Paws To Rest FAQ

If your pet is elderly or has a terminal illness, we recommend scheduling your appointment well in advance. When you feel “it’s time,” we strongly encourage you to book your appointment before it becomes an urgent situation. Our last-minute and weekend appointment fill up very quickly, and we want to be there for you, if you need us.

However, if your pet’s health has suddenly deteriorated and you need to book an appointment immediately, we will do our best to try to accommodate you at short notice if we have space available in our schedule. Please contact our Client Services Team at 1 (888)908-0448 to book your appointment.

This is one of the hardest decisions that every pet owner has to face. In general, if your pet is suffering, is terminally ill or having more bad days than good, the decision to euthanize should be discussed with your Veterinarian. You can also book a Quality Of Life Consultation or download our ‘Is It Time’ guide which includes a Quality of Life checklist.

If you’ve already determined that it’s time for your pet to pass over, but your pet then has a “good day”, you need to keep in mind your pet’s overall quality of life. Euthanasia is done for the best interest of the animal to ensure they’re not in pain or suffering. If you decide to cancel your appointment we ask that you give us at least 24-hours notice.

Due to regulations mandated by the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association (ABVMA), we are unable to post our prices publicly. Please contact us at 1(888)908-0448 for pricing or click here to have us personally email you our fee guide.

Your pet may experience some minor discomfort, similar to a vaccine injection, while receiving the initial sedative. After receiving the sedative, the pet is very relaxed as it also includes a strong pain reliever. In most cases, pets don’t react at all to the second needle, which completes the euthanasia process.

Due to regulations mandated by the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association (ABVMA), we are unable to post our prices publicly. Please contact us at 1(888)908-0448 for pricing or click here to have us personally email you our fee guide.

The entire appointment generally lasts anywhere from 30-40 minutes. Once your Vet has set up and answered all your questions, your pet will first be given a sedative to make them more comfortable. The sedative also contains a strong pain reliever, so your pet will soon become quite relaxed within 5-10 minutes.

Once you and your pet are ready, the vet will administer the medication that gently “puts your pet to sleep”, which typically happens almost immediately after injection.

There are some natural physiological changes that may occur during euthanization. Your Veterinarian will walk you through the process, including what to expect both during and after the procedure.

No. Your pet can maintain his normal eating and drinking schedule before the procedure. Many clients love to spoil their pets in their final hours with a special meal or treats.

No. Your Vet will conduct a pre-euthanasia exam to understand your pet’s health and quality of life. At your appointment, if it is determined that your pet is not medically ready to be euthanized, our Vet will not perform the procedure and you will instead be charged for a Quality of Life visit.

You can have as many or as few people as you would like present during your pet’s euthanasia. It is a very personal choice and we would like to make it as comfortable as possible. Some people find the process is very difficult and appreciate having at least one friend or family member present for support.

If you have small children and are unsure if they should also be present, please discuss it with your Vet and they can help you decide if it’s appropriate.

 

It’s totally up to you and where your pet is the most comfortable. Many of our clients want to say goodbye to their pet in their garden or backyard. We will do our best to accommodate any location that is the most comfortable and suitable for your beloved pet. You can discuss the location with your Vet when they arrive for your appointment.

You are free to set up the space however you desire for your pet’s euthanasia. Many clients have put on special music, lit candles, and burned incense to make their pet’s passing more comfortable. 

That is entirely up to you. Many of our clients find that having their other pets in the room with them provides a sense of comfort, however we also have clients that choose to bring their pets in after the procedure. It can sometimes be comforting for your other pets to say goodbye after the euthanasia to help them process what has happened.

Whatever you decide, we’ll support your decision to help make your experience more comfortable.

Yes, Paws to Rest is a service proudly provided by Vets To Go in Calgary and Edmonton.

No, you don’t. Anyone can schedule a Paws To Rest Quality of Life Consultation or Compassionate Euthanasia service regardless of the vet clinic you currently use.

If you would like your pet cremated with a small toy or their collar, please let our team know when they come to pick up your pet. Please note that including fabrics, toys or collars may discolour your pet’s ashes.

The majority of our clients have the Paws To Rest team pickup their pet’s remains and take them for cremation. If you prefer, you are more than welcome to take your pet to the cremation facility of your choosing or bury them according to your wishes.

We understand how difficult this process can be for pet owners. Some of our clients prefer to pre-pay the fees for euthanasia and after care (pet removal, cremation, urns, etc…) before their appointment, with our service team to minimize stress during the appointment. You can also pay for our services in person with your Vet during your appointment, if you prefer.

In some instances we can euthanize and cremate small exotic pets. Please contact us at 1(888)908-0448 for more specific information.

We have a small selection of urns and memorial items available for purchase through Paws To Rest. You can view them here.

We know how difficult this process is and don’t want you to feel rushed to choose an Urn or other memorial item. However, if you would like a clay paw print done, we need to know at the time of pickup, as that item is time sensitive.

If you schedule a euthanasia and pickup service through Paws To Rest, our team will coordinate for your pet to be picked up immediately following your appointment.

If your pet passed away without euthanasia, we will do our best to have a member of our team pick up your pet’s remains as soon as possible. Please contact us at 1(888)908-0448 to schedule a pickup appointment.

Unfortunately, no. If your pet passes away while our office is closed, please contact us and our Client Services Team will contact you as soon as we reopen.

We recommend preparing your pet’s remains as soon as possible after their passing to make the process less stressful. You can find instructions on preparing your pet’s remain by clicking here.

Yes. If you pet passes away suddenly our Paws To Rest Aftercare team can collect your pet’s remains and handle the cremation process and memorial items. Please call our caring client services team at 1(888)908-0448 to schedule a pickup.

For ethical reasons, we will only perform compassionate euthanasia on pets that are terminally ill, elderly or suffering. If the reason to euthanize is based on other non-medical factors, we recommend that you contact an animal rescue in your area to discuss re-homing instead.

We understand how heartbreaking it can be and we’re here to support you through this difficult time. After losing a loved-one, it’s completely normal to feel a wide range of emotions including anger, guilt, sadness, shock, loneliness and denial, and it’s important that you allow yourself a chance to grieve your loss and process these feelings.  We’ve created a free online Pet Loss Resource Center with information about pet loss books, websites and counsellors that may be able to help you.