Euthanasia

Caring and Compassionate Pet Euthanasia

Euthanasia is something most people would rather not think about, unfortunately, pets become old and ill, and when they appear to be suffering, sometimes pet euthanasia is the most caring and compassionate thing a pet owner can do for their pet.

Understanding When It's Time to Say Goodbye

It can be difficult for you to determine when it’s time to say goodbye to your pet, especially if your pet has good days and bad days. If you are unsure as to whether it’s time to say goodbye, South Tampa Veterinary Care can evaluate your pet’s health and answer your questions to help you make a decision.
STVC offers a Quality of Life Hand Out or Email to help decide when it is time to say good bye.

Conditions to consider euthanasia are those which cannot be alleviated with appropriate medications or they have reached the limit of those medications. 

These include:

Cancers

Chronic pain from arthritis

Chronic vomiting and/or diarrhea

Seizures or other neurological conditions

Chronic heart or kidney failure 

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In-Office Pet Euthanasia

Many pet owners choose in-office pet euthanasia. However, they still want their pets to be comfortable for the journey and to help reduce pet anxiety, and South Tampa Veterinary Care can help you make your pet’s final car ride more comfortable by providing you with a sedative that you can give to your pet prior to arriving at our veterinary office.

Once you arrive in our office, you will have the option of choosing how involved you wish to be in your pet’s final moments. If you wish to stay with your beloved dog or cat throughout their final moments, our team will escort you to a private room, or our outdoor patio, where you can say your goodbyes and hold your pet while he or she passes.

During the procedure, your veterinarian will give your pet a sedative to allow a painless injection of the medications that help your pet pass peacefully. Once your pet has passed, you will have the option of home burial, private cremation with return of your pet’s ashes or communal cremation where your pet’s ashes are not returned but spread at the crematory. We also offer clay paw prints, nose prints and custom urns and amulets. These aftercare offerings are provided by Honor Thy Pet Cremation Services. You can retrieve your pets cremains the following week at the clinic. 

At-Home Pet Euthanasia

An increasing number of pet owners are choosing at-home pet euthanasia to help their pets be as comfortable as possible and in a familiar environment. The process for at-home pet euthanasia is essentially the same as in the office. The only difference is that our veterinarian brings the medications to your home to be administered. Being at home also gives you the option of having your pet put to sleep either indoors or outdoors, depending on which you think your pet would prefer. Once the medication has been administered and your pet has passed peacefully, you will be given time to grieve. If you do not elect home burial, Honor Thy Pet Cremation Services will transport your pet for cremation with options as offered with the In-Office Euthanasia setting. This service may be scheduled  2 to 3 days in advance Monday through Friday. They are made as the last appointment before our midday break or the last appointment at the end of day. 

If you would like an at-home euthanasia outside of these hours, Lap of Love is available at (813) 407-9441.

For questions about pet euthanasia or to schedule an appointment with South Tampa Veterinary Care, call us at (813) 835-8500 today. We’d be happy to make this difficult process a little easier on your family.

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