How to prepare for your pet’s in-home euthanasia appointment with Sacramento Valley Veterinary Services
If you have made an appointment with Sacramento Valley Veterinary Services (SVVS) to send a beloved pet across the rainbow bridge, chances are you are experiencing a wide array of emotions. Below you will find a logistical guide and answers to common questions about your pet’s upcoming end-of-life appointment.
Before Your Appointment
Your appointment is a 2-hour window of arrival; we’ll let you know when we’re on our way
All SVVS appointments made in 2-hour time blocks and we can be there any time during that window. We will, however, be sure to contact you when we are on our way. While the wait can seem difficult, we do this to account for road conditions and getting to you safely, as well as ensuring that each and every appointment is allotted the time needed. Each appointment has it’s own dynamics, just like yours.
Have all friends and family members that want to be involved be present from the start of the appointment time
Unfortunately, once we arrive at your home for your appointment, we are unable to stall and wait while family and friends arrive. Please be sure anyone who wants to be involved in person is present at your appointment from the start of your arrival window.
Your pet may eat/have usual medications on the day of the appointment
We encourage you administer any medications prescribed by your primary care veterinarian on the days leading up to your pet’s appointment to help them feel the least amount of discomfort and stress as possible. (However, if medicating your pet has become a struggle, please feel free to skip their medications on this day.) If your pet is still enjoying food, all previously forbidden treats are now ok, however, we ask that you save some of his or her appetite for the time of the appointment. (See below.)
Decide on, and prepare a place in or around your home for the appointment to occur
We are happy to perform end-of-life care just about anywhere in or around your home that you, your family, and your pet are the most comfortable. Preparing soft music, scented candles, and eliminating external distractions such as turning off phones (after the veterinarian arrives) can help create a peaceful environment. Have tissues ready as well, as this can be a very emotional process.
We will bring blankets and towels with us for your pet’s comfort, but feel free to use something more familiar to your pet, like a bed or favorite blanket. Keep in mind, it is not uncommon for pets to lose bladder and bowel control during the euthanasia process..
We’ll need a place to park
Please make sure we have a place to park prior to arriving at your home. This is especially important if you have arranged for us to take your pet with us after your appointment for cremation. (If you are in an apartment complex please let us know the best place to park our vehicle.)
During Your Appointment
We’ll let you know when we’ve arrived
Even the calmest pets can get anxiety when someone new is at the house. For this reason, we will call or text you when we are in the driveway to avoid ringing doorbells and knocking. If you don’t answer, we’ll knock on the door softly and allow you to get your pet(s) situated. If your pet has a problem with aggression, we ask that you discuss this before we arrive so we can formulate the best course of action to keep your pet’s appointment as low stress as possible.
If your children would like to be present for the appointment, please have them be present at the beginning of the appointment
If your children choose to be present, we ask that they be there from the start of the appointment. This allows us to help explain the process to them and help them choose if they would like to stay for the remainder of the appointment.
Please have other pets safely secured when we arrive
We ask that your other pets be secured by leash, crate, or in another room. If they are calm (no jumping or aggressive behavior) and not a distraction, they are welcome to be present during the appointment. If your other pets need to be placed in another room or crated for the appointment, they are welcome to have a sniff and say goodbye afterward.
After we arrive, the veterinarian will review the process and answer any questions you may have
This is where we explain the sedation and euthanasia process to anyone (including children) who would like to be present for the procedure.
When you are ready, we will administer the sedation injection
We administer a sedative by injection either under the skin or in the muscle (depending on the situation) that takes approximately 5-10 minutes to completely take effect and for your pet to become completely sedated. This sedative injection is a small volume/small needle, so most pets are unaware it is happening, especially when distracted with lots of snuggles and favorite treats if your pet is still enjoying food. There is no better distraction than a big bowl of ice cream!
The final injection is administered when your pet is completely sedated
Once your pet is completely relaxed, stress and pain free, the veterinarian will administer the euthanasia medication. This will take a few minutes to take effect, assisting them in a gentle, peaceful passing. After breathing ceases, the veterinarian will listen for a heartbeat to ensure your pet has passed. You may note that your pet loses bladder and bowel control, and his/her eyes will remain partially open.
We’ll either leave or give you alone time depending on your aftercare wishes
If you have chosen to handle your pet’s remains on your own, we will leave at this point. If you have arranged for us to take your pet with us for either communal or private cremation, we’ll step out for a few minutes so you can have this final moment of connection and closure in private.
If your pet is over 25 pounds we will need assistance with moving your pet into our vehicle
We will wrap your pet in a soft blanket and soft stretcher to prepare for transport to our vehicle. If you have a pet that is over 25 pounds, it is very important that at least two able bodied people be present at the appointment to lift him/her into our vehicle. For large pets, we may bring a rigid stretcher with us to make lifting your pet easier. If having two people present at the appointment to lift your larger pet into our vehicle is not possible, please let us know in advance so we can make arrangements for the crematorium to pick your pet up at your home directly after your appointment. For pets under 25 pounds, we (or you) can carry your pet to our vehicle.
After the Appointment
If you have chosen private cremation, we will arrange with you the best way to return your pet’s ashes to you
Options may include mailing ashes, delivery (based on location) or pick up from the crematorium. Your pet’s ashes will be ready in 10-14 business days after the appointment.
If you choose private cremation, these are the complimentary urns we offer for your pet’s ashes:
If you elect to have a clay paw print made, these are the colors offered with a few examples:
If you have elected to keep your pet to bury him or her at home, we recommend reviewing our article regarding home burial here (https://sacvalleyvet.com/sacramento-pet-euthanasia/burying-your-pet-at-home/)
Take time and space for yourself
Saying goodbye to a beloved pet is never easy, but preparing for the euthanasia process in the comfort of your home can make the experience more peaceful for both you and your beloved pet. By taking the time to plan, communicate with the team at SVVS, and create a calm environment, you can ensure your pet’s final moments are filled with love, comfort, and dignity.
We encourage you to check out these additional articles on our website:
https://sacvalleyvet.com/sacramento-pet-euthanasia/taking-care-of-yourself-after-the-loss-of-a-pet/
https://sacvalleyvet.com/sacramento-pet-euthanasia/memorializing-your-pet-after-saying-goodbye/
