Services
Euthanasia

Deciding to put a pet to sleep is never easy. If, sadly, the time has come and you have had to make the decision to do so, we will treat you and your pet with the utmost respect and do everything we can to make the process as smooth as possible.

Below you will find some information on our process.

Authorising euthanasia

To authorise euthanasia, you must be the legal owner of the animal and be over 18 years of age. You will be asked to sign a consent form. Please read it carefully and feel free to ask any questions that you may have.

Depending on the species of your pet, its temperament and clinical condition, the euthanasia process may differ slightly. Please be assured that the comfort of your pet is our main priority, at all times.

In some cases, a strong sedative injection may first be administered, which is then followed by the euthanasia injection once the sedative has had time to work. In other cases, an intravenous catheter may be inserted. This can be a tricky procedure, and you may be asked to briefly take a seat in the waiting room so we can focus on doing this quickly and efficiently. Once it is in place, you will be invited to be with your pet whilst the euthanasia solution is administered.

Your vet will advise upon the most appropriate procedure, on an individual basis – every animal is different.

What is in the euthanasia solution?

The euthanasia solution contains a very high strength barbiturate anaesthetic. Within a few seconds of administration, your pet will fall painlessly unconscious. Following this, their heart quickly stops.

Their eyes may remain open, and it is not unusual for them to twitch or even gasp for a few minutes following euthanasia. This can be upsetting to witness, but please be assured, your pet is not in pain, they are unaware of this and has passed away. The vet will also always double check that they are deceased.

What happens after the procedure?

There are three options regarding the remains of your pet.

1. You can take your pet home for burial. Please be aware there are regulations regarding burial, for example proximity to local waterways.
2. We can arrange for your pet to be cremated and the ashes disposed of at the crematorium.
3. Your pet can be privately cremated. You will directly receive your pet’s ashes back. You must call the crematorium to pay for this directly. We will provide contact details for the crematorium. They will then make all the necessary arrangements.

In order to facilitate the euthanasia process, we request that you pay for services incurred before undertaking this procedure. This means that you will then be able to leave the clinic immediately afterwards, which we hope will help at this distressing time.

It may be beneficial for you to consider pet bereavement counselling, which can be accessed via https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-bereavement-and-pet-loss.