Planning Ahead for In-Home Euthanasia Appointments

In today’s video, I want to talk about something that comes up more often than people realize—what it means to schedule an in-home euthanasia appointment, and why planning ahead is so important.

Sometimes families wait until the moment they’ve made the decision, hoping we can come the same day. While we do our best to help when we can, last-minute appointments aren’t always possible. In-home euthanasia is emotionally heavy work, and we don’t work every day or long hours so that we can ensure we are fully present for each family. Setting these boundaries allows us to focus completely on your pet and your family when the time comes.

That’s why we encourage families to reach out early—ideally at the time of a terminal diagnosis or when you notice a change in your pet’s quality of life. You don’t need a specific day in mind; even just calling to talk through timing or understand our availability can make a big difference. We also post our schedule on our website so families can get a sense of openings ahead of time.

Planning ahead allows us to walk you through the process, answer questions, and ensure everyone in your family feels prepared. It helps create a calm, unhurried, and gentle experience, rather than a rushed or stressful one.

I’m grateful that more veterinarians in our area are offering similar in-home support. That means more resources for families and more pets who get to experience a peaceful passing at home. When we’re unavailable, we want you to know there are options.

If your pet has a terminal diagnosis or is showing a decline in quality of life, reaching out early—even just to talk—is the best way to make sure the experience is as calm and compassionate as possible.