Saying goodbye to a fur baby is never easy. At Bartram Trail Veterinary Hospital, we understand the profound emotional journey that comes with end-of-life care for pets. Our dedicated team is here to provide compassionate support and guidance every step of the way.
Our End-of-Life Care Services:
Comfort Consultations: We offer in-depth consultations to discuss your pet’s condition, explore treatment options, and navigate the difficult decisions surrounding end-of-life care.
Palliative Care: When possible, we prioritize maximizing your pet’s comfort and quality of life through pain management, medication adjustments, and supportive therapies.
Peaceful Euthanasia: In situations where suffering cannot be alleviated, we provide humane and dignified euthanasia in a calm and loving environment.
When you’re ready to say goodbye, we’re here to help. To schedule a humane euthanasia, please use this “Request Peaceful Euthanasia” link. Our caring front desk team will check availability, review your pet’s history, and provide you with a quote. We’re here to support you through this difficult time and ensure that everything is handled with the utmost care and compassion.
Peaceful Euthanasia Procedure
Here’s what you can expect during the process-
A Calm Atmosphere: We’ll create a quiet and comfortable space for you and your pet. You’re welcome to bring blankets, toys, or anything familiar that might comfort them. We also offer a selection of special farewell snacks should you wish to share a final loving gesture with your pet.
Sedation: To ensure your beloved pet is not anxious or uncomfortable, we recommend administering a mild sedative first. We can prescribe an oral medication to be given at home before your visit to help reduce anxiety about coming in. During the appointment, we will also administer an injectable sedative into the muscle to help them relax and feel drowsy before the euthanasia medication is given.
Final Injection: Once the sedation has taken effect, a veterinarian will administer a very high dose of anesthetic medication. This medication will cause your pet to lose consciousness peacefully within seconds. Their breathing will slow, and their heart will eventually stop.
Peaceful Passing: The entire process is quick and painless. Your pet may make involuntary movements, such as twitching or leg paddling, even after they are unconscious. These are simply reflexes and do not indicate any pain.
Here’s what to expect after the Peaceful Euthanasia-
Confirmation of Passing: The veterinarian will confirm that your pet’s heart has stopped and they have passed peacefully.
Time for Goodbyes: We’ll provide you with as much private time as you need to say your final goodbyes to your beloved companion.
Aftercare: Our team will have discussed aftercare options such as cremation or burial prior to the peaceful euthanasia. Please see our end of life care planning tab for all after care options. We can also create a paw print or other keepsakes.
We are here for you every step of the way. Please don’t hesitate to ask any questions or express your wishes throughout the process.
Afterlife Care Options
Planning Ahead
Planning for your pet’s end-of-life care in advance empowers you to make thoughtful decisions and select the optimal option for your pet's final arrangements. We've teamed up with Pet Angel Memorial Center , a respected provider of pet cremation services in our community, to offer superior aftercare options.
Private Cremation: Private cremation provides you with the opportunity to keep your pet’s cremated remains as a permanent and personal keepsake. When you choose private cremation, your treasured pet will be the only pet in the cremation chamber during the cremation process. When the cremation process is complete, we ensure that you receive only the cremated remains of your pet in a chosen urn or container. Cost: Feline fur babies $190 Canine fur babies <100lbs $275 Canine fur babies >100lbs $335
Communal Cremation: With communal cremation, your pet is gently placed into the crematory together with other pets. Because no cremated remains are returned to you when you choose a communal cremation, you may wish to consider one of our personalized memorial products as a timeless remembrance. Cost: $85
Pet Angels Memorial Products: Please visit the Pet Angel Memorial Center website to explore their memorial urns and keepsakes in detail and pricing. Pet Angel Memorial Products
While cremation is a popular choice, there are other afterlife care options available, including home burial.
Euthanasia and Pre-Payment Options: The average cost of euthanasia without cremation is approximately $155. We understand that losing a pet is an emotional time, and we want you to focus on saying goodbye without additional stress. To ease this burden, we offer pre-payment options for euthanasia services. Pre-payment allows you to make financial arrangements in advance, so you can spend precious time grieving and honoring your beloved pet.
Additional Memorial Products:
While we do not directly partner with the following companies, you may find these unique pet memorial products and services of interest:
EverAfterArt: Offers personalized artwork and memorial items to honor your pet’s memory.
PetReefs: Provides eco-friendly options for memorializing your pet, such as biodegradable urns and memorials.
Please note that any transactions or inquiries regarding these products should be directed to EverAfterArt and PetReefs through their respective websites.
In-Home Euthanasia Options
While we are unable to offer in-home euthanasia services ourselves, we can provide you with resources for compassionate and experienced professionals in the St. Augustine area who specialize in this service. Their focus on peaceful passing in the familiar comfort of your home can be a great source of solace during this emotional time.
Quality of Life Tools & Pet Loss Support
Making the decision to assist in the passing of your pet may be one of the most difficult decisions you ever make. Gathering more information about the process can be helpful to prepare you for this difficult day. If you would like to explore additional information regarding the quality of life and decide when it is time to say goodbye, you are welcome to visit some of the resources below:
Quality of Life Tools
Lap of Love Quality-of-Life Assesment
Lap of Love "How will I know when it's time?" Quality-of-Life Scale
Villalobos HHHHHMM Quality-of-Life Tool
Pet Loss Support
Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement Support
Lap of Love: Should my child be present for our pet's euthanasia?
Lap of Love: Children in Grief Understanding Their Journey
