Euthanasia

Making the decision to say goodbye to your pet is one of the most difficult decisions you may ever make in your life. Euthanasia is a gift we can give our beloved pet who is at the end of their life, or who is suffering. Here at Acadia Veterinary Hospital, we are committed to making the process as easy as it can be. We are compassionate, empathetic, and non-judgmental.

What is pet euthanasia and how do I know when it’s the right time?

Euthanasia is a humane way of ending a pet’s life who is in pain or who are suffering. How will you know when it is the right time? It is often helpful to look at the quality of life your pet is experiencing. Does your pet still enjoy eating and other simple pleasures? Is your pet able to respond to you in a normal way? Is your pet experiencing more pain than pleasure?

What drug is used?

Here at Acadia, we give a sedative to allow your beloved pet to be as relaxed and stress-free as possible. Once they are sedated, we give a solution of pentobarbital, which will be injected into the vein. This is an anesthetic agent, and we give an overdose of it, making your pet first unconscious, then causing cardiac arrest (stopping the heart). This happens within seconds of the injection. This two injection method is peaceful and allows your pet to pass humanely.