pet family of a little Sheltie was, "can we say goodbye upstairs on the bed?"
"Yes," I said, "wherever Chase is most comfortable." Well, it turns out, not only was the bed Chase's favourite place to be, but it was also very special and familiar. There was a game the family did whenever Chase wanted to play that was called 'party on the bed' where a special blanket was laid down and all his favourite toys were there for him to toss and play with. This was how Chase's family said goodbye to him, having one last party on the bed.
Chase, a handsome Sheltie, loved to have his belly rubbed after his ‘party on the bed.’ This is where his final moments were during his in-home euthanasia. It brought great comfort & familiarity to him and his family.
5. There is more Privacy at Home for you & your Pet
An in-home euthanasia provides increased privacy. This privacy allows your pet to relax more deeply before and after their first sedative medication is given, providing a calm environment for the final step during the euthanasia experience. As a family, it’s importable to be able to say goodbye privately without interruption or overhearing something going on in the next room or reception area at a vet clinic. Or walk back out through the reception area afterwards. The privacy of home allows you to mourn your loss as openly as you need. It can also be a deeply meaningful experience, filled with love, ceremony, and memorialization.
At a beautiful countryside home, I helped a handsome little pup named Harley James and witnessed a beautiful outdoor planned ceremony of life. Because this moment was so special to me, and his dog mom, Morgan, we wrote our stories out and shared them together in our Reflections from a Hospice Vet Blog: Beauty in the Sadness of Saying Goodbye - Harley James's Story. I welcome you to read more about this beautiful, private outdoor ceremony.
Here, Morgan and her supportive people gather to celebrate Harley James.
A beautifully adorned bed was created during Harley’s home appointment.
Harley James’s handmade tombstone.
You may also read more about Harley James on his Honouring Page.
“Beautiful and sad ... I think that was my greatest lesson thus far in life.
That these two things could coexist and that while one did not negate the other - that they allowed us to enter that space knowing that love is both of those things. That nothing lasts forever, but that when we approach a transition, we will find that this balance of emotions, will lead us feeling more settled, more grateful and more content. ”
6. No need to Travel
You will avoid travel all together when choosing a home euthanasia for your pet. While on the surface this is obvious, what lies beneath this important benefit is the heavy toll of emotions that pass through us as we drive to the vet clinic with our pet in hand and then return home without them. The emotional element alone is enough to choose an in-home euthanasia for your pet. However, there is another important aspect about avoiding travel that is equally as important and that is the emotional and physical stress on your pet. For one, some pets, especially cats, do not travel well; travelling brings on unnecessary stress and anxiety, and this is not a state you want your precious companion animal in just prior to saying goodbye. Secondly, there are many larger breed dogs, who become immobile, or moving them is physically challenging or demanding. These dogs absolutely benefit from remaining at home and having a mobile hospice vet attend to their needs as soon as possible. Many pet parents do not want to see their pets in this state. While it is not always possible to predict when a crisis may occur, partnering with your vet to discuss possible disease trajectories can help you feel more prepared for what to expect in end-of-life decision-making. This is where our Quality of Life Telehealth Consultations can really make a difference.
This point hits home hard for me, as I share my own personal experience on the day we euthanized my heart cat, Smokey. At the time there weren't any mobile hospice vets in my area to help, so my husband and I drove Smokey to the vet clinic. At first I was going to put him in his carrier, which he didn't enjoy, just like any other trip. but then I thought to myself, "no, I want to hold on to him for as long as I can"So I held him, while tears kept streaming down my face, and I kissed him and told him over and over again how much I loved him.
Afterwards, the drive home without him was gut-wrenching.
In the upper left corner of this collage, you can see Dr. Erica Dickie with Smokey during his last ride. The somewhat smile on my face was me trying to be brave for Smokey.
In sharing the above six reasons to choose in-home euthanasia for your pet, it is not my intent to disparage in-clinic euthanasia experiences, as I can attest that they can be equally peaceful. My intent is to create more awareness that alternative End-of-Life options are available for pet lovers to consider. The decision to euthanize your pet is one of the hardest things we do as pet parents, one that all veterinarians should treat with the utmost respect, compassion, and grace. I welcome you to consider how you want to spend your last shared moments with your pet and work with your veterinarian to create the most peaceful, gentle goodbye for your best friend.
Like what you’ve read? Follow Us