FR
EN
Communal cremation
Your pet is cremated along with other companions; the ashes are not returned. It is a simple, dignified option.
Support guide · Dog and cat
End of life: the decision, euthanasia, and grief
Saying goodbye to a companion is one of the hardest parts of sharing your life with an animal. This guide explains, gently and honestly, how the decision is made, how euthanasia unfolds, and how to live through the grief. You do not have to carry this alone: we are here, every step of the way.
The decision
How do you know it is time?
There is no perfect moment, and no one ever finds it. What there is instead: a pattern of signs, your intimate knowledge of your pet, and an honest conversation with your veterinarian. That is more than enough to make a good decision.
Good days and bad days
A simple anchor: each evening, mark on a calendar whether the day was a good one or a bad one for your pet. When the bad days start outnumbering the good, or when the things they loved most (eating, playing, greeting you, curling up with you) no longer interest them, it is a sign that it is time to talk.
Our tool
Quality-of-life assessment
A few questions to help you put words to what you are seeing: appetite, sleep, mobility, joy, discomfort. You leave with a clear picture to bring to a consultation, for a more focused conversation.
Take the assessmentThe decision is made together
You do not have to decide alone. A consultation lets us assess your pet's pain and comfort, adjust care if there are still things worth trying, and talk it through honestly. Talking about it early does not rush anything: it lifts weight off your shoulders.
Grieving in advance is normal
Grief often begins before the goodbye: that is anticipatory grief. Feeling sadness, and even relief at the thought of suffering ending, does not make you someone who is giving up. It is a sign of how much you love them.
Preparing
Preparing for the appointment
Once the decision is made, a few simple choices make the moment gentler. Nothing is mandatory: tell us what matters to you, and we will arrange it.
The timing
We can plan a quiet time slot, so nothing feels rushed and you have all the time you need.
The people
Decide who will be there. A friend or relative can also come along simply to drive, or to support you.
The practicalities
If you wish, the decisions (cremation, keepsakes) and the payment can be settled in advance, so the moment can stay the moment.
The little things
A blanket that smells like home, a toy, their favourite treats: all of it is welcome.
If the clinic makes them anxious
If the car ride or the clinic stresses your pet, tell us: calming medication given at home, before you leave, can make the trip and the arrival much gentler.
The right to change your mind
Up to the very end, you can ask for a pause, ask questions, or postpone. No one will judge you.
What to expect
How euthanasia unfolds
Knowing what to expect takes away part of the fear. With us, euthanasia takes place at the clinic, and everything is designed for one thing: that your pet passes peacefully, free of pain and anxiety, surrounded by love.
Settling in
You are welcomed into a quiet room. Take the time you need to pet, to talk, to say goodbye. Nothing is rushed.
Sedation first
Your pet first receives a sedative, a small injection much like a vaccine. Within a few minutes they relax, then fall deeply asleep. It is often the gentlest moment: they drift off under your hands.
The final injection
Once your pet is deeply asleep, the veterinarian administers the euthanasia medication, most often intravenously. Consciousness fades within seconds, and the heart and breathing stop, usually within a few minutes. Your pet feels nothing: they are already deeply asleep.
Confirmation, and all the time you need
The veterinarian listens to the heart and gently confirms the passing. You can then stay with your pet for as long as you need.
What you might observe
After death, the body can show reflexes that are startling if you are not expecting them: eyes that stay open, one or two breathing movements, small muscle twitches, sometimes the release of the bladder. These are reflexes of the body, occurring when your pet is already unconscious: they are not signs of pain or distress.
Does it hurt?
No. The only sensation in the whole process is the first small injection, comparable to a vaccine or a blood draw. Everything else happens during a deep sleep.
Being present
Staying or stepping out: there is no wrong choice
Some people stay until the very end. Others prefer to say goodbye during sedation, then step out for the final injection. Others choose not to be present at all. Every one of these choices is worthy of respect, and your pet will never be alone: our team stays by their side.
What about children?
Children feel real grief, and they cope better with what is explained to them in true words. Say "died" and "dying" rather than "went away" or "was put to sleep": a child who is told their pet "went to sleep" may wait for them to come back, or become afraid of sleep itself. Explain simply: the veterinarian gives a medicine that stops the heart, it does not hurt, and the pet will not suffer anymore. Depending on their age and their wishes, let them choose whether to be there, and give them a chance to say goodbye, before or after.
What about the other pets at home?
