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FAQ's
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I schedule an appointment?
- You can reach out to schedule an appointment via the form on the website to request an appointment.
- You may also email us directly at Info@sunsetveterinarycare.com.
- Another way you can contact us is via phone call at (619)244-7311. Please be sure to leave a message as we may be unable to answer your call if we are helping another client.
Regardless of how you choose to contact us, PLEASE be sure to leave AS MUCH information as you can. This would include your name, your pet’s name, the species of your pet (cat/dog), the weight of your pet, your address, a general idea of what is going on, when you are looking for assistance, and how we can best get back in touch with you. Please understand that we may be assisting other clients and may not be back in touch right away. Having said that, we WILL try to reach out to you as soon as we can and always within 24 hours unless otherwise noted.
How will I know it’s time?
- It is my strong belief that you, the pet parent, knows your pet the best. You know what makes them happy, what brings them joy, and knows the quality of life that they have enjoyed. Sometimes the change is abrupt and extreme and the decision is very clear. Oftentimes toward the end of life for many pets and their parents, it is a bit of a roller-coaster, with a bad day where you think it may be time, just to have them rebound and have a good day or string of good days. This can oftentimes make the decision confusing. Frequently the question of “is it time?” is accompanied by changes in general behavior and attitude, loss of weight, decrease in appetite, changes in water intake, inability to get around comfortably or at all, and changes in mentation. What is paramount during this time is to focus on our pet’s quality of life, despite our own fears and attachments. Additionally, it is important to evaluate proposed treatment costs and effects in relation to outcome and your own circumstances. These are all important and valid dynamics to take into consideration when making this difficult decision. Having an open dialogue with your trusted veterinary team is also important during this time, as they can give you added guidance.
- Some of the following exercises may be helpful to you when you are making your decision….
- Try to keep track of your pets’ days. When the bad days are outweighing the good days it is probably time.
- Think of three things that your pet enjoys. When they are no longer doing two of those things then it may be time.
- These may include, but are not limited to:
- Eating
- Wanting to go for walks
- Greeting you at the door
- Seeking affection
- General Mobility
- Ability to Urinate and Defecate on their own appropriately
- Rest / sleep comfortably
- Resources to help you determine if it’s time.
- These may include, but are not limited to:
Why can’t I just let my pet pass on its own?
- While some people may want their pet to simply “fall asleep” on their own and pass naturally, the reality is that oftentimes natural death is preceded by immense pain and suffering. Cats and dogs will keep trying to act normally and hide their pain despite their immense discomfort. They also are very good at hiding their pain and suffering, so by the time we see and recognize it, they have endured far more than we have realized. As their pet parents and guardians, it is our job to let them know that it is “okay”….. they don’t have to keep going. We are able to give them this gift of euthanasia, “good death”, in the comfort of their home and surrounded by their favorite people. Essentially, we are able to give them that “passing in their sleep” that many of us wish them to have.
How much does it cost?
- In-home Pet Euthanasia
- Initial phone consult
- House Call
- Pre-sedation / Pain Injection
- Humane Euthanasia
- Fur Clipping Keepsake
- Notification to your primary veterinarian of the pet’s passing
- Cost $400
- * Additional fees may be applied for after-hours appointments, holiday appointments, aggressive pets, or appointments outside our normal service area
- Aftercare Services
- Communal Cremation
- This service is available and best for clients who want to have their pets cremated but are not interested in getting their remains returned to them.
- Pets under 30 lbs. – $100
- Pets over 30 lbs. – $195
- Communal Cremation
- Private Cremation
- This service is best for those pet parents who wish to have their pet cremated and the remains of their pet returned to them. The ashes of only your pet will be returned in a beautifully crafted cedar urn.
- Remains hand-delivered in a timely manner, typically within 24-48 hours.
- $345
- If you choose to have the urn personally engraved, we can do that for an additional $45 + tax
- Private Cremation
- Keepsake Mementos – For an additional cost, you can also request to receive an individual clay paw print memento or an ink paw/nose print to memorialize your pet and the wonderful memories shared together. Please be sure to notify us if you are interested in this addition.
- Clay Paw Print – $45 + tax
- Ink Paw or Nose Print – $25.00 + tax
- Keepsake Mementos – For an additional cost, you can also request to receive an individual clay paw print memento or an ink paw/nose print to memorialize your pet and the wonderful memories shared together. Please be sure to notify us if you are interested in this addition.
Why should I euthanize at home instead of taking my pet to the hospital?
- When it is at all possible, allowing your pet to be in the comfort of their own home is the best option for end of life care. Oftentimes the veterinary hospital can be a cold, noisy, unfamiliar environment that can cause anxiety and stress in both animals and their pet parents. Oftentimes pets are in immense pain and uncomfortable in the end stages of life. This makes moving them and transporting them to the veterinary hospital stressful. It is our belief that allowing your pet and you to be at home in their final moments where they are in a familiar and soothing environment, offers an immense sense of peace for both the pet and pet owner during a difficult time.
Can I be with my pet throughout the euthanasia process?
- We encourage any family members who wish to be present throughout the appointment to do so. Having said that, it is completely acceptable if you choose to take a break or to not be present for any portion of the appointment.
How is the euthanasia procedure? Will it be painful?
- The euthanasia is meant to be as painless a process as we can make it. Your pet will be in their own home and be able to be comforted by their family. Upon arrival at your home, we will administer a personalized medication cocktail injection based on your pet’s species, weight, and overall condition, using a very small needle and in as painless a process as we can. Shortly after this your pet will drift off gradually into a pain-free, comfortable, deep anesthetic sleep.
