End of life

Helping your pet to the end of their life in the most dignified manner is as important to our team as it is to pet owners.  We share the sentiment that pets are part of the family, and we’re here to guide you through the process in the best way possible.  Be it answering questions you might have, helping you to assess quality of life and when the appropriate time to say goodbye might be, or arranging a home-visit so that you can say goodbye in the most personal way, our whole team are here to help and give advice.

The process of euthanasia involves giving an injection into the bloodstream. The medication given is similar to an anaesthetic drug and so induces a deep sleep, but the dose is much higher than we use in anaesthetics and so follows on to stop the heart.  It is not a painful process, insertion of the needle or catheter is the only discomfort and most older patients will be used to regular blood testing. It is completely normal to feel grief when you lose your pet, and we don’t expect you to hide your emotions or feel abnormal for expressing grief.  We understand.

Many people choose to have their pet cremated after they pass away.  At Midleton Veterinary Hospital, we offer a pet cremation service in conjunction with “Pets To Rest Crematorium”.

There are two options regarding cremation of your pet.  You can choose to have your pet go for group cremation or individual cremation.  With Group Cremation, you will not receive your pet’s ashes back. Nonetheless, this is often a popular choice, especially if you don’t have the means to bury your pet at home.

Individual cremation is an option whereby you will receive your pet’s ashes back. There are different options as to how you wish to have the ashes stored.  Some people choose a scatter tube and like to scatter their pet’s ashes in his or her favourite place, or to bury the biodegradable tube and plant a tree in their pet’s honour.  Some people like to choose a Tribute Box, with a little inscription and to hold on to the ashes within this box.  Everyone is individual in how they want to remember their pet and mark how much your pet has meant to you.

If you are not sure which option is right for you, or want further information, please don’t hesitate to give us a call and we will go through the options with you in more detail.