At-Home Euthanasia and Resources

While this may not be a happy, joyful post, it’s a necessary one. Please, bookmark this post for when you need it. I hope you don’t need it any time soon, but when you do, come back here. And, be sure to share this post with friends who need it now. I am a certified end-of-life companion animal doula and as part of my resources for those clients, I’m often guiding them and supporting them on their end-of-life arrangements, both for euthanasia and aftercare. You can read more about my service offerings here.

While I know at-home euthanasia isn’t always an option, I do believe that when it is an option, that it is the best option for both the animals we love and the humans. If you’re doing a behavioral euthanasia, I strongly encourage you to consider doing this at home. 

Why do I support at-home euthanasia?

• Control. Doing at-home euthanasia allows you to plan for and control the final moments, instead of potentially having to rush off to an emergency vet. While planning this can be stressful, it also allows you to spend some final days doing a bucket list or having loved ones visit your ailing pet before saying goodbye. We did this with both Barbo and BooBoo and those final days are some of the most treasured moments I have.
• Comfort. At-home euthanasia also provides a more comfortable and peaceful experience for everyone, especially animals who may be fearful of car rides, being crated or going to the vet. Doing euthanasia at home allows your loved one to be in a familiar, comfortable setting, surrounded by their family. This is especially helpful for animals who may have stranger danger and are stressed by lots of unfamiliar people. Cats especially tend to not do well being removed from their home territory, so this can be very helpful for cats. 
• Safety. Having to not drive to a vet’s office is also something to not overlook the benefit of, both for pets who may have anxiety with car rides or who may be in pain that could be exacerbated by a bumpy ride. Plus, then you, a grieving pet parent, doesn’t have to drive home immediately afterwards, which could be potentially unsafe. 
• Creating peace.  At-home euthanasia gives you the opportunity, if you want to, to stage a loving and peaceful goodbye, with your pet’s favorite bed, toys or blanket to bring them comfort or possibly surrounding them with music, flowers or candles.
• Less chaos. At-home euthanasia allows the vet to focus just on you and your pet, without the distractions and noise of the vet clinic. And it allows you to focus on your pet in their final moments without hearing all the sounds of a clinic. This personalized attention and support is key. 
• Privacy. These final moments are sacred and an at-home euthanasia allows you to grieve privately, stay with the body for as long as you want, without being rushed or having to deal with the potential embarrassment of walking through a waiting room with strangers gawking at you in your grief, as you’re crying after having just said goodbye. Additionally, if local laws permit, you can then bury your animal without having to drive their body home.
• Inclusion. At-home euthanasia gives other pets or children the option to be present. They can always remove themselves (and should never be forced to witness it if they don’t want to) but the option to be present is there. Bringing other pets to a vet office may not be an option in many cases. And, children may be conflicted on whether to be present or not and could miss the opportunity if they initially opt out or be uncomfortable once they arrived at the vet’s office.

What are the potential downsides to at-home euthanasia?

• Planning. At-home euthanasia requires planning and many will feel uncomfortable planning their animal’s euthanasia day or feel like they’re doing it prematurely and struggle with guilt over this. I remind people we never want our animals to suffer and it’s better to say goodbye a day early, than an hour late. Failure to plan could mean a chaotic rush to the emergency vet in the middle of the night, and this will no doubt be much more stressful and guilt-ridden than planning ahead of time.
• The place. Many people are uncomfortable with the idea of their animal dying in their home, or are worried about having an association to “the spot” where their animal was euthanized. For these clients I encourage them to consider outside, or their animal’s favorite spot. While there may still be an association, it’s easier to remember “this was Fluffy’s favorite spot” and take comfort in the fact that they were sent off in a place they were comfortable and loved to be in, rather than in a vet’s office. I can say while I have distinct associations of where each of them was euthanized, I find it connecting to be able to return to that spot in my home to connect with them when I’m sad or missing them.
• Cost. At-home may be more expensive than in-office euthanasia. Lap of Love offers their Angel Fund for those with financial limitations and there may be other options that are worth discussing when you’re researching options.
• Severe medical needs. If your pet is critically ill, has been in the hospital receiving life-sustaining care like oxygen, removing them from that may be detrimental and cause more pain and suffering, so these animals would not be candidates for at-home euthanasia.

I encourage you to be proactive and think about what arrangements you would like for your animal, even if they’re not old or sick. Accidents happen. Cancer happens, even to young animals. That’s why I created my Companion Animal Advance Care Directive. It’s sort of like your pet’s living will and will prompt you to think about different scenarios and what you are willing and able to do, and what you’re not. Download it for free here. 

If you are struggling with knowing if it’s time, I have resources here or you can set up a doula session with me and we can talk through things, plan for memorialization and aftercare. I would be honored to help you and your animal navigate this difficult time.

In the meantime, I’ve compiled this list of at-home euthanasia vets, both national vet services and a growing list of regional vets (which will continue to be updated). If you have a vet to recommend, please contact me and let me know. I’d love to add them to my list.

Love to you all. I’m sorry you’re going through this most difficult time.