Frequently Asked Questions

We recommend pre-booking an appointment to ensure availability, however we can often facilitate urgent bookings. If you need a same day euthanasia appointment please contact us on 07933819898.

A full list of our prices for home euthanasia can be found here. If you want a quality of life assessment for your pet to help you to decide if it’s time for euthanasia more information along with pricing can be found here.

There are a variety of benefits to having your pet put to sleep at home:
• Your pet will be more comfortable in their own surroundings
• Your pet doesn’t have to go into the vets which may cause them stress
• You can grieve in privacy within your own home
• You can choose to spend your pet’s last moments somewhere meaningful, for example under their favourite tree in the garden or on the sofa they like to sleep on
• Our vets will have an hour to spend with you and your pet to ensure everything is as calm and peaceful as possible

Some insurance companies cover the cost in full or contribute towards the cost of euthanasia and cremation. Check your policy documents or call your insurance company to check this.

We are currently unable to support direct claims, therefore you would be required to pay for the appointment up front and claim back from your insurer.

If you’re not sure of your pet’s weight, an estimated weight is ok, or we can go off the average weight for their breed. Your pet’s weight determines how much medication we use, so it’s important to be as accurate as possible. If we attend an appointment and find that a pet’s weight has been significantly underestimated there may be additional charges. If you’re not sure about your pets weight we can help you determine their weight category at the time of booking. 

We currently accept payment via bank transfer or payment link. Please note that appointments must be paid for in advance. We are unable to accept cash.

Our full cancellation policy can be found here.

Your pet isn’t classed as being ‘under our care’ until the vet has attended the appointment, so if your pet needs veterinary attention leading up to the appointment you still need to contact your usual vet practice or, if it’s out of hours, your closest out of hours vets. If you’re not sure who your out of hours vets are most practices have this listed on their website or provide details on a recorded phone message when you call out of hours. You can also search for veterinary practices here: https://findavet.rcvs.org.uk/find-a-vet-practice/

If your pet deteriorates and you want to move your euthanasia appointment to a date or time that is sooner please contact us on 07933819898 and we will try our best to accommodate this.

The answer to this question varies depending on your pet and isn’t easy to answer in a short paragraph. Please look at our Quality of Life page for ways to assess and monitor your pet and signs it may be time to consider euthanasia.

Our Quality of Life page has more comprehensive information on this topic, however some signs of your pet having reduced quality of life include:
• Changes to appetite and thirst, for example not wanting to eat or drink, or being so ravenous or thirsty that they eat or drink constantly without feeling satisfied
• Being unable to toilet properly or soiling themselves
• Having vomiting or diarrhoea often
• Losing lots of weight or muscle mass
• Not enjoying things they once did, for example playing or going for walks
• Having trouble moving around (e.g. being unable to jump up onto sofa or go upstairs if this is something they could previously do) or needing assistance to move around
• Having pain that isn’t manageable with medication or other treatments (it’s important to note that pets hide pain very well)
• Changes to their behaviour or demeanour, for example showing signs of aggression, hiding a lot, not engaging with you as much
• Not cleaning themselves as much (they may have a greasy or matted coat)

If you need further guidance on whether your pet has good quality of life then please look at our Quality of Life page. You can also book a Quality of Life assessment with one of our vets here.

The answer to this question depends on several factors;
• Your pet’s health conditions and whether there are appropriate treatments
• Your pet’s overall quality of life and whether treatments are likely to improve this
• Your wishes relating to your pet’s health and whether you want to pursue further treatments or whether you feel that this wouldn’t be in their best interests

Deciding on whether to pursue further treatment or consider euthanasia can be confusing. Our Quality of Life page has resources to help with this decision. Additionally, we offer Quality of Life assessments to help you to make decisions whilst putting your pet’s quality of life and welfare first.

Your pet’s usual vet has experience of managing your pet and is able to access their medical history, therefore they are well placed to help you decide whether euthanasia is appropriate. However, if you want a fresh set of eyes or to speak to someone impartial we offer Quality of Life Assessments.

