Losing a pet is heartbreaking for the pet owner. Throughout their lives, pets create a deep bond with their owners. The death of a pet fills life with sadness and grief, like losing a family member. You may be curious about what happens to your pet after euthanasia. What do vets do with the dead pet?
Veterinarians follow compassionate, professional procedures to ensure the dignity of the pet after its passing. There are various humane options you can choose from to handle your beloved pet. Here, we are going to discuss four of them.
4 Pet Aftercare Options
It is hard to deal with the loss when your beloved pet passes away. Nothing can prepare you for that. It is even harder to decide what to do next. In this emotionally painful situation, you have to make this tough decision. The only alternative is to plan ahead of time.
If your pet is old and sick you can call your vet and have a discussion. Your vet can suggest to you when to do euthanasia and what you can do with your pet's remains. If you want you can bury your pet at home but this would require some space. It can make you feel close to your deceased pet.
If you live in a city or don’t want a home burial, then you can call your vet. Many veterinarian clinics have euthanasia and aquamation/cremation services. Here are several options for you to choose from. Decide how you want to show gratitude and say the final goodbye to your pet.
1.Private Aquamation/Cremation
When the vets are done with euthanizing your pet, you can ask them for a private aquamation or cremation. If your pet dies at home, you can take your pet to a vet clinic or call for pickup services.
In private aquamation/cremation, the pet’s body is aquamated/cremated individually. The veterinarian ensures the owner receives only their pet's ashes. Many pet owners store the ashes in urns or create keepsakes such as jewelry or memorial stones.
For private aquamation/cremation, you can choose personalized urns. The payment is normally made in advance. For small pets, the cost varies between $300-$400. If your pet is large the cost of individual aquamation/cremation may be $450 or more.
You can honor your pet through a memorial for their remains. You can scatter their ashes in their favorite location. You can do a home burial for your beloved pet. Or, you can bury your pet at pet cemeteries.
You can show gratitude to your deceased pet by creating a pet memorial. There are options to make memorial jewelry, wind charms, and glass art. Memorial stones, aquamation/cremation diamonds, photo frame urns, and candle urns are some other popular choices.
2.Communal Aquamation/Cremation
In communal aquamation/cremation, deceased pets are cremated alongside other animals and spread at sea. The veterinarian won’t return the ashes to the owner. Knowing your pet's ashes are with other animals can be comforting for some of you.
Communal aquamation/cremation is often a more affordable option. The cost varies between $200-$350, depending on your pet's size. The professionals handle your pets and their remains with dignity and respect.
Communal aquamation/cremation is often seen as an eco-friendly option. The pets' cremated remains are spread in the ocean. Pet owners can visit the ocean for a sense of closure.
3.Home Burial
If you want you can bury your pet at home, but this would require some space and effort. It can make you feel close to your deceased pet. It’s recommended that you check with local ordinances to ensure home burial is legal and follow the guidelines for safe, secure burial.
4.Cemetery Burial
As a pet owner, if you don’t want your deceased pet cremated, you can choose to purchase a cemetery plot for your pet. Typically, the cemetery will arrange for the burial according to your wishes.
Conclusion on What Do Vets Do with Dead Pets
Every life comes to an end. Funerals let us say farewell to our loved ones. If your pet has passed away, you have to make the hard choices and say goodbye. You can do a private aquamation/cremation and burial, burial at home or in a cemetery or communal aquamation/cremation without burial for your pet.
It’s okay to feel sad. You are not alone in your grief. Reach out to a friend or family member if you need any help. You can find a pet loss support group. Talk to your veterinarian if you have questions or need support.
If you live in San Diego, you can contact the veterinary service at Peaceful Veterinary Care. We provide in-home or in-office consultations, emotional and professional support, and more. Visit our website and call us today!
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