Veterinary euthanasia

The EVC team is here to support you if you need to resort to veterinary euthanasia.

Being faced with the need to call for end-of-life medical assistance (veterinary euthanasia) is an upsetting situation, whether it is euthanasia at home or euthanasia in a veterinary center.

Your pet is an integral part of your family, whether it is a dog, a cat or another species. It has been there to share your daily life, your joys and moments of complicity.

The EVC team is here to accompany and support you in these difficult times.

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

Although one may feel a sense of guilt, euthanasia remains the gentlest and least cruel option for animals suffering from a terminal illness or pain with no hope of recovery.

The veterinarian will accompany you without judgment and with empathy throughout the procedure. He will take the time necessary to discuss with you your animal’s condition, its state of health, its current treatments as well as the different options for it.

Our team is categorically opposed to any euthanasia of convenience. The end-of-life decision is part of a medical framework in compliance with the regulations in force and with respect for animal dignity. This process requires dialogue, awareness of all therapeutic options and awareness of emotional and psychological issues.

End of life,
at home.

Your pet is a cherished member of your family, and choosing to be by their side during their final moments in the comfort of home can provide them with a sense of peace and familiarity.

Our home-visit veterinarian offers this service with deep compassion and understanding, providing you with the support you need during this emotionally challenging time.

Just as with human care, there are moments when it’s best for “the hospital to come to you,” ensuring palliative and end-of-life care is delivered in a loving, serene environment surrounded by those who care most.

Learn more about end of life at home Learn more about end of life at home →

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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.