The absolute hardest part about being a pet parent is the day we have to say goodbye to our trusted companion. We at Skyline Animal Hospital know that this is always a hard decision, one that we will be there for you every step of the way. We also know that it is difficult to decide when it is your pet’s time.
When you start questioning this, we start by recommending a “quality of life” exam where you discuss all your concerns with Dr. Bone and she can examine your pet for certain issues they are having. At that visit, if you all decide there is still some fight left in your pet she will generally recommend tracking on a paper calendar the good days vs the bad days. When your pet is having more bad days than good days it is a good indicator that their quality of life is slipping. Here are a few questions to help you make the decision if your furry companion is living a quality of life over a quantity of life!
Consider the following
Hurt/Pain – Is pain being adequately controlled? How is your pet’s breathing? Do they seem distressed due to pain?
Eating – Is your pet eating on their own? If not, does hand feeding help or are you having to force feed?
Hydration – Is your pet drinking enough water? Do they seem dehydrated? (We can always give subcutaneous fluids to help maintain hydration, however this is not a procedure we recommend doing for years.)
Hygiene – Is your pet still grooming themselves and keeping themselves clean? This is a huge one for cats especially. Do they have sores forming from matts in fur or from not cleaning themselves? (If they no longer have the desire to do this themselves, you as a pet owner can step in for sure! We just recommend keeping it a routine so it stays under control.)
Happiness – Does your pet still get excited about things they used to? Or are they starting to show signs of depression? Are they trying to isolate themselves?
Mobility – Can your pet still walk on their own without assistance? If they need assistance, how often?
When you have made the decision to humanely euthanize your pet it is $99 at the vet hospital.
**If you decide you would like to do an at home euthanasia instead, please call to get pricing/availability.
For the convenience of our clients we have partnered with a local crematorium to help with after care. You will have two options:
Communal Cremation – (your pet gets cremated, ashes are not returned to you, but are scattered in a pretty area at the crematorium.) $45
Private Cremation – (your pet will be cremated by themselves and you will get your pet’s ashes returned to you.)
1-20lbs – $215
21-50lbs – $220
51-80lbs – $225
81-100lbs – $230
100lbs and over – $250
Please reach out if you have any questions, concerns, or would like to seek advice on this! We will be here for you!