Frequently Asked Questions

It is common for pets, especially those that are aging or painful, to experience fear, anxiety, or stress when going to a clinic.  Some may also feel anxiety travelling in a car or even leaving their home.   

Having a house call vet provide pet euthanasia at home helps to eliminate these problems.  In most cases at home, pets simply know a friend has come over, they've received treats and love, and they drift asleep at home with family close.

Having a home visit vet also allows for a relaxed environment, privacy, time to process, and helps get closure.

Due to time constraints, I help families that have already had assistance with their regular vet that it's time to say goodbye to their dear one.  

I encourage you reach out to your regular veterinarian or contact a veterinarian in your area if you are unsure if it is time to say goodbye.

If you need help with getting and understanding your pet's diagnosis and/or prognosis, I encourage you to contact your regular vet for this help.  A couple things that families find helpful, first is to remember that pets live very much in the moment.  They want to be happy, eating, running around, cuddling, living to the fullest, today.  They aren't hoping for 5 more walks, or to make it to the weekend or to Christmas.  This is what we do.  So when they are struggling more than we can help with treatments and have unpredictable good and bad days, in regards to timing of the euthanasia, if we say goodbye today, tomorrow, in a week... it's OK as long as they don't get to the point of truly suffering.  Our dear ones don't deserve to know suffering.  

Second, many families feel guilty to choose when to end their pet's natural life.   In many cases a pet's natural life would have been over long ago without the love and support (food/shelter/vet care) given by their families.  So often families have actually greatly extended the quality and length of their pets lives.  So instead of feeling guilt, which we all feel as humans with a loss of someone we love, we can actually feel pride to have helped our pet as much as we were able, and that we are allowing them to be free of their struggles and not know suffering.  This is pure, selfless love.

Quality of Life Resources families find helpful are:

The Grey Muzzle app (you can record if your pet is having a good, bad or neutral day and overtime this allows you to have a good "big picture" view of their quality)

The HHHHHMM Quality of Life Scale by Dr. Villalobos

My availability varies, especially depending on location.  I am based out of Mission and it is easier for me to help in Mission sooner than other in areas.   Please see the link to schedule an appointment to see my upcoming availability.  

Generally, I try to not see appointments Wednesday & Thursday.  Please click on the link below for available appointments and to schedule.

Please note the fees page (including travel fee) prior to booking an appointment.        

If an appointment isn't available as soon as you need online, I may still be able to help as I do get cancellations or can fit in extra appointments depending where you live.  Please text or e-mail including the general area where you live and I can let you know how soon I can help your dear one.  

Unfortunately, I am not set up to provide palliative care.  If your pet requires diagnostics or treatments please contact your regular veterinarian.  

I don’t provide emergency services.  If your pet is experiencing immediate distress, please contact and/or bring your pet right away to your local veterinary emergency clinic.  

If I am unable to help and you cannot find another veterinarian to come to your home, it is possible to do things to decrease fear, anxiety, and stress from a trip to the vet.  Here are some things you can try:

1. If they are scared of a kennel or unable to walk, use a bed or blanket to gently transport them (perhaps a bed in a laundry basket for cats if needed for their safety) 

2. Use a calming scent - perhaps lavender oil or bring an unlaundered shirt that smells like home.  

3. Play soothing music on your phone for the car ride and play it softly in the clinic as well.  

4. If they are still eating, bring their favorite food with them. 

5. Contact your regular veterinarian for anti-anxiety medications to give them at home, a couple hours prior to heading to the clinic.  

This is a personal decision, but in my experience, it's very common for all family members to be present for the pet euthanasia at home.  I am very comfortable having kids of all ages present.  Often it is a very beautiful time where kids have a chance to remember all the wonderful memories they shared with their pet, and can see how peaceful it is to say goodbye.  It's pure love to gently ease them from their struggles and let them run free and be happy.  

Very often, kids engage with me in sharing memories and we make a paw impression together while their pet is sleeping after sedation. We talk about the many ways we can always remember them so they will stay in our hearts forever.

I find it difficult for kids however if they can't engage with us at all and only cry.  If this is the case, it's ok to cry of course emotion is very welcome, but it's best these kids say a quicker goodbye and not be present for the whole process as it's simply too long for them.  I don't want them to experience any trauma, I want them to have some happy/positive memories.  Sometimes these kids go play and come to join in only when we do a paw-print, if they want.

It is also important to remember that very young kids (4 and under) tend not to understand the full concept of death, so their attention waivers and often they simply want to play.  I'm happy to have them present, but they can create a distraction for families during the euthanasia, though sometimes this distraction is very welcome. I'm also very happy to play with little ones while their pet is falling into the sedation, so families can be with their pets.  

Communication with kids; there is a lot of wonderful information online to help with this, but the biggest thing to remember is not to give kids more information than they can handle for their stage of development.  It's often a good idea with younger kids to give the simple truth that the pet is old/sick and he/she is going to die and we will be so sad to not have them here anymore.  Sometimes this is all they need, and sometimes they ask questions which you can answer briefly but honestly.  Let them take the lead, answering what they need to know to be at peace and understand.

Another benefit to saying goodbye at home is that other furry family members can have a chance to say goodbye too.  Often other pets are present for the entire appointment, and I think it's lovely.  Or sometimes after the euthanasia when I go to the car to give the family time to say goodbye, then other pets are brought to be able to say goodbye to their friend at that time.  Research has shown that other pets that see their friend deceased have less distressing behaviours afterwards such as searching for them or being off their food.

Taken from untilwemeetagain.ca:

Animals have an innate ability to quickly become family members and best friends. It’s only natural to feel upset and sadness when a pet dies. Grief can be complicated and is highly personal. Some experience in stages, others find it to be cyclical, coming in waves. Grief for our animal companions can only be dealt with over time, but here are some suggestions:

• Reach out to others who have lost pets and talk about it
• Don’t be afraid to be emotional
• Create a legacy to remember your faithful friend
• Look after yourself
• Seek professional help if you need it
• Try to maintain your normal routine

If I am away, fully booked, or am unable to practice in your area, here are websites of other at home veterinarians that may be able to help.

• liftingstars.ca
• pacificcomfortvets.ca
• pawsatpeacevet.com
• mulberrylanepet.com
• gentlejourney.ca

You can also reach out to your local veterinary clinics as some are able to send a veterinarian to the home.