Deciding when to say goodbye to your beloved pet is never easy. We offer at home pet euthanasia services and quality of life assessments to help you make informed decisions. If you’re unsure, we can provide guidance on improving your pet’s overall health and comfort.
We want the experience to be as peaceful for your pet and your family as possible. Using our expertise in animal behaviour, we will ensure your pet is comfortable and you and your family share a meaningful farewell.
There are no additional fees for same day booking and no mileage fees within Greater Manchester. Please note that all prices include an optional free paw print and fur clipping from your pet.
How much does home euthanasia cost?
| Pet Weight | Monday to Sunday 8AM to 5PM | Monday to Sunday 5PM to 8PM |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 5kg | £230 | £280 |
| 5.1 to 10kg | £250 | £300 |
| 10.1 to 25kg | £260 | £310 |
| 25.1 to 50kg | £270 | £320 |
| 50.1kg or more | £280 | £330 |
What actually happens at a home euthanasia appointment?
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 question 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.
Have questions?
We’ve answered some of the most common questions below, but don’t hesitate to contact us for guidance or special requests. A comprehensive list of FAQs can be found 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. Administering a sedative also helps them to feel calmer.
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 consultation 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.
Absolutely. The vet will discuss the process with you when they arrive and establish if you want to be present for all of it. You are more than welcome to be with your pet for the full procedure.
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.
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 and our lead vet Laura has vast experience in behavioural medicine. 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.