You may have anyone present that is important to you and your pet. It can be a very intimate time involving just you and your pet or it can be a bigger gathering, with many people that are important in your pet's life. We will guide everyone present through what to expect and answer any questions.

In most cases, yes. It helps them understand that their friend has passed. Even excitable pets usually settle quickly and we will give them time to do so.

However, if a pet is very anxious, the emotions in the room may heighten their stress. In this case, they can stay in a familiar space elsewhere and see their friend afterward.

For boisterous pets who don’t settle within 5–10 minutes, keeping them in another room can help you focus on saying goodbye.

We do recommend that you allow other pets in the household to see you pet's body after, to allow your pet time to acknowledge their companion's death.

We would advise to ask your child if they want to be present. We find from a very young age they often know if they would like to be there or not.

Being at home gives them the option of staying for as little or long as they like.

Firstly, It is good to decide if you would prefer children to be part of the euthanasia experience or if you would prefer not to have any distractions and be able to fully concentrate on your pet yourself.

The answer to this question really depends on the individual child, as their parent you know best your child’s personality and whether it is appropriate or not to give them the option to be there.

If you decide you want a child to have the option, we find that from a very early age kids can have quite a strong opinion about this, so we would advise asking them directly and not assuming either way.

Children as young as 3 years old may have an opinion. Often however, they don’t know and need some more information to help them to decide. If they are sure that they don’t want to be present, then it is important to respect their wishes. We all deal with death in our own ways, and it is kind to honour our children’s and our own ways through grief.

Secondly, check with the veterinarian team that will be carrying out euthanasia, as it can depend on what is wrong with your pet and subsequently how they may respond to sedation. A pet’s temperament can affect how easy it is to give your pet sedation.

At Our Pet's Goodbye, each step of a home euthanasia is very much intended that it is a gentle process and appropriate for children to be around. We are always happy to have children there and answer any questions that they may have.

It is really helpful to talk to your children about being as quiet and as calm as possible as your pet is starting to get sedated. It can be tempting to have food to quieten children but it can be distracting for a pet that hasn’t lost its appetite and can delay your pet’s sedation.

One of the great benefits of being at home is that children can be part of the euthanasia visit but be able to go away and play if they get bored or don’t want to be around anymore. In the clinic, it can be harder to balance everyone's needs, for example if they are too young to wait in the waiting room by themselves but have changed their mind about wanting to be around.

Depending on the age of the children you may have to practice the language that you are going to use. If they are young, we try to avoid saying that the pet is going to go to sleep, as this can be confusing for kids and hard for them to understand why they might not die when they go to sleep each night.

We will check with parents first, but we advise using straightforward language, we usually say that we are firstly going to give some painkillers and sedation to make your pet comfortable and want to lie down. We are then going to give them some special medication that we only use for euthanasia that will stop the pet’s heart and help the pet to die without pain.

Why? This will be asked very many times especially when your child realises actually what is happening. A good answer can be because your pet is really sick and or sore and we can’t make them better. We are doing this because we can’t make them better.

You can be ready to explain in way that fits your beliefs, about what happens to your pet at this point. For example it can be that their body is left behind and that their soul is now gone – to become a star, to go to heaven or has just finished it’s time with us or whatever you want to pass on to your children.

There are often questions about what happens to the body afterwards and this is very confusing for children. We find that children sometimes are not sure that the pet is dead because the body is still there. Their experience of death if they have any, may be that someone they have known has just stopped being in their life, they’ve essentially just disappeared.

When they realise this isn’t what happens kids often then ask why the body needs to be taken away, why they can’t just keep it. You can explain that we can’t leave it as it gets smelly and not nice to be around because it is not alive any longer. We need to help the body to break down either by burying the body or cremating the body – then get ready for explaining cremation.

Cremation is a way to quickly make the body become ash that we can scatter when we remember our pets or we can keep at home to help us always remember them and have what’s left of their body with us.

We will offer paw prints or nose prints and this can be a great distraction and a lovely thing for a child to have from their pet to remember them by.

Great ideas to help children through this process is to get them writing letters to go with their pet (get ready to really cry when you read these) and to decorate boxes as coffins (generally for smaller pets). Picking flowers to go with them can be really good to do as well.

You can save a pet’s collar to put around a plant pot and plant a special plant in memory of the pet.

This can be a very normal thought pattern. As humans we often question our decisions. Keep in mind all the reasons that we will have discussed with you about the decision. As veterinary professionals, we don't want to euthanase any animals that we think have a different option available to them.

If we have agreed to euthanase your pet, then we agree that this is the kindest option for them. It is often a complex situation where your pets needs are balanced with your values and understanding of their quality of life.

Remember that no one takes this decision lightly and you are making this decision out of love for wanting the best outcome for your pet and for them not to prevent prolonged distress.

The reason that there is so much grief after pet loss, is due to how much love there is for them in life and the bond you shared was unique and unconditional. Pets get a part of us that the humans in our life often don't get, making this relationship very precious.

Coping with Loss

Losing a pet is like losing a family member. When they’re gone, it’s natural to feel a deep sense of grief. Everyone experiences loss differently, and there’s no "right" way to mourn—but here are some gentle ways to support yourself through the process:

Allow Yourself to Grieve

Your grief is real and valid. Whether your pet was with you for months or many years, their absence can leave a huge space in your life. Give yourself permission to feel whatever comes—sadness, guilt, anger, or even relief. It’s all part of the healing process.

Honour Their Memory

Creating a ritual or memorial can bring comfort and help you say goodbye. You might:

• Light a candle or hold a small farewell ceremony

• Keep a special photo or item (like a collar or paw print)

• Plant a tree or flower in their memory

These acts can help give meaning to their passing and celebrate the joy they brought into your life.

Talk About Your Loss

It’s okay to reach out. Sharing memories and emotions with trusted friends, family, or others who have experienced pet loss can be incredibly healing. You're not alone. If you’re struggling, a grief counsellor or pet loss support group can offer guidance.

Express Your Feelings

Writing about your pet, creating art, or simply speaking their name can be a beautiful way to honour their presence in your life. Some people find comfort in writing a letter to their pet, expressing their love and saying goodbye.

Keep a Routine

If you have other pets or daily responsibilities, try to keep a gentle structure. Familiar routines can offer a sense of stability when everything feels off balance.

Be Kind to Yourself

Grief affects us emotionally, mentally, and physically. Rest when you need to. Cry when you need to. Laugh when the memories come. This is a time for compassion—especially toward yourself.

When to Seek Support

If your grief feels overwhelming or prolonged, professional help is available. Speaking with a therapist who understands pet loss can make a big difference in how you process your emotions and begin to heal.

You Gave Them a Life Full of Love

While your pet’s time here has ended, the love you shared continues. In time, those sharp edges of grief will soften, leaving you with treasured memories that bring more comfort than pain.

Yes, it can be very helpful to book a quality of life consultation on the phone to understand what your pet's situation is.

Being ready is being at a point of understanding that although your pet is having snippets of acceptable life quality, their enjoyment of life is deteriorating and being more and more mixed with pain and, or increasing difficulty carrying out their daily routines, along with many other factors individual to your pet.

We offer free phone calls, to discuss your pet's individual situation. There’s no pressure or judgment - just a chance to talk through what’s best for your pet.