At The Hometown Veterinarian, we understand that facing the end of a pet’s life is one of the most difficult moments for any family. Our team is here to provide compassionate, respectful care, ensuring that your pet’s final days are as peaceful and comfortable as possible. From hospice care to euthanasia, we are here to support you in making decisions that honor your pet’s life and bring you peace of mind.

Compassionate End-of-Life Care

We offer guidance on end-of-life care to help your pet stay comfortable and maintain quality of life during this time. This at-home hospice care may include:

  • Pain Management: Keeping your pet pain-free is our priority, using multi-modal pain relief to ease discomfort.
  • Nutritional Support: We provide guidance on nutrition to help manage symptoms and maintain strength and comfort.
  • Hydration and Mobility Support: Assistance with hydration and mobility can help improve comfort and quality of life.

Our team is here to answer questions and provide recommendations to ensure your pet receives the most compassionate care.

Symptoms That Indicate Quality Life Has Been Greatly Diminished:

  • Extreme Effort Moving Around
  • Chronic Coughing
  • Labored Breathing
  • Regular Incontinence
  • Dramatic, Unexplainable Weight Loss
  • Extremely Lethargic
  • Behavior Changes Such as:
    • No Longer Interested in Playing, Walking, Eating or Affection from Loved Ones
  • Appetite Loss
  • Chronic Pain That Cannot Be Managed With Medication

When Is Euthanasia the Right Choice for Your Pet?

Deciding to euthanize your pet is one of the most difficult and emotional decisions a pet parent will ever face. However, in certain situations, euthanasia is the kindest and most compassionate option. When a pet is suffering from severe illness or injury, euthanasia can prevent further pain and discomfort, providing them with a peaceful end. The Veterinary Medical Center at Ohio State University has a very good resource titled "How Will I Know?"  We encourage everyone to read it and use the included self-assessment.

How Will I Know

How to Know When It's Time?

A helpful question to ask yourself is: “Does my pet have more bad days than good?” If the answer is yes, it may be time to consider euthanasia. When a pet is experiencing frequent pain, a lack of quality of life, or struggles to enjoy even the simplest pleasures, euthanasia can offer them relief from ongoing suffering.

What About Allowing a Pet to Pass Naturally?

While some pet owners hope for their pet to pass naturally, depending on the pet’s condition, this process can be prolonged, painful, and frightening. In contrast, euthanasia offers a gentle and immediate end, sparing your pet from additional suffering and ensuring they are as comfortable as possible in their final moments.

Euthanasia Services

When the time comes to make the difficult decision of euthanasia, we offer a peaceful and gentle process that respects your pet’s dignity. Our euthanasia services provide a calm environment, allowing you to say goodbye to your beloved companion with support and understanding from our team. We offer:

  • In-Hospital Euthanasia: Our clinic provides a quiet, private space where you and your family can be with your pet in the final moments.
  • At Home Euthanasia: For those who prefer a more familiar setting, we offer home euthanasia services when possible, allowing your pet to remain comfortable in a familiar environment through our house call services. 

Memorial Options

We understand the importance of honoring your pet’s memory, and we offer several options to help you memorialize the life of your beloved companion. From personalized keepsakes to respectful cremation services, we’ll work with you to choose the best option for you and your family.

Schedule a Consultation

If you’re considering end-of-life care or euthanasia, please reach out to us. We are here to provide guidance and compassionate care every step of the way. At The Hometown Veterinarian, we are honored to support you and your pet during this sensitive time.

Give us a call at 641-758-3333 to discuss your needs or to schedule a consultation.

Further Resources

  • The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement provides excellent resources and support for anyone experiencing the loss of a beloved animal companion