End of life at home, veterinary euthanasia

End-of-Life care and at-home Euthanasia. Providing a gentle, compassionate environment for a challenging time.

Facing the need to seek medical assistance for at-home euthanasia of your beloved companion is a deeply emotional and challenging experience. This decision, though sometimes necessary, is always profoundly heart-wrenching.

The end of life at home (veterinary at-home euthanasia) provides your pet the opportunity to spend their final moments in a familiar, loving environment filled with comfort and compassion. This approach spares them the stress and discomfort of a potentially painful trip to a clinic.

Our veterinarians offer empathetic, non-judgmental support throughout the process, taking the time to discuss your pet’s condition, overall health, ongoing treatments, and the available options.

We firmly oppose at-home euthanasia for convenience. Such decisions must adhere to a medical framework, respecting current regulations and prioritizing the dignity of the animal. This sensitive journey requires open dialogue, consideration of all therapeutic options, and recognition of the emotional and psychological weight it carries.

The EVC team is dedicated to supporting and guiding you during this difficult time, ensuring compassionate care for both you and your companion in the comfort of your home.

Take all the time you need, we are here for you

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Walk-in services available 24h/7, including weekends and holidays

Veterinary euthanasia, step by step

What is the end-of-life procedure?

The veterinarian is there to ensure that the entire procedure is carried out calmly and gently:

First, we set up the place where the procedure will take place so that your pet is as comfortable as possible.
Then, we perform a classic anesthesia to remove your pet’s consciousness and suffering.
Finally, we perform a quick and painless injection of a product that stops cardiac, respiratory and cerebral activity. Both steps are brief.

After the cardiac activity has stopped, we are able to declare death.

You can decide whether or not to attend all or part of your pet’s end-of-life procedure.

This is an emotional time and you must know how to respect your limits if the situation is too trying. If you do not wish to assist, the veterinarian will make sure to be as gentle as possible with companionship, cuddles and soothing words throughout the procedure.

What happens next?

The veterinarian is there to guide you on what to do next, several options can be offered to you.

First of all, there is professional care of the body. The veterinarian can take charge of your pet’s body and organize its cremation with Crémadog

, guaranteeing ethical and responsible care.

Three cremation options are available:

collective cremation where your pet will be cremated at the same time as other animals and its ashes will be scattered in the Garden of Remembrance
individual cremation where your pet will be cremated alone and its ashes will be returned to you in a funeral urn.
Individual cremation without recovery of the ashes.

However, if you prefer (and if your companion meets the conditions) there is the possibility of burying it in your garden. All the information and legal framework can be found in the following article: “When my pet joins the stars“.

Some useful reading when faced with veterinary euthanasia

They are companions, masters of life. Their absence can create a void as painful as the newspaper of a loved one. Real work of mourning is necessary, all the more difficult because it is often misunderstood and underestimated.

Here are some useful links:

The AVSDS (Association Vivre Son Deuil Suisse) has a special helpline for people grieving the death of a pet. Here is their number: 078 898 83 11
The guide Facing the death of a pet developed by the association QUATRE PATTES in Switzerland.
The guide The child and the death of a domestic animal developed by the Canadian association Fondation Lucie et André Chagnon (Naître et Grandir).

In case of doubt, the EVC team is there for you and your pet. We can also welcome you to one of our veterinary emergency centers.