One of the most heartbreaking decisions that any pet owner has to make is whether the time has come for pet euthanasia. Many factors come into play in making this decision, such as the animal's diagnosed condition, age, cost of treatment, and the ability of the owner to take care of their sick companion. If the pet is having more bad days than good, the time may have come to release them from their painful bonds on earth.
If the compassionate, but still painful conclusion is reached that the pet be euthanized, the next question is where should the procedure take place? In the past, the only place that the euthanasia would be performed was at the veterinarian's office. However, an increasing trend among pet owners is the euthanasia being performed at the home of the pet. Is this in fact a good choice for the owner and their pet?
PROS - It is the rare dog or cat that enjoys a visit to the veterinarian's office. Most have an understandable aversion to going to a place that they have been previously poked, prodded and stuck with needles. With this being the case, many pet owners want to spare their ailing friend the anxiety of a trip to the veterinarian's office and choose to have the euthanasia performed by a veterinarian in the familiar surroundings of the pet's own home. While nothing can ever completely ease the grief of having to make the agonizing decision of euthanasia, the owner can take some solace that they did everything they could to make their treasured pet's last moments on earth as comfortable as possible. Home pet euthanasia also allows for privacy for the pet owner. Tears can be shed at home, rather than in a public forum.
CONS - Many veterinarians are adverse to performing pet euthanasia in a home for two basic reasons. First, should there be any complications during the procedure, especially with larger animals that may be harder to control, the veterinarian would not have access to all the equipment, medicine, and staff available in their office that could help resolve the difficulty. The second reason a veterinarian may shy away from home euthanasia is the additional time and expense that they incur by being away from the office. Veterinarians who are willing to travel to a pet owner's home may charge 30% or more over the cost of performing the euthanasia procedure in their office.
Should the choice be made to have the pet euthanized in their home, all costs should be determined beforehand including, if desired, body disposal. Once the final figure is agreed upon, all required forms should be completed prior to beginning the procedure. The grieving pet owner can be then be free to concentrate on saying their final goodbyes to their loyal friend in the home they love.
For information on special keepsakes and pet memorial gifts of comfort following a pet euthanasia, contact Heart to Heart Sympathy Gifts, an online store which offers pet
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