text: Your Pet's Passing | Blacklion Pet Hospital | The Greystones Pet Vet
  We will always be here for you and will help and advise but in the end of the day the decision on when to let your pet go is entirely yours. If we feel you are making the decision too early we will tell you and advise to wait but in general our experience is that you will just know when the right time comes.
  The aim of euthanasia of a pet is a pain-free, dignified death with as little stress for the pet and as little upset for the owner as possible. None of us want our pet to die but when death is inevitable and when the quality of life remaining has passed what we feel is acceptable for our pet then leaving them go in a painless and gentle manner is the ultimate kindness.
  It can be valuable for a pet owner communicate with their vet beforehand to talk about any concerns they may have and how the process can happen in as stress-free a way as possible.
  The owner should if possible decide on burial versus cremation in advance of the euthanasia, and also if they wish to have their pet's ashes returned or not. We can discuss this with you in person or on the telephone.
  If when the times come you have not made a final decision we can of course care for your pets remains for a short period of time (up to 24 hours) to leave you decide.
  In general we place an intravenous catheter on a front leg. We then administer what is essentially an anaesthetic overdose of a barbiturate. Your pet will rapidly and painlessly fall asleep - to them this is exactly the same as if they were coming in for their teeth cleaned for example. Their last memory will be a gentle run and your loving embrace. Almost immediately after becoming unconscious breathing will stop and the heart will cease beating. At this stage they have passed on.
  On occasion we will use different methods but all are equally humane and painless. We may administer a sedation in advance or in cats and if they resent being handled we may administer an intra-peritoneal injection of the barbiturate. This will take a few minutes to take effect but is painless and humane. if we decide to advise this method it will be because we feel it will be less stressful for your pet than the intravenous method.