1. Consultation: The vet will greet you and your pet and discuss the consultation. They will explain the euthanasia process and address any questions or concerns you have. 
2. Sedation: The vet will give your pet a sedative. This helps your pet to be relaxed during the procedure. 
3. Euthanasia: The vet will administer the final medication to help your pet pass away. This is painless. Your pet will normally die within a few minutes, however it is often much faster. The vet will listen to your pet’s heart to ensure it has stopped. 
4. Aftercare: Depending on your chosen option for aftercare for your pet they will be collected, you can take them to the crematorium, or bury them at home. The vet can also answer any questions you have about how the procedure went. If you find you are struggling after the death of your pet, we have listed some resources here.

We account for each appointment taking an hour to ensure that your pet receives the best care and that you don’t feel rushed, however the whole process often takes around 30 minutes from the vet arriving to your pet passing away.

No. Euthanasia is peaceful and painless. Your pet will be given a sedative injection to allow them to pass peacefully. This can rarely cause some mild discomfort, but this only lasts for seconds and means that your pet will not feel any further pain. Our vets are very experienced in dealing with pets who are fearful and will do all they can to minimise any stress for your pet. The sedative combination chosen will take this into account and help to relax your pet.

Keeping the environment calm and quiet is the most important thing. Familiarity will help your pet cope better. If your pet is still eating having some of their favourite treats nearby can be helpful to distract them during the sedative. Playing soothing music or familiar television in the background can help your pet feel settled. Having them on their favourite bed or blanket can keep them calm. Our vets will be patient and gentle with your pet.

We use sedation as it allows your pet to relax, often they drift off whilst being cuddled by their owners and are peaceful and unaware of the rest of the process. Sedation also means that the vet is able to administer the final drug without needing to restrain your pet, this means your pet feels no stress and that you can focus fully on your pet instead of having to hold them still for the vet. In rare cases where pets are so poorly that they are unresponsive we may proceed without sedation.

This is a very personal question and there’s no universal answer. Consider if there is anything you want to do with your pet that you haven’t yet done, for example taking them to the beach for a last time or feeding them their favourite food. Talk to friends and family members about your situation. If you’re unsure you’re making the right decision speak to your vet or, if you feel it would help, book a quality of life assessment with one of our vets. The decision will never be an easy one, however making sure you feel it is the right decision can help with some of the feelings of guilt and anxiety that can arise as you grieve your pet.

Supporting a child through pet loss depends largely on the individual, including their age and understanding of death and euthanasia. Generally, being very honest with the child about what is happening, giving them time to process this and say goodbye, and including them in memorialising the pet can help them grieve.

We can offer you some pet-related activities, such as breed-specific colouring pages, to give to your child. Writing letters or colouring in the pages can help children process their feelings.

If you feel the vet wearing scrubs would be overwhelming please let us know in advance and they can wear normal clothes.

Absolutely. You are more than welcome to be with your pet for the whole procedure. The vet will discuss the process with you when they arrive and establish if you want to be present for everything. You can also leave at any point if it becomes too overwhelming.

It is your choice whether your child is present for the euthanasia. Children vary massively in both their maturity and understanding of death and euthanasia. Your judgement on whether it is appropriate for them to be there will be respected. If your child would like to be present for part of the procedure but not others just make the vet aware. It may also be useful if you let the vet know any language you’d like them to use or avoid using (such as heaven etc) to minimise the distress to your child.

Pets who are unwell or have been given sedation can sometimes be unpredictable and may bite or scratch due to pain or feeling confused. It is your responsibility to ensure your child is kept safe throughout the procedure.

The euthanasia of a pet is one of the most difficult things you will experience as a pet owner. It is important that you experience it in the way that makes it the least distressing for yourself. If you choose not to be present for some or all of the euthanasia, that is absolutely fine. The vet will make sure your pet feels no stress and will comfort your pet during the procedure. If you feel strongly that you don’t want to experience the actual euthanasia procedure, we will support you in that fully, with compassion and understanding.

