the Cost of Euthanasia for a Pet

My senior dog was ready to be put down and our regular vet had retired. We used a near-by veterinarian office that charged the above price for euthanasia combined with a county burial.

While saying good bye to a beloved pet is difficult, a good pet owner knows when euthansia is the humane thing to do. I found it difficult to inquire with numerous offices, so selected an office near our home. The veterinarian was extremely understanding of the situation and it was obvious that their office had vast experience with the process.

They had a room prepared for the dog well in advance of our appointment time. This meant there was no waiting in the waiting room amongst other visitors and their pets, which made us more comfortable. Another factor that was appreciated was the way in which the veterninarian explained the process step by step, offered her opinion on end of life matters for dogs, and was very supportive.

While the typical cost of euthanasia is based primarily on the weight of the dog, as is the burial, certain services are priceless. This office was not only kind and humane, the vet made an impression of our dog's paw print on a stenciled ceramic circle and sent it home with instructions to bake and glaze it. It was a much appreciated memorialization that was unexpected and now invaluable. This particular service underscored their commitment to both the pet's comfort and that of their human owners.

The total cost broke down to almost half the cost going towards euthanasia and the other half the fee for a county burial. Obviously costs would vary for other types of burial or disposal. The only options here are cremation or private burial in a pet cemetery; burial in your yard is illegal.

The service we received was even followed up with an appropriate sympathy card and a hand written note from the vet that performed it.

I highly recommend checking with vets well in advance of the need for euthanasia. It is a difficult descision process that is much more difficult to execute. Knowing that you have selected a supportive and understanding veterinarian will ease the process a bit. If possible, make arrangements before hand to pay for the service. This way, you can exit the office or facility without dealing with this formality and it beats getting a bill in the mail several days later that only stirs up another round of emotional turmoil.