Saying goodbye to loved family member is always one of hardest decisions as pet parents we have to make. Sometimes the need is obvious, but other times it’s really hard. Dr. Leshanski and the team at At Home Veterinary strive to make the process as gentle and easy as humanly possible for both you and your pet.
We’ve been through this process many times ourselves and understand how we’d want to be treated and do our best to provide exactly that level of care to every single person and pet who calls us.
If it’s not yet time to say goodbye, or maybe you are not sure it is, we’re here to offer advice, and provide in home hospice care to help make your furry friend’s last months, weeks, or days as comfortable and as happy as possible with our best medical and practical advice.
And if it is time, we’re here to assist in making the transition as gentle as possible, both in the practical matters of saying goodbye and trying to help in the emotional ones.
We’ll make sure you have the time to understand the whole process, and do our utmost to make sure that we discuss your fears, concerns, and questions about the euthanasia process as well as offer access to grief resources should you or your family need them.
Doing this in the pet’s home helps reduce the stress and fear associated with an office visit, or leaving their own territory. You will surround your pet with love at home, in their comfortable space. Our goal is always “no fear, no pain” and “much love” for them, and to minimize the trauma of loss for you.
We will never rush the process – this is your time to say goodbye and we’ll do this at the pace both you and your pet require.
Included in the process are a sedative/anesthesia to make sure your pet’s anxiety is reduced and so that their last memory is of their loved one(s) around them rather than an injection given by a stranger. Afterwards the doctor will confirm that your pet has passed on and you can say any final goodbyes.
If you would like, just ask the doctor and he will assist you to clip a lock or two of hair, or make a paw print.
If we are handling the transport of the body for cremation, Dr. Leshanski will wrap and and take it with him when he leaves* unless you need some extra time.**
You are welcome to send your friend off with a favorite toy, flowers, herbs, blanket, or towel, whatever you want.
Dr. L makes sure to treat the body of your pet, as if it was the body of his very own pet, treating it gently and with respect.
We consider any euthanasia request to be an emergency request and we do our very best to leave extra time slots in our daily schedule to accommodate clients when this need arises.
If you are not sure that it’s time, feel free to call us for advice, or schedule an appointment for us to come and evaluate your pet in person.
* in the case where the animal is too large for him to carry, he may bring an assistant to help with transport, or may have the crematory pick up directly after the euthanasia is done.
** in which case we may have the crematory pick up from you directly.