Canine Memorial                                                                            Feline Memorial

Making the decision............ The bad days are starting to out weigh the good, more often than not you may be coming home and wonder if your pet will be there to greet you.......... If you are here reading this no doubt the thought has crossed your mind that the end may be near. No one wants their beloved companion to suffer but the stoic nature of these little creatures make it difficult to "tell" if they are suffering. Here are some questions to ask yourself:

Is my pet finding joy in life?

Do they still like to play?

Have their habits changed?

Have they stopped coming as quickly when you call or come home?

Do they spend the same amount of time with you that they used to or have they started to isolate themselves? 

Are they eating and drinking with the same gusto they used to?

These questions are not the only determining factors when considering euthanasia but play an important role in evaluating quality of life.

The indicators that your pet is painful or suffering can be very vague and subtle. In the case of a diagnosed terminal illness,the changes in your pet tend to be or seem sudden and extreme. You are aware, sometimes for months, that only so much can be done to keep them comfortable and when all reasonable treatments have been exhausted you know it is time.

In the case of a geriatric patient they naturally age and changes tend to go unnoticed this can make end of life decisions more difficult to make. Age is not a disease but there are diseases that come with age......some can be treated some can not.  In either case we will be there for you to guide you through this difficult time.

Once the decision has been made you will need to contact the office so your pets record can be reviewed and appropriate arrangements can be made. You will want to consider whether or not you want to remain present for the proceedure. We know how hard it was for you to come to this decision therefore we will do our very best to accommodate you as quickly as possible. If you have chosen to remain present you will need to schedule an appointment.

If you have chosen not to remain present with your pet we feel it is important for you to know not everyone "can"  be there at the end and we understand. Your companion will be cared for as if they were our own we have all been where you are right now. They will be given love and kind words and the proceedure will be done immediately they will not sit in a cage.

When you bring your pet in you will be asked to sign a consent form and asked about care of remains if a decision had not been made prior. You can choose to have your pet communally cremated ( you do not get the ashes back) or privately cremated ( you do get the ashes back) your pet will remain with us until Twin Oaks Pet Cemetery  comes to assist in carrying out your wishes. If you have chosen to have your pets cremains returned to you, they will be returned in a wooden urn and our office will call as soon as they are back.

We want you to remember you are not alone and it is not silly to grieve for your dear little companion...........they deserve your tears. We will be here for you before and after your loss never hesitate to reach out..............

Coping with the loss of your pet

Pet Loss Support Group - Palm Beach Veterinary Specialist