Saying Goodbye

How will you know from one day to the next when the time is right? How can you justify it one day over another? These are questions we can never answer because they are all questions that can only be answered with hindsight.

Talk to your family and try to think about the life your pet once had. Looking back at photos and videos can sometimes help to show you just how much a pet has aged or how infirm or inactive they have become.

If there is time do so, please get in touch with your daytime practice and make an appointment for a quality-of-life discussion.

Most pet owners would prefer their pet to die in its sleep because nobody wants to make the decision to end a life. This is a perfectly normal human reaction, but unfortunately natural deaths are rarely as peaceful and pain-free as we picture them. Euthanasia, or putting an animal to sleep, is without doubt the kindest way to a dignified end for your pet.

Unfortunately, we are unable to leave the practice outside of normal working hours as we are a 24/7 hospital practice and need to be available to all pets in the area (as well as critical or unstable patients that are already admitted).

If you would prefer to have a home visit, we can talk through the alternatives including arranging referral to a local home euthanasia service.

Alternatively, we can dispense some medication which can be given at home to calm your pet ahead of their arrival if they usually get anxious or upset at veterinary practices and it is safe to do so.

This worries many owners and is one of the reasons some don’t stay with their pet when they might have liked to. The simplest explanation for virtually all pet euthanasia is an overdose of anaesthetic, and in some cases a sedative may be given first to make your pet drowsy before the final injection is given. The exact method will vary depending on the individual vet and the type of pet, but the vet will be happy to discuss the options with you and find what you both think will be best

The vet will make sure you can have as much time as you need or want with your pet afterwards. Grief affects people in many different ways and you mustn’t feel embarrassed about expressing yourself. Some may want to hold your pet for some time or you may want to leave straight away, you must do what is right for you.

There are several options which largely include home burial or cremation.

At Three Counties Veterinary Emergencies, we use the crematorium services of CPC in Tewkesbury. In a standard cremation, your pet is cremated with other pets and the ashes are scattered in the crematorium grounds. In an individual cremation your pet is cremated on their own and their ashes are returned for you to keep, scatter or bury.

If you are usually a client of Coombefield Veterinary Hospital their ashes will be ready for collection as usual. If you are a client of some of our member practices it is possible to arrange for your pet’s ashes to be delivered there for collection.

It is so difficult to talk about the costs of end-of-life care for your pet, but it is important that we are as transparent with the costs of euthanasia and our cremation services so that you can make an informed decision.

Euthanasia:
​Dog - £225-265
Cat - £225
Small Pet - £115.50

Communal cremation:
Dog – £70-£120
Cat – £55
Small Pet - £35

Individual cremation (Scatter box):
Dog – £285-£315
Cat or Small Pet – £250

Individual cremation (Beech Casket):
Dog – £315-345
Cat or Small Pet – £280

Please get in touch if you would like to enquire about other options for ashes being returned (including other types of caskets and pouches)

The costs above are for when the need for putting your pet to sleep is known before your arrival. If you have had a consultation and health examination with one of our veterinary surgeons, and the outcome of that has led to the decision to put your pet to sleep, then additional costs will apply

Payment is usually taken ahead of your appointment so that when you arrive you can be there for your pet and all other arrangements are already in-hand.

It all happens surprisingly quickly - the anaesthetic reaches the heart and brain within seconds and your pet will be aware of nothing after the initial injection.

Please do not worry, your pet will not feel any pain or discomfort.

If you decide to stay with your pet, be prepared for some reflexes which might happen at the time of death. These can sometimes look quite upsetting, but if you know what they are you can be prepared and remember that your pet is not aware of them at all.