End of Life Pet Care

A difficult decision.

Seeing our pets get old is bittersweet; it’s wonderful to look back on all the memories you shared, but you also have to start planning for your pet’s end of life needs. At Sunridge Animal Hospital, we are glad to provide palliative and end of life care services, including pet euthanasia, to help cherished animal companions enjoy their remaining time in comfort and then pass on peacefully. As difficult as it is to make these kinds of decisions for your pet, we’re always here for you to offer our advice, support, and options so you’ll never feel alone.

Assessing Your Pet's Quality of Life

Quality of life is a major factor that will help us determine the best course of action for you and your pet. If your pet’s health has the potential to improve, we can talk to you about their palliative care options. If their health continues to diminish with no signs of improvement, we will need to discuss hospice care and pet euthanasia.

The most telling indicators of low quality of life include:

Little or no appetite, no interest in eating or drinking
Unable to walk up and down stairs
Cannot walk or stand at all
Loss of control of the bladder and/or bowels
No interest in playing with family or their favorite toy
Sleeping most of the day
Shows signs of being in pain (whimpering, hiding, shaking)

Coping with Pet Loss

Pets are family and losing them comes with the same grief as any other loss. If you’re struggling with grief following the loss of your pet, remember to:

Give yourself time to mourn and cry
Do your best to stick to your regular routine
Talk about your feelings with family, friends, or even our hospital staff
Memorialize your pet in a way that’s special to you

You can use these resources if you need additional support:

Please reach out to us at (702) 896-1716 if there’s anything we can do for you.