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  The Gift of Euthanasia
Your pet has been there for you through your toughest days, and although it is a painful decision to make, euthanasia is often the kindest gift you can give to your pet. It is an end to their pain and suffering.
Euthanasia performed in your home allows you to control every aspect of your pets final moments. Your pet can be in the environment that they are most comfortable and loved. |
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Prior to the Procedure:
After introductions, the veterinarian and technician will be happy to address any of your questions or concerns. Any of your particular wishes for the appointment can be brought up at this or anytime throughout the appointment. Our staff is very knowledgeable and can answer any of your questions as they arise. It is important that you are comfortable with what is happing with your pet, so please ask us questions.
Sedation:
Every pet will receive sedation/anesthesia prior to euthanasia. Since every pet is different, we have several different types of sedation and anesthesia so that we can choose the right protocol for your individual pet and situation. Pain medications are a part of our protocol as well, so your pet will be comfortable. Most of the time, sedation will help your pet to take a nap, though sometimes it just makes them very sleepy but awake. Either way, they are pain free and very comfortable in your arms.
The sedation will be administered by an intramuscular injection. This injection can cause minor discomfort as any injection would, but the discomfort will only last moments and is completely gone by the time the injection is done. This will be the only momentary discomfort felt by your pet during the entire appointment.
What the Pet will Experience:
Euthanasia means inducing the death of an animal in a humane and painless manner. The euthanasia drug that is used is a very common anesthetic agent, one that is used regularly in veterinary and human hospitals. If you have ever had surgery, you should remember the anesthesiologist asking you to count backwards from 10, then you drift off to sleep. This is exactly how your pet will feel. The only difference is euthanasia will use an extreme overdose of the anesthetic agent which will cause your pets heart to stop.
After the Injection:
Your pet will drift to sleep within seconds of starting the IV injection. He or she will pass within seconds after the injection is given. The veterinarian will listen to your pet after the euthanasia has been given and will let you know when your pet has passed, however you will likely already know. |
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The Grieving Process
Remember to talk to family members about how they are grieving. If they are not ready to talk, that is okay, too. Try to remember that everyone greives differently. One way to try and help someone open up would be to share funny stories about your pet. Was he/she a good puppy or kitten?
At the time of euthanasia, each family will receive a clay paw print to remember their beloved pet, along with pet loss and grief information.
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