This is absolutely fine, you can have as many or as few people present as you feel comfortable with, as long as the vet is able to access your pet easily and your pet isn’t stressed by people being there.

If you feel your other pets would benefit from being present at the euthanasia we can facilitate this. Pets grieve just like humans and for many pets seeing their companion after they’ve passed away appears to help with that process. We often recommend other pets are placed in another room whilst the sedation is administered and, depending on temperament, for the actual euthanasia, however we will assess this on a case by case basis after speaking with you and greeting your pets. Even if we recommend your other pet(s) not be present for the actual euthanasia they can see their companion after they have died.

We are extremely skilled in managing a variety of behavioural needs. Our lead vet Laura has a masters degree in Clinical Animal Behaviour as well as vast experience in managing veterinary behaviour cases at referral level. Please let us know any concerns you have regarding your pet’s behaviour prior to the appointment and we can formulate a plan. If your pet has previously shown aggression to people entering the house, or to vets, please let us know so we can help manage this. We won’t turn your pet away if they’ve shown aggression in the past, we will just implement safety measures whilst making the whole process as peaceful as possible.

If your pet has had difficulties with vets in the past just let us know at the time of booking and we can formulate a plan. This might involve the vet wearing normal clothes instead of scrubs, or safety measures being put in place. We will do whatever we need to do to minimise any stress and make the appointment as peaceful for your pet as possible.

Some pets will close their eyes but not all do. Your pet keeping their eyes open does not mean that they felt any pain or fear during the process.

Deciding on the timing of euthanasia is a decision that no pet owner takes lightly. We understand that your pet’s condition may change day by day and you may want to move the appointment. If you have an appointment booked and change your mind it would be subject to our cancellation and amendment policy. 

If the vet has already attended your home, you still have the right to change your mind during the appointment, however once the sedative has been given we cannot guarantee that your pet will wake back up, especially if they are elderly or unwell. The vet may also have other appointment commitments and cannot stay with you to monitor your pet. For this reason, we class the administration of the sedation as the start of the euthanasia procedure. 

You have a variety of options based on your preferences, circumstances and beliefs.

Home burial: Bury your pet at your home. A guide on home burial can be found here. 

Cremation: We work with a network of excellent, award winning crematoriums who can take care of your pet after euthanasia. There are several options depending on your location and preferences. All of the crematoriums we work with can collect your pet’s body from your home. Alternatively if you wish to take your pet to the crematorium yourself this can usually be arranged. You may also prefer to arrange your own cremation services, just let us know your preference.

Pet Cemetery: You may choose to bury your pet at a pet cemetery.

We provide a paw print and fur clipping free of charge. This is performed at the end of the appointment. Some of our partner crematoriums also provide this if you would prefer to have this carried out after your pet has been taken.

We understand that the euthanasia appointment may be a bit of a blur and that as you process your grief you may have questions about the actual appointment. We are more than happy to answer any questions you may have. Please contact us here.

There are some excellent support options available. Our page on bereavement support has more details.

Losing a pet is difficult, it is normal to feel a range of emotions afterwards, ranging from sadness to guilt and even relief. Some people find that the feeling of relief they get at the thought of their pet no longer being unwell or in pain can cause them to feel additional guilt. It is completely normal to feel all of these things and it’s natural to wonder if you made the right decision. Our vets will always speak to you when they arrive at the appointment to get an idea of what has been affecting your pet and they can reassure you that you are making the kindest decision for your pet.

Pet grief is an individual experience and will last different lengths of time for everyone. It is very normal to still grieve for your pet weeks, months or even years after they have died. Whilst grief is difficult to manage, it is a normal response to losing a loved one. If you find that grief is interfering with your every day life, lasting much longer than you expected or having a significant impact on your overall health, contact your GP.

If you feel you are at risk of harming yourself please seek emergency help by calling 111 or 999. 

Welcoming another pet into the family following loss can be healing, however deciding when it’s the right time to do this is very individual. There is no right or wrong answer, some people feel the need to bring another pet into the house right away whilst others need more time before welcoming a new family member. The most important thing is to make sure the timing feels right for you and your family.