Saying Goodbye to your pet is never easy. They have shared so much with you. They will live on inside your heart and your memories.
At Holistic Vet Norfolk, we can help you process your thoughts, and help you with the decision making process, which often starts months before the actual ending. Planning is key - we can help you put that plan in place and start discussions months ahead so you know what will happen when the day eventually comes. Our hearts are with you.
You can ease the pain by booking a home visit from me for peaceful unhurried euthanasia at home.
As I arrive, I use a calming blend of essential oils, and encourage you to cuddle and treat your pet as I administer the first medicine to gently sedate them. I will help them gently pass only once they are fully peaceful in your arms.
Once passed, I will offer you some time alone with your lost friend.
Then I will return to help you make paw or nose prints, and curl your beloved pet up and wrap them for later burial or cremation. We can use a favorite blanket, or a cotton sheet/towel if burying in the garden.
Before leaving, I give you a set of my special grief blends, essential oil blends formulated to help with your own grief in the early hours and days after losing your beloved pet.
Families with other pets often find it helps to keep the body of the deceased pet for the other animals to spend some time near. One lady told me about how her cat lay down with the deceased cat for 5 hours! There is research in horses and donkeys about the importance of allowing the companion to see and spend time with their deceased friend. Us humans also can find solace in spending time with the body, and home burial can be a very physical way for the family to process their early grief.
In Norfolk, there are several independent pet cremation companies, who will have ashes ready to collect within 48 hours. There is a list on my website
Some will visit your home to collect, others ask that you transport your pet to them. Do plan this ahead of time, talk to them about arrangements so you don't have to rush around talking on the phone on the day of the euthanasia. The cremation companies will all bill you directly.
If you would rather use your own veterinary practice for cremation (you may not want the ashes returned to you, though this can be arranged), and the practice is open and nearby when I visit, I am happy to transport your pet there for no additional charge. They will bill you directly for the cremation and ask about the type of casket if individual cremation is wanted. Please call them before I visit so they are expecting me.
You may choose to memorialise your pet in different ways. Your grieving process is yours, and yours alone, these are only suggestions that have helped some people.
their photos and memories are precious
a ink paw print can be made - some crematoriums do this for you without you asking and included in the price, others may need a specific request.
a digital paw print can be made from a photo with simple editing software, I can help you take the photos and there are many Etsy sellers who can do the rest if you aren't confident with your tech skills.
I can make impressions of your dog's nose to be sent to Pob's pet keepsakes who will make your dog's nose into a keyring or piece of jewellery out of copper or silver - find her on Facebook.
I can help you make impressions of your dog's foot to be sent to Pob's pet keepsakes to be turned into clay or resin impressions.
a small portion of your dog's ashes can be made into resin or glass keepsakes - Ashes into Glass are the most famous company to do this, but there are many cheaper options available, Pob's pet keepsakes has various lovely options for ashes into glass or resin too.
For families with children, a lovely way to memorialise your pet while processing everyone's grief at the same time is to create a memory book. Have post-it notes on the table at every meal. Everyone draws or writes a single memory on each post-it , stick them on the window until you feel you have enough to make into a book.
There are many books available about pet bereavement, there is a list on my website
Saving up.
A home visit plus individual cremation adds up! The total is likely to exceed £500. As you start to wonder when the time will be for your older pet to be gently helped towards death, start a saving space or account specifically for this purpose.
See my website for more details & prices and use the contact form to enquire and book.
We can help you process your thoughts, and help you with the decision making process, which often starts months before the actual ending. Planning is key - we can help you put that plan in place and start discussions months ahead so you know what will happen when the day eventually comes. Our hearts are with you.
Comments