End of Life Decisions in Durham and Chapel Hill

End of Life Decisions in Durham and Chapel Hill 

At Durham’s New Hope Animal Hospital, our veterinary team knows just how difficult it can be to watch your pet suffering from an injury or terminal medical condition. Our pets are beloved members of the family, and losing them leaves a giant hole behind. While end-of-life decisions can be difficult to make, we are here to help ease your and your pet’s journey with care and compassion. 

Making an End-of-Life Decision for Your Pet

Sometimes it is difficult to know when euthanasia is the right decision for your pet, but your pet’s quality of life is the most important thing to consider. Does he or she still do the things that make life enjoyable? When a pet stops eating, does not want to interact with the family, or seems painful, euthanasia may well be the kindest and most selfless decision that you can make.  Terminal illnesses or grave injuries can lead down a long path of suffering without intervention, but euthanasia affords pets a dignified end without pain or fear.

Should you elect euthanasia for your pet, our goal is to make the process as stress-free as possible for your pet and your family. New Hope Animal Hospital does offer home visits ($110-150, depending on travel distance) for euthanasia with a little bit of advance notice. Alternately, we strive to be very flexible in scheduling an office visit that works for all of the family members you would like to be present to say goodbye.

You may decide whether or not you want to be present in the last moments of your pet’s life. If your dog or cat is anxious, pacing, or painful, we may suggest giving an injectable sedative to ease the process of euthanasia. Some pet parents who do not want to stay until the very end elect to leave after this sedation takes effect, as the pet is thoroughly asleep. Once your pet is relaxed, the final injection will be administered into a vein. This is an overdose of a heavy sedative that works within a few moments to stop the heart and cease brain activity, letting your pet pass gently away. 

What to do with your pet’s remains is a deeply personal choice. Some people choose to take their pet’s body home to bury in a familiar place. Others may choose to have their pet cremated, and may choose whether or not to have the ashes returned to them. New Hope uses the reputable local cremation service Faithful Friends, and ashes are generally returned within just a few days. New Hope also offers the no-cost option of disposing of the body through the City of Durham.

When you suspect that your pet’s life is coming toward its end, please reach out to our staff for support and suggestions on palliative care options. Sometimes the addition of pain medication or nausea medication is enough to keep an older animal feeling comfortable enough for their family to have more quality time before saying goodbye. Sometimes these steps are not sufficient, and a decision must be made. But our goal is always to keep the bond between you and your beloved pet intact, to help you do what you can to make them happy and comfortable, and to help you ease their passing when that time comes.