September 15, 2025
By Paige Adams, DVM
Losing a beloved pet is one of the most challenging experiences any pet owner will face. The love and connection shared with a pet make the decision to let them go all the more heart-wrenching. I’ve had a number of clients who were very fearful or unsure of euthanasia due to fear of the unknown. Understanding the euthanasia process, what to consider when making end of life decisions, and feeling a bit more prepared overall can provide clarity and comfort during this emotional time. The goal of this article is to aid pet owners in knowing what to consider when making end of life decisions as well as what to expect throughout the process.
Here is a step-by-step guide to help you know what to expect when saying goodbye to your cherished companion
Recognizing When It’s time
The decision to euthanize a pet is deeply personal and often guided by their quality of life. We, as humans who love our pets, often try not to see the bad days, but it’s important to know what to look for even when we don’t want to. Factors to consider are chronic pain, decreased mobility, lack of appetite, lethargy, or any difficulty or changes in their breathing, and more.
There are a number of quality of life scales available to help sort through the daily life of your pet and make it more clear what constitutes a good vs. poor quality of life. Your veterinarian is also a great resource and can help assess your pets condition to talk through what’s going on with their health.
I often advise clients to pick their pets 5 favorite activities and when they stop doing 3 of the 5, it’s time to consider their quality of life and if they are truly living life vs just existing.
Remember, you don’t have to face this decision alone. Lean on your support system and the professionals who care about your pet’s well-being as much as you do.
Preparing for the Appointment
Choosing where you would like to be when the procedure takes place is an important factor to consider. Some people want to be at home in a familiar room, while others prefer to be at the veterinary clinic, or even in an outside yard space. Some veterinarians offer in-home euthanasia services, or in our area we often refer clients to a veterinary practice that focuses solely on in-home euthanasia as their only service offered.
Once you know where you would like to say goodbye, the next factor to consider is the timing of when. Some people like to schedule a few days in advance so they can prepare, while other people want to make a spur of the moment decision. Depending on where you fall in that range will depend on how you go about choosing the timing. Speaking with your veterinarian about this would be the best option so you know what is available to you.
I talk to clients about giving their pets the best day ever before having to say goodbye. For some this may be eating a fast food hamburger, getting ice cream, watching squirrels in the park or birds out the window. You can also make sure your pet is surrounded by familiar things such as a special toy or blanket, or even one of your shirts so they are comforted by your scent.
If your pet is anxious you can talk to your vet about pre-procedure sedation and if anything like that would be available or something they would recommend.
The Appointment
The process and specific procedure steps will vary depending on your veterinarian, your pet, and if there are any other medical or emotional considerations. The next bit of information will be in relation to a typical appointment that is planned in advance for humane euthanasia of a pet. The entire process unfolds at a pace chosen by the owner, ensuring that everyone involved feels comfortable and supported at every step.
- Sedation: We will always give the pet an injection of a sedative medication to ensure they are calm and comfortable. If the pet is extra anxious and it’s discussed beforehand there is an option for oral sedation as well so no stress is associated with arriving at our clinic or initial care. Not all veterinarians will give sedation, but I find it is extremely beneficial for the pets and people to have a calm and relaxing experience. The sedation will induce a deep relaxation where the pet is unaware of anything else that happens from that point forward.
- IV Catheter Placement: Once the pet has been sedated and is nice and sleepy, the veterinary team will place an IV catheter in their leg for access to a vein. At our clinic this can be done in the room with the owners if they choose, or if they prefer to not see this we can step out of the room with the pet for those few minutes. Once the catheter is placed, the owners can decide if they are ready for the veterinarian to come in for the next steps or if they would like to spend more time alone with the pet.
- The Final Goodbye : The veterinarian will come back into the room with the medication used for euthanasia. In most cases this is a solution of pentobarbital sodium and phenytoin sodium. I always make sure to go through the process verbally with owners and make sure to answer any questions that may have come up.
I let people know I give two injections, one is sterile saline to check the catheter, then the second is the final injection of euthanasia solution. The second injection is given slowly over a few minutes and in my experience changes in the pet occur once about ½ – ¾ of the solution has been administered. The first change is often the pet will stop breathing, sometimes they will take a deep breath as their last breath, but not always. Once the pet stops breathing there are not many other visible changes, but their body will slowly shut down and they should calmly pass away. When the solution has all been administered, the veterinarian will listen with a stethoscope to ensure the pet has passed. Once confirmed, the veterinarian should let the owner know.
At this time, some people want to talk about their pet for a while, others want more alone time, and a few are ready to go ahead and say their final goodbye. At this time you will be able to do whatever feels right for you, just let your veterinarian know.
- Aftercare Options: There are a few options for aftercare of the body once a pet has passed away. The most common is cremation, but some owners choose to bury the pet at home or do Aquamation, which is a more eco-friendly option similar to traditional cremation. Most veterinarians also offer memorial keepsake options such as paw print impressions, nose print impressions, tufts of hair, specialty urns, etc. You can discuss with your veterinarian the available options you may be interested in.
Coping with Grief
The loss of a pet is deeply painful. This day in age animals are family members and often viewed as children, especially to those who don’t have human children. The love we share with animals is unconditional and knows no bounds. I recommend giving yourself time to grieve and seek support from friends, family, and other loved ones to help you through this time. There are some pet loss support groups and that can be helpful for some people too. I don’t put a timeline on grief and even years down the road it’s normal for something to bring up a memory. Our pets may no longer be with us in the physical sense, but they will always be with us in our hearts and minds.
Final Thoughts
Euthanasia is a humane and compassionate choice to end suffering, but it’s never a simple or easy decision. It will never feel “right” and there will always be an edge of discomfort associated with being the one to make that final choice. Hopefully by understanding the process and knowing what to expect you can be provided with peace of mind and comfort knowing what this will look like and how it’ll happen. Not every euthanasia is the same and there can be complications, but under most circumstances the process described above is quite accurate.
If you have any questions, I recommend speaking with your veterinarian and they can talk about the process in their own words and how they do things differently as well.
Though the pain of loss is deep, it is a reflection of the profound love you shared with your pet. That love will continue to shape your life in meaningful ways and one day you will meet again across the Rainbow Bridge 🌈❤️