End of life
A part of our work is to support you through the difficult process of end of life. Saying goodbye to a life companion is a very difficult decision for an owner to take. It is a moment of sadness that we fully grasp and understand. Whether it is following a diagnosis with a bad prognosis, a traumatic accident or a geriatric patient that can no longer get up to tend to its daily activities, it is never an easy choice to make. If you are wondering if you are making the right decision, or if there are alternatives that were not thought of, do not hesitate to call us for a consultation. With a thorough examination and a good discussion with you, we will be able to guide you through the different options available to you.
If your decision is already made, only need to contact us to speak with a technician/assistant to know how we proceed. Some people wish to accompany their pet all the way to the end by being present during the intervention. Others prefer not to be there and leave their pet in our care to proceed as soon as possible. Both options are possible, and one is not necessarily better than the other; the important thing is to be in peace with your decision, to do what is best for you, knowing that there will be no judgment. Sadly, we don't always have enough room in the clinic to let you accompany your dog. We reserve this room, when possible, for our clients. Call us for more information about the availability.
Before a euthanasia, the patient receive a mild sedation (this decision is given when the IV catheter is placed by technicians). The sedation will make your animal a little sleepy, relieving a great part of the stress in face of a procedure where it is being held by a technician and receiving an intravenous injection. When the tranquilizer takes effect, the veterinarian will inject a lethal dose of an intravenous medication. Your pet will fall asleep within seconds of the beginning of the injection, and death will occur within minutes. The animal is unconscious at this moment and is relieved of any pain. A heart auscultation will allow the veterinarian to confirm that the heart has cessed to beat.
Following the euthanasia, you might opt for a communal disposal (included in the price of the euthanasia itself) or to have your animal individually incinerated to retrieve their ashes (additional charges). If you choose the latest, you can choose an urn offered by the company Crémanimo, which we partner with. For more information, you can consult their website and even chose your urn before the procedure for peace of mind: https://www.cremanimo.com/
It is important to acknowledge that the mourning of your loving pet is a very real thing. Take the time to go through it all at your pace. If you feel the need to talk about it, there are resources for you. You can communicate with the organism Entraide Deuil de l’Outaouais for support: http://entraide-deuil.qc.ca/page/deuil-animal-infos-121