If your pet is facing a true emergency and their life is in immediate danger, please head to the nearest open clinic or emergency room. Be sure to call ahead or on your way to ensure they can assist promptly.

Attempting to perform CPR on your pet is not recommended. Administering effective CPR can be challenging, and it may only prolong the time it takes to receive appropriate help.

In cases where your pet is critically ill or injured, or if they're already at a veterinary practice receiving oxygen therapy or life support, choosing euthanasia at a veterinary facility can be the most compassionate and loving decision you can make.

For a list of emergency rooms, please scroll down. Google may provide additional information about emergency facilities in your area.

Euthanasia is a compassionate, humane, assisted death, performed to alleviate suffering. While many of us wish for our pets to peacefully pass in their sleep, the natural course of events can be far less gentle, as those who've been by a loved one's side during their final moments can attest.

We firmly believe that having the power to ease our pets' suffering, whether at home or in a clinic, is a profound act of kindness and love. It's a gift we give them, a selfless gesture that shifts their pain to us, honoring the years of devotion and love they have given to us.

It's the million-dollar question, isn't it?

While many folks rightly focus on their pet's quality of life to determine if it's time, years of veterinary experience, particularly in end-of-life care, have revealed that the decision is more nuanced than that.

To begin, we recommend using our 'Is It Time Questionnaire.'

First and foremost, it's important to recognize that the factors contributing to a pet's quality of life can evolve as they mature and age. In their golden years, they might become less active and playful, choosing to spend more time resting. However, this doesn't necessarily indicate a loss of enjoyment in life. Rather, it suggests that their sources of happiness have shifted over time.

There are several approaches to assess your pet's quality of life:

1. Questionnaire: Completing a questionnaire transforms the concept of quality of life into an objective measure. If the results suggest that it's not yet time for end-of-life care, you can periodically revisit the questionnaire to track changes in your pet's quality of life. We recommend using the Quality of Life Scale© Calculator by Journey’s Home Pet Euthanasia.

2. The 3:5 or 2:3 Ratio: Consider the five or three things that bring your pet the most joy. When they lose interest in three or two of these activities, respectively, it becomes reasonable to contemplate euthanasia.

3. Tracking Daily Quality: While this method requires time and consistency, it's simple to implement. Maintain a calendar log where you categorize each day as 'good,' 'neutral,' or 'bad.' When the bad days outnumber the good, it's time to consider euthanasia.

We strongly advise involving all decision-makers in assessing your pet's quality of life. Ideally, each person should independently evaluate the quality of life and then compare the results.

Lastly, while it is an incredibly difficult concept to live by, we firmly believe that it's better to act 'a day too early than a minute too late.' We're not certain who coined this phrase, but it's undeniably true. None of us wish for our pets to endure the worst possible condition, and to prevent that, we must make the decision to euthanize before they are at their absolute worst.

Yes, and there are a few ways that I can do that.

1. I suggest beginning with our 'Is It Time' quiz. After engaging in conversations about 'Is It Time' for several years, we've noticed recurring key points. In response, we've designed this quiz to assist families in making that decision. It not only helps in determining whether it may be time but also provides valuable information by using your perceptions of your pet's well-being to outline the recommended options. *Note that this quiz may recommend completing a quality of life questionnaire as the next step.

2. A telehealth consultation. If you've completed both the 'Is It Time' quiz and the Quality of Life questionnaire (if advised), yet still find yourself uncertain, we are available to discuss your pet's individual circumstances, explore your available options, and help you determine if it's time to consider end-of-life care. This consultation involves a comprehensive review of your pet's medical history and also includes the evaluation of any pictures or videos you provide that may provide additional insight.

4. 
   In the event that we strongly recommend euthanasia or advise against it, we will provide a clear recommendation. In many cases, our guidance is rooted in your perception of your pet's quality of life, as we believe that you are the one who knows your pet best.

In short, most of us hope to pass away peacefully at home, and we have the opportunity to give that gift to our beloved pets.

Brick and mortar veterinary practices will always do what they can to make the process as smooth and peaceful as possible. However, most pets do get stressed by a visit to the vet. And, while you likely will not be rushed in and out, most clients inherently feel a sense of urgency and desire to minimize their time in the building. Additionally, some families just do not want to associate their vet, who they trust to care for the rest of their pet family, with the death of a loved one.

