Euthanasia & End of Life Care in Small Animals

Saying goodbye to a beloved pet is one of the hardest decisions you can face as an owner. At our Pear Tree Vets, we offer a peaceful and dignified euthanasia service for small animals, ensuring they are comfortable and cared for in their final moments.

Our team is here to support you with compassion and sensitivity, whether the procedure takes place at the clinic or in the comfort of your home.

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How will you know when it’s time to say goodbye?

We often question ourselves as to whether it may be too soon, too late or if there is more we could have done before booking a euthanasia appointment.

Our empathetic team at Pear Tree Vets will make the whole process as best as it can be for you and your pet. Usually, it would be a case of you knowing your pet well enough to see that they are having more bad days than good. And often, if medication has been prescribed to tackle pain or illness, our vet would set aside a realistic time limit for improvements to your pet’s quality of life.

If treatment isn’t enough to prevent further suffering, we would then start the conversation regarding possible euthanasia. We offer End of Life Consultations to discuss everything in depth if you are unsure whether it’s time to say goodbye.

  • Putting a pet to sleep is a procedure that can be carried out at an arranged time within our vet surgery. Our team can greet you upon arrival and show you straight through to the consultation room. 

    Alternatively, we also offer at home euthanasia appointments. For more information, please get in contact with us. There is an extra fee for home visits.

  • Some of the events described below may be hard to read, but can be extremely beneficial to gain an understanding ahead of an appointment. 

    Before your pet is put to sleep, one of our vets will discuss the process of euthanasia with you, discuss cremation options or at home burial, and ask you to sign a consent form. 

    • Euthanasia is usually carried out by injecting an overdose of anaesthetic into the vein of a leg, although the injection can be given to other areas of the body as well.

    • Your pet will be gently held by a member of our nursing team and a small patch of fur is shaved off. All your pet feels is a tiny prick of the catheter – the injection is painless. Sometimes we place the catheter in our main treatment room, other times we may place the catheter in a consultation room.

    If your pet is needle shy, nervous or anxious, we may give a sedative injection before we place a cannula. We will also aim to do what’s most suitable for you and your pet.

    • A small number of animals may vocalise as the injection is given – as with all anaesthetics, there is a brief feeling of dizziness as the drug takes effect

    • Unconsciousness follows within seconds, often before the injection is finished.

    • Death occurs very quickly when the heart stops beating. It may take a little longer if your pet is very ill or has poor circulation.

    • In the few minutes after your pet has passed you may see slight twitches, or less commonly there may be small gasps of air. These are not signs of life; they are reflexes that naturally occur when a pet passes away

    • The eyes will stay open and the bladder/bowel can sometimes empty.

  • Here at Pear Tree Vets, we aim to be as transparent as possible about costs. If you head to our price list, then the different costs for End of Life Care are available.

  • Whether you would like to stay with your pet is entirely your choice and we will respect whatever decision is made. The vet and nurse can/will give you as much space as you need (other than access to where the catheter is placed) during the entire procedure to spend time and be your pet.

  • After your pet has passed away, you will have the option to either take your pet home to bury or alternatively you can request your pet to be cremated with our local, family run pet cremation service.

    Cremation can be individual, where you receive just your pet’s ashes back, or there is also an option for group cremation, where your pet would be cremated with other pets together and you would not receive any ashes back.