Tri-County Mobile Veterinary Clinic was sold in 2023 and is no longer providing full service veterinary care in our area.
To schedule a home euthanasia for your cat or dog, click here to be directed to Peaceful Pet Home Euthanasia.

Euthanasia is the act of humanely ending the life of a living being in order to end extreme suffering, which is typically as the result of a serious and irreversible medical condition.

The Decision

As the guardian of a pet, the decision of whether or not to choose to euthanize can be a very difficult and very painful one. For as long as we have been helping people and their pets, we have seen pet guardians struggle with this decision in many different ways. Some people seem to know when it is time, however, most of us second-guess ourselves when making this difficult decision. Almost everyone asks us if we feel is the time for their pet to go. They ask us if they are making the right decision for euthanasia.

Dr.Dani McVety has graciously allowed us to share a short video on euthanasia: "How Will I Know It's Time?"

 

The Kindest Gift

When the time comes, deciding on euthanasia at your home can be the kindest gift you give to your pet. Choosing euthanasia at home can eliminate the stress, anxiety, and the discomfort of a drive and unfamiliar smells and surroundings. You can choose where you want the veterinarian and her assistant to see your pet. Most often this is in your home, a favorite place in the home, or in the yard.

What to expect

It is important to know what to expect ahead of time. Your euthanasia consultation phone call will help a lot to prepare you. Our goal is to make this as peaceful and as comfortable as possible for you and for your pet, and knowing what to expect is an important part of that. Every pet and every situation is unique.

Some of what we discuss is the importance of preparing children and other pets in the home. It is advised that children not be present for the euthanasia itself, but that they be aware and even a part of the discussion ahead of time. We also discuss the medications your pet will get to make them comfortable, typically a series of 2 or 3 injections, always with the goal of making this as comfortable as possible for your pet. The first medication will make your pet sleepy and they will look comfortable, sometimes even a deep sleep with a soft snore. If needed, we will give a second dose of this medication to be sure your pet is as relaxed as possible. Your pet will be sleepy for 10 to 15 minutes before the final injection, similar to an anesthetic, is given. We will confirm your pet has passed, and then if we have made arrangements for cremation, we will caringly transport your pet to the crematorium.

After care

We help with cremation. If you choose, we will respectfully transport your loved pet to a company we trust: www.trustedjourney.com We will help you decide whether you would like a private or communal cremation. With cremations you also have the option for clay and/or laminated ink paw prints. Private cremations include an urn. All of these are delivered back to you within a week or two. Many people choose to bury their pets. We can provide a specially made burial bag for you.

Note that if you have other pets, it is possible they will mourn. Sometimes the mourning is obvious, and sometimes it is not. Please spend extra time with them in the weeks following this to be sure they are eating and drinking enough. Make sure to give them extra attention.

Take some time to mourn. For most of us, the loss of a pet is the loss of a close companion. If you wish to find people who understand this bond and have gone through similar losses, there are many local groups you can connect with. The MSU veterinary clinic has a pet loss support group that meets twice a month. There are also groups that meet in Ann Arbor, Bingham Farms, Farmington Hills, and Flint. If you are interested, follow the links below:

Links:
Pet loss support:
Pet Loss Website:
Pet Cremation Services:
Children and Pet Loss
Books on Pet Loss for adults and children

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*With your pet’s care in mind, we encourage you to plan ahead and schedule your consultation now if you are considering euthanasia for them in the near future.

If you are choosing a Private Cremation, choose an urn pictured below. This urn is included at no additional cost.