Please note that in an emergency, if your pet is critically ill or injured, or if your pet is already at a practice and is on oxygen therapy or life support, choosing to euthanize at a veterinary facility may be the kindest, most loving gift that you can give them.

We never want a family to feel rushed in their final moments with a loved one. We allocate 60 minutes for each euthanasia appointment, with most visits taking 45-60 minutes from arrival to departure. Some visits will be shorter or longer, which is why we always provide an arrival window (and sometimes run late).

Every family and every pet is unique and so our service and process is individualized. However, our process is typically two steps - an initial medication to make your pet fall asleep (usually in 10 minutes or less), followed by another medication that will assist them to pass (usually within 1-2 minutes).

It is not mandatory, but we encourage you to remain present with your pet throughout the process and shower them (if they appreciate it) with pets, love, and snacks until they are asleep.

We welcome you and your family to spend time with your loved one before we administer the final medication and after they have passed, if you’d like to. We also respect that some families would like the process to be expedited with minimal to no visitation time.

After your pet has passed we will make any desired paw and nose prints on site and encourage your participation. We can also make prints away from the home if that is preferred.

If we are providing aftercare services, we will gently take your pet with us when we leave. We will bring a stretcher to carry your pet if they are medium sized or larger. If very large we may request your assistance, but this is usually planned in advance.

We strive to minimize fear, stress, and pain for your pet (and your family). We arrive in an unmarked SUV and we wear regular clothes, no scrubs or white coats.

We do not make an effort to make friends with your pet, unless they seek attention from us. This may seem odd, but new people can make some pets uneasy, or take the attention away from family, and our goal is to minimize our presence as much as possible to keep the focus between you and your beloved pet.

We do not place an IV catheter or administer any medication into a vein while your pet is awake as those require us to restrain your pet which can be stressful. We typically administer the first medication as an injection under the skin so that minimal to no restraint is necessary.

Your pet will experience no pain as they transition.

The first medication that we administer is a combination of sedation and pain medication. Admittedly, some pets, like people, are not fond of needle pokes and so may dislike when the first medication is given. Others don’t notice it at all. We encourage tasty treats (if interested) and attention while the first medication is given to take their mind off of it. Thankfully, it only takes a few seconds to give, similar to a vaccination, and the rest of the visit should be pain free.

That depends on what selections you have made. Should you elect cremation or aquamation with one of the facilities that we work with, then we will gently take your beloved pet with us when we leave and handle delivery to the facility. Should you elect to receive their ashes back, we will hand deliver them back to your home.

If we are providing aftercare services, you are welcome to carry your pet to the car, or accompany us while we carry. For medium and large dogs we bring a stretcher to make transport easier. For very large dogs or if only the doctor is present, we may request your assistance (this is typically discussed/planned ahead of time).

Some folks elect home burial. For that we suggest that you have the burial site prepared prior to your pet’s passing, if possible. Please make sure to check with local city regulations regarding pet burial to see if it is allowed and any requirements, such as how deep the grave must be. The biggest concern with home burial is the potential for harm to other animals by the medications used for euthanasia.

Some folks elect to take their pet to a specific aftercare facility that we do not directly work with. This is completely acceptable, however you will be responsible for transportation of your pet to the facility and may need to pick up ashes there. Some facilities will pick up and drop off to your home.

Typical aftercare options include:

• private cremation (ashes returned)

• communal/group cremation (ashes not returned)

• home burial

• individual aquamation (with ashes returned)

• communal/group aquamation (ashes not returned)

Please see our information above in the pricing section to see what is included in each option that we provide and the associated costs.

Not necessarily. We do try to restrict the location to a privately owned residence or property. Unique requests are considered on a case by case basis.

Some families elect to have the service performed at the location where burial will take place (if elected), or at the home of a friend or family member so that they do not connect their own home to their beloved pet’s passing.

Our appointment hours are Wednesday-Saturday 10am-4pm. We can typically accommodate euthanasia appointments within 24-48 hours. You are welcome to contact us for an urgent request during our business hours and we will absolutely help if we are able, however, we cannot offer emergency services due to the nature of our practice.

We schedule a one hour arrival window to account for variation in traffic and appointment duration as we never want a family to feel rushed. Occasionally we run late but will keep you updated.

To schedule:

Prefer to communicate directly with a person? Click here

Prefer to schedule on your own? Click here

No home preparation is necessary. Really. Please spend your time with your loved one and not cleaning up for us.

