Making end-of-life decisions for your pet is always stressful, but being prepared can make this difficult time a little easier.
Many pet owners don’t have the funds set aside for euthanasia of their pet and don’t know how much it will cost, so it’s good to know this up front and know what you’re paying for.
A lot goes into humanely euthanizing a pet. The cost of euthanizing a pet can vary widely depending on all the factors involved. For example, it will obviously cost more to euthanize a large dog at home in the middle of the night and then bury it in a cemetery than it will to euthanize a cat during regular business hours in a clinic and then bury it at home.
Here’s what you need to know about the cost of euthanizing a dog or cat, and what you should be prepared to pay.
Pet euthanasia costs explained
Let’s take a look at the typical costs associated with euthanasia and the care that follows for your pet and what they entail. The fees shown here are: Cost of living This is slightly above the national average (Larimer County, Colorado).
If you live in an expensive area like Manhattan or San Francisco, you should prepare to pay more, but if you live in a less expensive part of the country, the cost will probably be less. After-hours euthanasia services will also cost more.
A typical pet euthanasia cost breakdown is as follows:
schedule
If your pet is to be euthanized, a veterinary clinic may charge a consultation fee. This is especially true if your pet has not been seen by the clinic’s veterinarian recently. If your pet has been seen by a veterinarian recently and a request for euthanasia is anticipated, the consultation fee may be waived.
The consultation fee covers the cost of a physical examination and discussion with your veterinarian to determine whether euthanasia is appropriate and, if so, how best to proceed. This also includes the time needed to answer any questions you may have about euthanasia and the aftercare of your pet’s body. Your veterinarian may also provide you with information about grieving your pet’s death and support resources for grieving your pet’s death.
The approximate costs for a consultation are as follows:
- Independent Veterinary Practice: $50-100
- Major chain veterinary hospitals: $58 ( Banfield Price Quote For postal code 80525
- Emergency Veterinary Hospital: $100-200
Home visits
You can also arrange for a visiting vet or a vet who specialises in at-home euthanasia to come to your home to perform the procedure, allowing your pet to rest peacefully at home in a familiar environment with the rest of your family and pets.
This fee is in lieu of a consultation fee, but is more expensive because it also takes travel costs and time into account. It is reasonable to charge for the additional time and mileage.
- Home visit: $100-200
- Additional travel expenses: $0-100 depending on distance
Euthanasia procedure
The next cost is for the actual procedure, which usually includes sedation, insertion of an IV catheter, and administration of euthanasia fluids.
Sedation
Most veterinarians will give dogs and cats a sedative injection (usually intramuscularly or subcutaneously) at the beginning of the euthanasia procedure, which reduces your pet’s anxiety and discomfort, making the procedure less stressful for everyone.
Sedation may not be necessary — for example, if your pet is already taking strong painkillers or sedatives, or is not very alert, an intravenous (IV) catheter may be inserted.
IV catheter
Veterinarians will typically insert an IV catheter if they plan to administer the euthanasia injection intravenously. Reliable access to the veins of a sick, injured, or dying pet can be difficult.
Inserting a catheter allows your veterinarian to be sure that when injecting the euthanasia solution, the solution is being injected into the vein and not into surrounding tissue, where it would be ineffective and painful.
IV Euthanasia Solution
The most common drugs used to euthanize pets are barbiturates, administered in very high doses. These drugs first shut down brain activity, stopping your pet’s breathing and heartbeat. This process may take several minutes, but because their brain is fully anesthetized, your pet will feel at ease and will have no idea what is happening.
The average cost of a euthanasia procedure is:
Independent Veterinary Practice
- Small pets: $75-100
- Large pets: $100-150
Major chain veterinary hospitals ( Banfield Price Quote For postal code 80525
Emergency Veterinary Hospital
- Small pets: $100-150
- Large pets: $150-200
In-home/Mobile Veterinary Services
- Small pets: $75-100
- Large pets: $100-150
Pet Aftercare
Fees associated with your pet’s aftercare may be included in the veterinary clinic’s euthanasia fee or may be charged separately.
Once a veterinarian has checked the heartbeat and confirmed death, aftercare begins, which includes preparing the body for handling, making clay paw prints and even clipping a small piece of fur as a keepsake.
If you prefer, your veterinarian’s office can arrange for your pet’s body to be transported to a local pet crematorium or cemetery. Options include:
Private Cremation
Your pet will be cremated themselves and their ashes will be collected, placed in a container and shipped back to you. The remains can be delivered to your home or picked up at your vet’s office or crematorium.
Cremation may be by cremation or other methods such as alkaline hydrolysis, also known as aquamination or liquid cremation. Aquamination is an environmentally friendly method of cremation that uses water, caustic lye, and heat.
- Small pets: $100-125
- Medium-sized pets: $125-150
- Large pets: $150-200
- Giant Pets: Approximately $1.50 per pound
- Special urn: Additional cost
Communal cremation
Your pet will be cremated along with any other pets and their ashes will usually be scattered on private property. Your pet’s ashes will not be returned to you.
- Small pets: Approx. $50
- Pets over 50 lbs: Approximately $1 per pound
Cemetery burial
You can also bury your pet in a pet-only cemetery or a “whole family” cemetery for a fee. The fee includes the burial plot, a standard granite headstone, opening and closing the cemetery, and long-term maintenance of the cemetery. Specialized headstones may cost more.
Home burial
In some areas, it is legal to bury animals on private property. Ask your veterinarian or check your local regulations to see if this is an option in your area.
Body provided
You may be able to donate your pet’s body to a veterinary school for educational purposes. After your pet’s body has been used for educational purposes, the veterinary teaching hospital will arrange for a cremation at no charge, but the ashes will not be returned. You may also request that your pet’s body be cremated privately at your own expense.
- Communal cremation: Usually free
- Individual cremation: $100-200
