Here at Whitemud Crossing Animal Hospital we understand how incredibly difficult it can be to make the decision to say goodbye to your beloved pet. We offer compassionate euthanasia services to help ease the pain of parting with your furry friend and preserve their memory and dignity. On this page we have tried to curate the most important information to help you navigate what can be the greatest challenge in loving a pet, saying goodbye.
When is the "right" time?
Understanding when it may be time to let your pet go can be an extremely difficult decision often requiring that many factors are considered. As your veterinary professionals, we are here to help support you in making the decision that is right for your pet considering their quality of life and wellbeing. If you are struggling to determine if the time is right, a good place to start is scheduling a quality of life consultation with one of our doctors. From here we can discuss if euthanasia is in the best of interest of your pet and help you proceed appropriately.
If you are a new client interested in booking a euthanasia for your pet, we may recommend bringing them in for a quality of life consultation prior to proceeding with euthanasia. This allows us to better understand your pet's situation and how we can best support you and them. If you are ready to say goodbye, it may then be decided to proceed with euthanasia following the quality of life consultation.
What to Expect
Once a euthanasia appointment has been scheduled for your pet, here is what you can prepare to encounter during the appointment:
When you arrive for your appointment, a team member will bring your pet to our treatment room to place an IV catheter. The IV catheter makes administering the drugs directly into the vein easier, allowing for a smoother appointment. Once the IV catheter is placed, we will return your pet to the exam room with you and your loved ones so they can be with you for the remainder of the procedure. When you are ready to proceed, the doctor will start by administering a sedative which will help your pet feel very relaxed and sleepy. The doctor will administer the second, and final injection, which would put them to final rest.
Some pets may release their bladder or bowels, or may even twitch or have one last loud breath. These signs are normal, but can be upsetting to witness. While you are absolutely welcome to stay for the whole procedure, if you wish to leave at any time just let a team member know.
After Care: Cremation Options
Once you have said your goodbyes, you can let a team member know when you are ready to depart the clinic by pressing one of the doorbells located in our exam rooms. We will then take over the care of your pet. For aftercare, we work with Gateway Pet Memorial for cremation services. There are two basic options to choose from; communal and private.
For communal cremation, multiple pets are cremated together and then the ashes are scattered on private farmland southeast of Camrose. (Bordering the Camrose Nature Conservation Centre, which you can go to if you wish to be close by. The private lands are not accessible to the public at this time.)
For private cremation, your pet is cremated separately, on their own, and the ashes will be returned to you in a scatter tube.
Additionally, there are also special urns and keepsakes available as well.
We find that taking care of the paperwork and aftercare decision making ahead of time leaves our clients with more time to focus on their pet the day of. During emergency situations this may not be possible, but we will still take the time you need to go through the forms and answer any of your questions.
If you have any questions about whether this is the right choice for you and your pet, concerns about quality of life, or anything else regarding the procedure, we are here to help. We know that making this decision is not easy, even when you are sure it is the right thing to do.
