WHEN IT’S TIME TO SAY GOODBYE TO YOUR pet, YOU CAN EXPECT NOTHING BUT
COMPASSIONATE CARE
here at Best Friends Animal Hospital.
We know your pet isn’t just an animal. Dog or cat, four-legged friends are members of the family, and although we all wish they could live forever, we know at some point, we have to let them go. Best Friends Animal Hospital offers compassionate end-of-life services, including counseling and aftercare. If you know your pet’s quality of life is diminishing, but you’re not sure what to do next, we can help. We can examine your pet and give our recommendations, which may include pain medication or other treatment, hospice, or humane euthanasia. However, the ultimate decision is up to you.
It’s important to note that, while pain medication and other treatment options may be effective, there are some conditions that cannot be cured, only managed. Our ultimate goal with our recommendations is to keep your pet comfortable for the remainder of their life, regardless of how long that is.
About the Euthanasia Visit
After signing some paperwork, we’ll escort you and your pet to a private room. A caring member of our team will meet with you to let you know what to expect. They will then give you time to be alone with your pet to say your final goodbyes. You can spend as much time with your feline or canine companion as you need. Or, if you’re ready to proceed with the euthanasia at that point, it can begin immediately.
The euthanasia process consists of placing an IV catheter through which to administer two injections. The first is comparable to a sedative and calms your pet down to a sleep-like state. The second injection is the euthanasia solution, which will stop the heart. Both injections are completely painless and will enable your pet to cross peacefully over the Rainbow Bridge.
Aftercare Options
After the final injection has been given, you’ll have the opportunity to be alone with your pet once more before they are removed from the room. As before, you can spend as much time as you need. Remember that grief has no rules. When you’re ready for us to return, let us know with a knock on the door.
Aftercare options include cremation and burial, so you’ll have the option to leave your pet in our care or take them home with you for burial. If you would like grief support resources, we’ll be happy to connect you with some groups online. We also offer memorial custom paw prints, giving you a special memento of your beloved companion.
