Making the decision to have your pet put to sleep, due to intractable illness or suffering, can be one of the most difficult you may face as a pet owner.
Here at Nicklin Way Veterinary Surgery, we are all pet owners and understand how much a part of the family they are and how upsetting this time can be for you.
Knowing what to expect can help a little in alleviating the distress caused; this page is designed to do that.
Should you feel that you would also like to discuss any details with one of our staff, we are more than willing to take the time to do this, so please just call us.
When you call to book your appointment with us, we will try to arrange this at a quiet time of the day or toward the end of a consult session to avoid you waiting in reception for any length of time.
Should you prefer to wait in the privacy of your car, then this is no problem at all, just let us know you’ve arrived and we can come to let you know when the consult room is free. If you would prefer a home visit then this can be arranged.
The vet will usually spend a little time talking to you about your pet’s situation when you come into the room, please feel free to ask any questions you may have at this point. You will be asked to sign a consent form to show that you have given us permission to carry out the euthanasia.
If your pet is at all stressed or uncomfortable then we will often administer a gentle sedative to allow them to relax and feel calm, this can take up to 5-10 minutes to take effect. A form of anaesthetic is then given via injection and will allow your pet to slip peacefully away.
Although a nurse will help the vet during the procedure, we encourage the owner to reassure their animal and be with them during these moments if they feel they can. You may wish to spend some time alone with your pet after they have passed away, please take the time you need.
There are a number of options available to you for your pet’s final resting place. You may take your pet home for burial or prefer us to organise a cremation. If you wish for the latter but would like your pet’s ashes back, then we can arrange a private cremation with Pet Rest Cremations. The fee for Pet Rest Cremation services can be paid along with the fee from NWVS. When we receive your pet’s ashes back at the surgery if you choose this option, we will contact you to let you know, and look after them here until you are ready to collect them.
Losing a much loved pet can be hard to cope with, leaning on friends or family at these times can be a great support, but if you are struggling with coming to terms with it then we have contact details of dedicated support organisations which can help.