Will my pet know what is happening?
- It is our goal to make this as peaceful of an experience as we can. Your pets will know that they are at home, surrounded by their favorite people, and in the comfort of their home. After the initial sedation / relaxation cocktail is administered they will simply drift off gradually into a pain-free, comfortable, deep anesthetic sleep.
What do I need to do to prepare for the euthanasia?
- You don’t need to do anything specific prior to the euthanasia appointment. If there are meaningful things that you want to do to create a calming atmosphere for you and your pet, we encourage you to do what speaks to you. This could include but is not limited to, preparing their favorite bed, having their favorite blanket present, having a special song or type of music playing in the background, etc. If your pet still has an appetite, we do encourage you to have some of their favorite treats on hand for us to use during the appointment process itself. We do ask that any family members, or friends that you wish to have present at the appointment, be present prior to the start of the appointment time to ensure that everyone has enough time to say goodbye.
Should my kid’s be present?
- This is a completely individual decision and up to you as their parents. For some children, being present can bring closure and comfort to them. For other children, they may not fully understand what is happening or why and being present may cause them more distress. If you have been able to explain what is going to happen and why and your child shares interest in being present, it can often be a rewarding experience for them and oftentimes is their first exposure to life and death.
Should my other pets be present?
- It is definitely okay for your other pet family members to be present, but also I wouldn’t force it. Pet will grieve too in their own way. It can be helpful for other pet family members to take a sniff of your pet after it’s passed to help them process that they have passed versus just disappearing. The only time that I will recommend for pet family members to be separated from the procedure and not present is if you think that they will be a significant distraction for you, or if you think that they may be possessive or aggressive. In these situations, it would be for the safety of everyone involved to have them not be present.
When can I schedule an appointment?
- Often times the decision of when to euthanize can be difficult and confusing. We recommend you contact us as soon as you are contemplating if it’s the “right time”. This allows us to get the necessary information from you and further discuss your concerns. When the time is imminent we recommend calling and scheduling the appointment. While we may be able to accommodate last minute appointments, allowing some time for scheduling ensures our ability to best assist you and your pet. We do not recommend scheduling more than 10 days in advance as your pet’s health will often change day to day towards the end of life. Our ultimate goal is to assist as many pet parents and their beloved pet transition and to end suffering in a timely and peaceful manner.
What happens if I need to cancel?
- While we understand that circumstances may arise where you may feel the need to cancel an appointment, it is our goal to help as many families during this difficult time as possible. If you schedule an appointment and then need to cancel in a short period of time, we will need to charge a cancellation fee equal to half of the appointment fee.
What happens with my pet after the appointment?
If you choose Communal or Individual Private Cremation, we will help coordinate transportation of your pet to Faithful Companion Cremation Services where your pet will be treated with respect throughout the process.
Do I need to make arrangements for aftercare?
- We know how difficult this time can be for you and we want to try to ease the stress as much as we can. For this reason, if you choose communal or private cremation through our services, then we will take your sweet pet with us and handle the aftercare details.
- If you choose however to use an alternative aftercare service, then yes, you will need to make those arrangements.
- We know how difficult this time can be for you and we want to try to ease the stress as much as we can. For this reason, if you choose communal or private cremation with our partner Faithful Companion Cremation Services, we will help coordinate pickup of your pet or transport to the facility where they will be respectfully cremated in a timely manner.
- If you choose however to use an alternative aftercare service, then yes, you will need to make those arrangements and are responsible for following local city and county laws.
Can I make personal arrangements for cremation or burial?
You are welcome to make your own arrangements for cremation or other aftercare if you choose. Regarding home burial, it is strictly your responsibility as the pet parent to research, understand and abide by all local and state laws or ordinances regarding the matter. It is important for you to understand proper burial techniques. If any animal or wildlife were to dig up the remains and ingest them, they could die due to residual euthanasia solution. There may also be hefty fines and penalties for any wildlife that ingests and is affected by the remains. It is our recommendation to consider private cremation and then spreading or burying the cremated remains to avoid some of the potential negative concerns.
What happens if my pet passes prior to the appointment?
While we as pet parents try to do our best to ensure proper timing of euthanasia, there are times where your pet may pass on their own before we can assist them. In this instance, we ask that you notify us right away. We are still happy to assist with coordinating aftercare.
How long will it take to get my pet’s ashes back if I am choosing private cremation?
If you choose private cremation with Sunset Veterinary Care, it is our goal to get your beloved pet home in a timely and secure manner. For this reason we have partnered with Faithful Companion Cremation Services to provide respectful and timely handling of your pet’s remains. Typically ashes are hand delivered back to you within 24-48 hours in most situations.
Does Sunset Veterinary Care provide general wellness and sick pet care?
- Sunset Veterinary Care provides exclusively in-home end-of-life pet euthanasia services. As a mobile veterinary service we do NOT provide any emergency services, urgent services, diagnostic services, or wellness services. If you are in need of services other than end of life pet euthanasia please consult with your regular veterinary hospital or with one of the local emergency hospitals.
I am having a hard time grieving. Are there resources to help?
- It is important to know that you are not alone. This can be one of the most difficult times of one’s life. So many times I have been to an appointment and clients will tell me that this, losing their pet, is much more difficult than when they lost their own parent. Our pets often become our best friends and oftentimes see us through some of the highest and lowest points in our lives. Again, you are not alone and their are a variety of resources out there to hep you.
- Pet Loss Support
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
- Michigan State University Veterinary Medical Center Pet Support
- APLB – Association for Pet Loss & Bereavement