First, please allow us the chance to express our sincerest sympathies to you and your family. We know how difficult the decision to euthanize can be. We want you to know that we are here to support you however we can, even if it is just to talk through your situation. It is our mission to ensure no one ever feels alone through this process.
We wanted to take a moment to talk through the process and provide you with some additional information for your records. We know that there can be a significant difference in the preference for detailed information in these situations based on each person’s personality, our goal was to include the most complete set of information possible. There is a lot of information below, but we have tried to organize it clearly, so that you may quickly determine which information is helpful to you. If this feels overwhelming to you, please know that our doctor will discuss the most important points about the euthanasia process upon their arrival.
Planning
We know that thinking about this process can be very difficult and painful, however, putting a little thought into some of your preferences can go a long way towards creating the most peaceful and meaningful experience for {PATIENT NAME}, yourself, and your family. Please know that you do not have to have everything figured out in advance. Our doctors are very flexible, and we can pause to adjust the plan as needed during the procedure. However, by thinking through some of these aspects, it provides us a starting place and some viable back-up plans.
Selecting a Location – It is required that the location be on privately owned property with owner’s permission, however excluding that, our doctors are very flexible. This entire process can be done where your pet and you are the most comfortable (bed, floor, couch, etc). There are a few things to consider when selecting a location.
- Surface Type – After the process is complete, the pet may release their bladder or bowels. Our doctor will place an absorbent material under your pet’s back end to try to minimize any chance for a mess. However, despite our best efforts, accidents can happen, so it is recommended not to perform the procedure on a surface where an accident would be extremely distressing (e.g., a favorite rug, a family heirloom, etc).
- Safety – It is very important to choose a location where we can ensure everyone’s safety. The sedation can make {PATIENT NAME} unsteady at first, so it is necessary to be able to help keep them settled after the first injection. This is especially important in open locations (e.g. outdoors, large rooms, etc) and near elevation changes (e.g. stairs, on furniture, etc).
- Weather – Performing the procedure outside can be a very beautiful experience, however, weather does not always cooperate. If your preference is to be outdoors, it is a good idea to have a backup plan if there is adverse weather (e.g. rain, snow, extreme temperatures, etc).
- Privacy – Grief is a very personal experience. Some people welcome external comfort, while others prefer to keep it more private. It is important to consider what you would prefer when selecting a location. Less private locations offer us less control (e.g., neighboring people or animals, delivery people, etc).
Other Pets – One of the benefits of electing in-home euthanasia is the ability for your other pets to be involved in the process. Allowing them the chance to engage in the process in some way can help them understand what is going on and decrease signs of confusion/grief afterwards. They can also be a great comfort to you during and after the process. However, there are some things to keep in mind:
- Personality – Some pets can be very excited or scared by a stranger being in the home. Sometimes, trying to manage the needs of these pets can leave too little space for you to focus on {PATIENT NAME} and your own feelings. There are a lot of options to manage this, and still give them the ability to participate. For instance, we can put them away and have our doctor step out after the sedation and/or the completion of the process to limit distraction/unease.
- Protectiveness – Some pets are protective of their home space and/or the other pets. It is crucial we keep everyone involved safe. As a result, it may be best to put these animals away for some or all of the procedure. This especially applies to the first injection, due to the unpredictability of a reaction, which can put other pets on edge. As stated above, there are still many ways to allow them to engage in the process.
- Individual Response – Animals are individuals, just like people. They all engage in the process differently. Some may be very concerned about {PATIENT NAME}. Some are more concerned about your feelings. Some are confused by all the emotions and would rather stay away. Some seem to already have known this was coming and appear unconcerned. In extremely rare cases, some may show signs of aggression towards the animal that has passed. It is important to try to limit your expectations of your other pet’s reactions. It is not a reflection on their connection or care for {PATIENT NAME}.
- Grief – Animals do show signs of grief. Again, this will vary for each individual. Common signs include lethargy, anxiety, decreased appetite, searching behavior, increased vocalization, etc. It is absolutely okay to spoil them with affection and extra treats (within their own health guidelines) during this time. If signs are severe or prolonged, it is important to consider speaking to your veterinarian, as they can be supported with medication if necessary, and to rule out any other co-occurring medical conditions.
Personal Considerations – It is not always easy to determine what sights or sounds might cause an increase in your emotional distress, however, if you know ahead of time of anything that would be helpful to avoid, we encourage open communication with our staff ahead of time or our doctors upon their arrival. Some common examples include sensitivity to seeing needles or the desire to step out for certain parts of the procedure (e.g., the final injection, transfer of the body, etc.).