The animals left behind often react to a companion's passing: searching, changes in appetite or sleep, clingier behaviour. If your pet is calm and it is possible, letting them see and sniff the body for a few moments may help them understand; most simply sniff, then walk away. It is not required, though, and it should be avoided if the death was related to a contagious disease. In the weeks that follow, keep routines steady and offer attention without forcing it.
Afterwards
The body and the keepsakes
You do not have to decide in a rush: the options can be chosen before the appointment, or on the day itself. We explain them without any pressure.
Private cremation
Your pet is cremated alone, and the ashes are returned to you in an urn. Tell us what you would like: we will walk you through the options.
Keepsakes
On request, we can prepare a memento: a paw print, a lock of fur. Just let us know, before or during the appointment.
If your pet passes away at home
Call us during our opening hours: we will guide you through the next steps, and the cremation and keepsake options remain the same. In the meantime, lay the body on a towel or blanket, ideally with a plastic layer underneath (the body may release a little urine: that is normal), in the coolest room you have. Outside our hours, most 24/7 emergency centres can also receive you.
Grief
A real grief, worth living through
The grief for a companion is real grief. Yet it is still too rarely recognized around us: people say "it was just a cat", "you can always get another one". Those words hurt, and they are wrong. You have lost a member of the family, and your sorrow is legitimate.
Grief does not keep a schedule
It comes in waves: manageable days, then an object, a time of day, the sound of a food bowl that tightens your chest. There are no mandatory stages and no normal duration. Take the time you need.
Guilt is common, and a poor advisor
"Did I decide too soon? Too late?" Almost everyone asks themselves these questions. They speak of your attachment, not of a fault. You decided out of love, with the information you had, to spare suffering: that is the very definition of deciding well.
When to seek help
If, after a few weeks, daily life is not restarting (sleep, appetite, work, isolation), or if dark thoughts appear, talk to someone: a loved one, your doctor, or one of the resources below. Seeking help for pet loss is as legitimate as for any other grief.
Resources, so you are not alone
Free resources we have verified:
FAQ
Your questions, our answers
The questions that come up most about end of life.
How do I know it is the right time?
No one finds the perfect moment, and waiting for it often prolongs suffering. In veterinary medicine we often say it: people rarely regret deciding a little early, and far more often regret waiting too long. Keep the good-days and bad-days calendar, take our quality-of-life assessment, and come talk to us: this decision is made together.
Wouldn't it be better to let them pass naturally?
It is a very common thought, and it comes from a good place: we picture a peaceful passing, during sleep. In reality, that ending is rare. A natural death more often unfolds over difficult days: the animal stops eating and drinking, weakens, breathes with effort. Euthanasia exists precisely to spare those final days. Choosing the moment is not a betrayal: it is the last act of care you can offer. And if you are torn, talk to us: comfort care also exists for the time that comes before.
Is euthanasia painful for the pet?
No. Your pet first receives a sedative and falls deeply asleep; the final medication is given during that sleep. The only sensation in the whole process is the first small injection, comparable to a vaccine or a blood draw.
Can I be present? Do I have to be?
You can be present for every step, part of it, or none of it: there is no wrong choice. If you prefer not to be there, our team stays with your pet, and you can see them afterwards if you wish.
Should children be there?
It depends on their age and their wishes: a child who was prepared and chose to be there generally copes well. What matters is using true words ("died", "dying"), explaining that the pet will not suffer, and giving them a chance to say goodbye, before or after.
My pet died at home. What should I do?
Call us during our opening hours: we will guide you through the next steps, and the cremation and keepsake options remain the same. In the meantime, lay the body on a towel or blanket, ideally with a plastic layer underneath (the body may release a little urine: that is normal), in the coolest room you have. Outside our hours, most 24/7 emergency centres can also receive you.
How much does it cost?
The fees depend on the options chosen, mostly the type of cremation. Call us: we will give you the information clearly, with no surprises. The decisions and the payment can be settled in advance, so you do not have to think about them that day.
How long does grief last?
There is no normal duration and no mandatory stages: grief comes in waves, and it generally softens with time. If daily life is not restarting after a few weeks, or if the distress settles in, talk to your doctor or call one of the resources in this guide: it is a legitimate grief, and it deserves support.
When should we adopt again?
When you and your family feel ready: there is no required delay, and no one "replaces" anyone. Some people need several months, others welcome a new companion to love sooner. Both are fine.
This guide is provided for information and support. It does not replace your veterinarian's personalized advice: every end-of-life situation is unique. At the slightest doubt, talk to our team; that is exactly what we are here for.
You are not alone
A worry, a decision drawing near, or simply the need to talk it through? Call us, or book a quality-of-life consultation. We will take the time.