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End of Life Care
Evaluating Quality of Life
Determining your pet’s quality of life can be very challenging. There is no hard and fast rule to determine when it is time to consider euthanasia, and many animals are very skilled at hiding signs of illness or pain. The link below outlines some important ways to evaluate quality of life at home. We also encourage you to schedule a consultation with a doctor to examine your pet for signs of pain or discomfort and to have an open and honest discussion about end of life care.
Hospice Care
In many cases, we can greatly improve a pet’s quality of life with medications such as pain relievers. Lots of old and arthritic dogs can gain a new lease on life and live comfortably for considerable lengths of time if provided with pain relief. Urinary incontinence can often be controlled with medications. Some diseases and even cancers can be managed for at least a period of time with appropriate management. If you are seeing signs of pain or disease (weight loss, change in appetite, change in activity, etc), the first step is to consult with a doctor. Once we have examined your pet and found a diagnosis (which may require further testing such as blood work or x-rays), we can discuss options for management as well as what to watch for or expect longer-term. Even in cases where there is no “cure” for the problem, medications for pain or clinical signs can have a huge impact on your pet’s quality of life and make their twilight period comfortable and happy.
Euthanasia: What To Expect
Euthanasia is probably the most difficult decision you will ever have to make for your pet. Nothing will make the decision easier, but knowing what to expect can help soothe some fears and anxiety and gives needed information. We understand how difficult it can be to think about euthanasia. Most of us have faced the same hard questions with our own pets. Please don’t hesitate to ask any questions or voice any concerns that you have. We are here to help.
After Euthanasia / Care of Remains
When the decision is made to euthanize a pet, you will be asked a couple of questions about your wishes. We recommend considering ahead of time whether or not you wish to present during part or all of the euthanasia, as well as your wishes for care of remains. There are several options for pet owners, from home burial to cremation.
Home Burial
For pet owners wishing to bury their pet at home, we recommend checking with their city or county government for specific regulations. Home burial may not be legal in some areas, and should not be considered in any short-term housing. There are also specific requirements for burial to be certain distances from water supply lines or water tables etc.
Pets buried at home should be placed in a heavy-duty plastic bag (often can be provided by request from your veterinarian). The bag should be securely sealed within a sturdy container such as a wooden, sturdy plastic, or metal box. The container should be buried according to local regulations, but at least three to six feet deep. Otherwise other animals and wildlife may be attracted to the area.
Unless otherwise directed, animals euthanized at our hospital are placed in a plastic-lined cardboard casket for transport.
Pet Cemeteries
Burial in pet cemeteries is less common but is an available option.
Most regular cemeteries prohibit pet burial, but there are pet-specific cemeteries that provide this service. Many pet services provide both funeral home and burial services.
We do not have a particular place we recommend; instead we recommend searching either on-line or in the phone book under “Pet Cemeteries and Crematories”. This option will need to be researched ahead of time so we can accommodate specific needs.
Cremation Options
Cremation is another option for care of remains, with several different options and terms used to describe choices.
Private cremation means that your pet is the only animal being cremated, and the ashes are collected and returned to you. We will call you when the ashes are returned, usually in 1-2 weeks. Ashes may be preserved, buried, or scattered in special places depending on local regulations.
Semi-private cremation means that multiple pets are being cremated at the same time, but they are individually divided and ashes can be preserved and returned to you.
Non-private or group cremation means that there are multiple pets being cremated at the same time, so individual ashes cannot be preserved and are not returned to you.
Radiant Heart, formerly Life Cycles, is a local Bellingham facility that specializes in private and semi-private cremations with various options, including custom urns, paw impressions, nose prints, and the ability to witness cremations. Radiant Heart handles their own billing, and pets may be transported by the owner or by Radiant Heart staff. More information is available at https://www.radiant-heart.net/.
West Coast Pet Memorial, located in Sultan, WA, offers private and non-private cremation services. We work directly with West Coast Pet Memorial to handle these services on your behalf. If you select private cremation, ashes will be returned in an urn of your choosing with the option for a personalized engraving or nameplate. We will offer these selections at the time of your service.
No other extra options are available. West Coast Pet Memorial handles transport of both pets and ashes, return of which typically takes 1-2 weeks, and billing is handled by the veterinarian.
When ashes are returned to the clinic, we will give you a call.
If you have any questions about which option may be best for you, please give us a call at 360-354-5095.
Pet Loss Support
Different people experience different emotions after the death of a pet. Sadness, anger, denial, guilt, and grief are all very common feelings. It can be difficult to deal with these feelings, especially if those around you seem not to understand, but there are many resources available to help grieving owners to heal.
If at any time we can help answer questions or discuss concerns, even after your pet is gone, please do not hesitate to call. We are here to be a resource and support for you.
Please visit the link provided below for resources for grief support, and pet loss support hotlines.
Getting A New Pet: When Is It Time?
Different people heal at different speeds. For some, getting a new pet provides comfort and supports healing. For others, the idea of ever having another pet is impossible to contemplate. Regardless, it is important to view a new pet as its own individual and not a replacement for the previous beloved pet.