Children – Navigating this process with kids can add another layer of complication to this already difficult process, as you are trying to help them regulate their emotions at the same time as you are trying to manage very difficult ones of your own. The best level of their involvement will depend on their age, desire, and parental wishes. We are very flexible with whatever feels right for you and your family. Our doctors are more than willing to answer any questions as delicately as possible. There are a lot of different ways to approach this. For example, some families decide not to have children present at the time of the procedure, others allow the child to choose what they would prefer, while others have a friend or family member present to step out with the children at different times.
Process (Day of the Appointment)
Arrival – All of our appointments are scheduled with a 1-hour “starting window”. This is necessary because, as a mobile service, we cannot always predict when exactly we will arrive due to unpredictable circumstances (e.g., traffic, the length of other appointments, etc). It is very important to us that no one ever feels rushed through an appointment. Our staff will give you a text or phone call when our doctor is heading to your home for your appointment, so you have a better idea of when to expect them. We do everything we can to ensure that our doctor will arrive within the start window given to you at the time of scheduling. However, in the rare case where that is not possible, we prioritize timely communication to minimize the stress of the unknown during this difficult time for you.
Settling in – We will all settle in at the location you have selected. This is a good opportunity for everyone to get used to a new visitor being in the home. If {PATIENT NAME} is nervous about strangers, there is no need to try to get them to settle in the location until we are ready to move forward with the procedure, to try to minimize their distress. Our doctor will briefly discuss the process so everyone present knows what to expect, and you are welcome to bring up any questions or concerns you may have. We do our best to keep the discussion of the process as succinct as possible, however, for some people, it can still feel overwhelming. We encourage open communication about how you are feeling throughout the whole process, and our doctors will make any possible accommodations. There are a few things that do need to be mentioned in order to try to limit any unexpected or unpleasant surprises, which can make the process even harder for those present. We will usually take care of payment at this time (if needed), so you can focus on caring for yourself and any others that are present afterwards. There are some exceptions (e.g., if the animal is in significant pain/distress, by your request, etc.), but this can be discussed if necessary.
Sedation – We administer a sedative and pain medication combination that will allow your pet to gently fall asleep. This injection is placed in the muscle, so it can feel similar to when you get a tetanus vaccine. Just like people, every animal responds differently. Some barely notice, while others can be more sensitive to it. We do require that a member of the family help hold {PATIENT NAME} for this injection, and we do everything we can to offer enough distraction (e.g., treats, scratches, etc.) to minimize any discomfort. The injection itself is very quick (a few seconds), and then that is the last discomfort {PATIENT NAME} will feel. This medication will place your pet on the same level as anesthesia (for surgery), so they will be completely relaxed. Their eyes may or may not close all the way, just depending on how the muscles relax, but they will not be able to feel any more pain, which is why we do it. The tongue is a large muscle, and when it relaxes, it can often stick out of the mouth.
This medication usually takes 5-10 minutes to become effective, but sometimes it can happen faster or slower depending on what is going on medically, so our doctor will let you know when {PATIENT NAME} is sedated enough to move to the next step. It will be important to keep {PATIENT NAME} safe as the medication is working (e.g., stay close, help them sit or lie down, keep them away from elevation changes like stairs, etc). This is a time to give them as much love (and treats if desired) as you possibly can, and we give you as much time as you need to be able to say goodbye. Just like people, animals can react to the medication differently. The majority of them gently relax and gently fall asleep. A very small amount (<0.01% in our experience) can become confused or disoriented. Please rest assured, if this happens, our doctor will do everything they can to offer comfort to you and {PATIENT NAME} during and after the experience. In these cases, it is usually a short period of time (<5 min) until {PATIENT NAME} is resting comfortably.
If you have elected memory items (like a paw print or a Heartbeat), these are usually collected after your pet is sleeping after the first injection. Paw prints can be collected after the process is complete. If you would prefer one or the other, please feel free to inform the doctor during the initial discussion.
On rare occasions, a pet may pass from the initial sedation alone. This is not common, but it is important to be prepared for the possibility. This process does not always look as peaceful due to the body’s subconscious survival reflexes. The most common thing we see is some very large last breaths, however, rest assured, if this does occur, {PATIENT NAME} is not aware of any of it and is not experiencing any discomfort.
Euthanasia – When you are ready, our doctor will determine the best method to administer the second medication. Often, we will start by trying to establish access to a vein. Sometimes this can take some time as veins can be weak or difficult to access. This method is not suitable for every case, and our doctor does have other methods, but {PATIENT NAME} will not feel any more discomfort regardless of the method used. The next step will be to administer the euthanasia solution. This medication is an overdose of an anesthetic, so it places your pet into an even deeper level of sleep and then changes the chemistry in the body to interfere with the heart’s ability to beat.