We are accustomed to working in variable conditions and want your family and your pet to be as comfortable as possible, so feel free to plan based on what feels right for you. Don’t worry, we will gently speak up if anything needs to be changed.

Some things to consider include:

• Location

  • Does your pet prefer inside or outside? Is the weather or temperature comfortable for your pet and your family? Does your pet have a favorite room, bed, or lap?

  • You are welcome to hold your pet throughout the process

• Lighting

• Music or background sound

• Who will be present

  • Will they stay for the entire process? Will they step out once the pet is asleep? Do they need to step out for the entire process?

  • Many families remain with their pet throughout the entire process, however everybody handles and processes these events differently and we respect whatever dynamic you choose.

  • We do require that at least one adult remain on the premises with us the entire time, however there is no requirement to remain in the same room. Some individuals take comfort in being nearby but out of view.

• Should children be present?

  • We welcome family members of all ages, but you will need to decide what is right for your family.

  • Some families include children while others arrange for them to be out of the home or occupied in another room.

  • Some families allow children to make the choice to stay for all, some, or none of the process.

  • If your child elects to stay for the entire process, we do request that an adult stay with them.

• Other pets

  • We welcome other pets to be present during the visit as long as they will not bite and are not disruptive. Many housemates act excited to see us initially, but settle down and watch from afar as the visit progresses.

  • If your other pets are not present during the visit, we encourage you to give them the opportunity to visit after your pet has passed. They may or may not appear to understand, but they may be processing in their own way.

• Treats treats treats!

  • If your pet is still interested in food, this is your opportunity to offer them anything they’ve ever wanted to try. Literally, anything. Cheeseburgers, fries, ice cream, chocolate, really… anything. We do recommend waiting until just before the appointment so that they get to enjoy the treat but do not suffer from a stomach ache after.

  • We also recommend saving some of the treats to give as we administer the initial medication as it can be a great distraction.

  • Your pet is welcome to continue to snack until they are too sleepy to do so.

• Religious or spiritual services

  • We do not offer these services but we will make accommodations to the best of our ability to support your practice of them. Please let us know at the start of the visit or ahead of time if you have any requests, such as time for prayer at a specific part of the process. Please let us know at scheduling if you may need an extended appointment time.

Grief is normal.

Yes, even regarding the loss of a pet. Pets give us emotional support, unconditional love, and are often considered a beloved best friend or family member, sometimes even a child.

We offer a couple of different routes for grief support, including:

• Marleen Garza

  • First 60 minute session free with euthanasia or aftercare service through CompassVet

  • Local grief recovery specialist

  • Grief recovery method® or traditional counseling sessions

  • Contact Marleen directly at 210-699-7079

• Pet Compassion Careline

  • No cost

  • Grief counselors available 24-7

Additional Resources:

• The short, free, e-book Guide to Pet Loss

• Free e-booklet with links to additional resources Coping with Loss

That depends. Each clinic sets their own prices so prices between different clinics can vary dramatically even for the same service or level of care.

In general, housecall visits do tend to be a bit more expensive. Why? It all comes down to time. You may only see us for 60 minutes during your pet’s euthanasia visit, but much more time is dedicated solely to your pet, including travel time to and from your home, preparation for the visit, prepping your pet for cremation, and delivery of remains or paw prints back to your home (if elected). This means that the doctor and technician can spend upwards of 3 to 4 hours on one pet - yours.

Comparatively, a brick and mortar clinic is able to accommodate many pets in that time frame, up to 16 if they are scheduling standard 15 minute appointments.

It’s true, traditionally only one medication was administered for euthanasia. While that medication did anesthetize your pet prior to their transition, it has become standard of care to administer a sedative prior to the euthanasia medication. Over the years veterinarians have found that the multi-step approach provides a more peaceful transition with less stress for both you and your pet.

At this time we do not.

Yes! We also offer acupuncture and limited wellness care such as vaccinations, flea/tick/heartworm prevention, routine labwork, minor ear infections, skin changes, etc. Think - anything that does not require x-rays or anesthesia. All care is provided in the comfort of your own home. We can also see all of your pets in one visit so that you do not have to transport all of them to the vet at once or make multiple trips!

Due to our limitations as a housecall only vet, we do recommend that you maintain a relationship with a brick and mortar practice for easier access to advanced diagnostics and procedures if and when they are necessary. Alternatively you could utilize an ER facility.