Peaceful Pet Euthanasia

Owning a pet can be a fantastic and rewarding experience and, for many, our pets become part of the family.

When the time comes to let them go it can be incredibly sad.

Animal Ark Vets are here to help you through this difficult time.

Contact our Client Care Team and we will do our best to make it as easy on you and pet as a possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it the right time?

It is never an easy decision to make and, understandably, it is a concern most pet owners have. You know your own pet best and you will know when they are no longer happy, and no longer following their normal routine.

However, it often helps to talk this decision through, and our vets and nurses will listen to you and help you to make the right decision, at the right time, for you and your pet.

What will happen at my appointment?

Euthanasia is a very humane process. In essence we give your pet an injection of an anaesthetic agent into their vein. This means your pet will very quickly fall asleep.

At this stage, they cannot feel any pain and will not be aware of anything. The dose of the injection given means your pet will then pass away, in peace.

Once you have made the decision to let your pet go you just need to let us know. We can then help to make all other arrangements. We will arrange an appointment at a time to suit you and with your own vet where possible, when you arrive for your appointment we have a private room for you to spend personal time with your pet to say goodbye.

We need to have your written consent to let your pet go and so we will go through a consent form with you. To keep the process as stress free as possible for your pet, we may place a catheter into your pet’s leg. This is to ensure we have good access to their vein for the injection.

If your pet is distressed, we may discuss giving them a sedative prior to their injection. If either of these are necessary your vet will discuss this with you and explain why they think it may help your pet.

There is no obligation to stay with your pet while we let them go. However, if you would like to stay you are very welcome to do so and you will have the opportunity to spend some alone time to say your final goodbyes.

What happens to my pet after?

Once your pet has passed away there are a few options available to you.

Home Burial

You may choose to take your pet home for burial. Please consider whether you will be able to dig a large and deep enough grave for your pet and that you own the land where the grave will be.

Cremation

If you choose to have your pet cremated they will be collected from our clinic and taken to Cambridge Pet Crematorium.

You may choose to have your pet cremated with other pets; their ashes will then be buried in the garden of remembrance at the crematorium. Alternatively, you may choose to have your pet cremated individually and their ashes returned to you.

We can arrange for your pet’s ashes to be returned in a scatter box or in a casket or urn to keep.