Depending on the size and health status of your pet, it can take several minutes to administer the solution (as this is done slowly to ease the process) and for {PATIENT NAME}’s heart to stop. Sometimes this can feel like a really long time. It does not mean that anything is going wrong, it is just a biological process, and our doctor does need to listen for a while to confirm the heart has stopped beating. We strive to keep you informed all along the way, but if you have any questions or concerns, we encourage you to ask. Occasionally, some animals will need additional medication, which is usually due to medical/circulation issues. Due to the sedation, there is usually very little visual difference in the pet’s appearance. The breathing usually stops first before the heart. Occasionally, as mentioned above, we can see some very large last breaths or some muscle twitching, but again, from {PATIENT NAME}’s perspective, they are only having good dreams and are not aware of the process taking place.
We are here to support you before and after, and want to make sure you have the support that you need. While we understand that talking about it can be difficult, we do encourage you to ask any questions that you have.
After Care
You will be given any amount of time you need after the process is complete. Should you wish to have some alone time with {PATIENT NAME}, just let our doctor know, and they will be happy to step out to give you the privacy you desire. Sometimes this can be a good opportunity to allow other pets the opportunity to interact with {PATIENT NAME}, without a new visitor present as a distraction.
Cremation – We care for the remains entrusted to us through cremation. We take this responsibility and the trust placed in us to do so extremely seriously. The crematorium we partner with has demonstrated the utmost level of love and respect for animals in their care. All transportation of remains is done by hand to ensure the proper respect and safety. If you have elected to have ashes returned to you, the entire process usually takes about 2-3 weeks. You will be contacted to make arrangements when the cremains are ready to be returned to you. If you elected communal/group cremation, no ashes will be returned to you, but Forrest Run does bury those ashes in their Memorial Garden about once per year, so there is a place to go visit if you should ever feel the desire to do so.
Home Burial/Own Arragements – There is a short period of time (5-10 min) where most possible post-mortem reactions can occur (e.g., muscle twitching, large last breaths, etc). Our doctor will stay for this period unless you specifically request something different.
The experience of caring for your pet’s body after death is different for everyone. Some find it very rewarding, while others can find it overwhelming or distressing. Please be gentle with yourself and plan ahead to have the support you may need in place in advance. You are responsible for knowing and following the regulations (federal, state, municipal) concerning burial. Also, due to the medications used in this process, it is important to follow the regulations/recommendations when burying the body to avoid risks of negative effects on yourself, other pets, wildlife, and the water supply. You can find more information on the considerations for burial at the link below.
Caring for a body after death can also present some unique challenges, especially if you are not used to doing so.
- Our brains are very used to seeing an animal breathe, so it is not uncommon after an animal has passed to think you are seeing breaths. Our veterinarians will make sure your pet has passed prior to leaving, but we are more than willing to provide any reassurance you need during the appointment or even after.
- When moving the body, the natural changes in pressure/force can result in the release of urine and/or fecal material, and occasionally the generation of noises from retained air in the chest.
- After death, there is no tension left in the muscles, so the neck and limbs will be very loose. This can be disturbing to observe if care is not taken when attempting to move the body. A strong flat material (like a blanket) is recommended to help aid in moving larger animals gently.
- Rigor mortis (the “locking” of muscles and joints in place) usually occurs within 1-3 hours after death, but it can happen even sooner and can last for several days. So it is recommended to arrange your pet’s body into the desired final resting position as quickly as possible to avoid issues.
Memory Items
Should you desire to make any adjustments to the urn or other items for {PATIENT NAME}, the crematorium that we partner with, Forrest Run, has a lot of various options available. You can view those at the following page https://www.forrestrunpettributes.com/services-products/. If you desire to purchase any of those items, you can do so by making arrangements with Forest Run directly. Their phone number is (920) 989-2600.
Payment Information
Payment for our services is due at the time of appointment. We accept cash, check, and card (no fee added) and do offer financing through ScratchPay and CareCredit. Note that if you do elect to pay with cash, we ask that you have the exact amount, as we are unable to provide change. Checks can be made out to “Healing Touch”.
The morning of your appointment, we will send an email to view your invoice in order to ensure we have understood your wishes correctly. There is an option to pre-pay by card via a link in that email. If this form is for a same-day appointment, we will text a link to view the appointment total and give you the option to pre-pay should you desire to do so shortly after we have received this complete form.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out and ask. You can email us at office@healingtouchpetcare.com or call us at (920) 399-2099. You may also text us at (920) 789-2820.
We are here to support you in any way that we can.
Sincerely,
The Healing Touch Staff