Preparing Ahead: When Your Pet is Terminally Ill

The loss of a beloved pet companion is very difficult to think about and Is not something most people plan for. However, when one is told that a pet has a terminal illness, there are many decisions that must be made. None of these decisions are pleasant, but it helps if one knows the options ahead of time.
Grief is difficult enough without having the added stress of not knowing where to find urns and keepsakes, the cost of cremation versus burial, and the type of memorials available. In this article I will provide information that covers much of what you need to know regarding euthanasia, costs of urns, memorials, keepsake jewelry, and pet memorials.

In October, 2005, I learned that my cat companion, Morrigan, of 14 years had advanced adenocarcinoma and the prognosis was very grim. The veterinarian estimated she had less than two months to live. Despite my efforts to save her, her health deteriorated very quickly and she had to be euthanized on November 12, 2005, less than one month after she was diagnosed.

If you are reading this, you may be in a similar circumstance. If so, I offer my sincere condolences. Losing a pet can be extremely painful. When I realized Morrigan was not going to make it, it was a terrible shock. I wasn't sure what to do first. I wasn't aware of all the options and had to do a lot of research quickly.

What You Need to Know:

About Euthanasia:

If you have to euthanize your pet, you will be required to sign a consent form immediately prior to the procedure. I am mentioning this because I was not caught unaware by the form and it was difficult for me to sign the paper. I knew that what I was about to do was the most humane thing, but it was nevertheless very difficult to sign a consent form of that nature.

Euthanasia is normally very quick and peaceful. However, as with any medical procedure, things can go wrong. Most vets will discuss the procedure with you beforehand; if you have any concerns, I recommend talking about them with your vet in the days prior, if possible. Not knowing what to expect can lead to a lot of extra stress.

You can choose whether or not you will be present during the euthanization. Some veterinarians will perform the euthanization in your home if you request it.

In the other links area of this article, I've included a link to a very informative page about euthanasia that will answer many questions you may have.

If you choose cremation:

There are many crematorium that offer services specifically for pets. To find one closest to you, you can look in your local yellow pages, or do a search online.

Many veterinarian clinics will give you the option of leaving the pet there and having the crematory service come to the clinic to pick up the deceased pet.
They will then notify you when the cremation process is complete and you can then pick up the ashes. Some pet crematories offer memorial services as well.

Alternatively, you have the option of taking your pet's body to the crematorium yourself. This is the option I chose, but this is a personal decision and only you can decide what is best for your situation.

Urns:

Urns may be purchased at the pet crematory or online. The prices and styles vary dramatically and range from $20 to over $300. A search phrase "pet urns" will yield many websites that offer many types of urns. I have also included a link to these resources.

If expense is an issue, there are many other options. Most craft stores sell wooden and/or metal boxes with hinged lids. These come in a wide variety of styles and sizes and can be very inexpensive. They can be easily personalized at a later date.

Keepsakes:

Several kinds of keepsake urns are available. Many are wearable; some are simply small urns that hold a small amount of ashes. Wearable keepsake pendants are available in wood, glass, silver, gold, and ceramic. Most can hold a small amount of ashes or fur. I have seen prices as low as $14.99 ( though there may be sites that sell for less than this) but the gold or silver keepsakes can be over $100. I've listed a link to a page that displays several sites that sell these, and, if you do a google search with the key phrase "pet keepsake urn," you will find many other sites.

Paw Print Impressions:

Clay paw print impression kits can be purchased online. Your vet may have kits available as well.

If you choose burial:

Personalized memorial plaques and stones made specifically for pet memorial gardens or graves can also be purchased online--some at relatively low cost. There are many cemeteries for pets now and some offer memorial services. Pet caskets can be purchased online. I've seen them as low as $29 for small ones, and $500 for large caskets.

Memorials:

There are many online memorial sites that will allow you to post a memorial web page for your pet for free.

The loss of a beloved companion is difficult and I know it isn't easy reading about this. However, I hope this article has given a better idea of the resources that exist and that you will be better prepared in making the difficult decisions.