End-of-life care decisions can be the most difficult phase of pet ownership.
We are here to support you in providing the kindest option for your pet during this challenging time.

Many factors can influence when a family decides that humane euthanasia is the best choice for their pet. These decisions often come with a range of emotions, including confusion, guilt, and sometimes even a sense of relief. We encourage you to remember that you have provided a loving home for your pet and that your pet has had a much better life for having had you in it.

The goal of this page is to outline some reasons owners may choose to humanely euthanize a pet and to provide resources that can assist you in making an informed decision regarding your pet’s care.

The decision of when to euthanize a pet is a very personal decision for everyone. Our philosophy is that each owner knows their pet best, and each owner has the privilege of deciding when humane euthanasia is the best choice for their pet. We are here to support your decision and make the process as dignified and peaceful as possible. We encourage owners to remember that a pet’s last day does not need to be their worst day. Saying goodbye on a good day will leave you with happier memories than if you feel like you waited too long. There is no perfect time to euthanize a pet, but there may be a best time. Sometimes the best time is when you have support available from a friend or family member, and when you can give yourself the time and space required for grieving the loss of your pet. You need not wait until a crisis occurs, or until the dying process has begun, to schedule an appointment for in-home euthanasia.

The following situations are indicative of what we would evaluate as “active suffering” and require immediate medical attention.

1. Severe respiratory distress – Your pet may be panting heavily for more than 5 minutes despite being in a temperature-appropriate environment. Your pet may be breathing with their mouth open and have their head and neck extended.
2. Severe, persistent pain – Your pet may be loudly vocalizing, uncharacteristically aggressive, or unable to find a position of physical comfort.
3. Intractable seizures – Your pet may have lost consciousness and been having uncontrolled body movements. Intractable seizures are seizures that persist for greater than 5 consecutive minutes or that occur more than 5 times over a 24-hour period.

You are always welcome to contact us in cases where a pet is actively suffering. While we cannot guarantee immediate availability, we will certainly help you if we can. If we cannot assist you and your pet, we will refer you to another provider or recommend you contact your nearest emergency veterinary clinic.