Paw Print Home Euthanasia- Pets

22/03/2026

How can I help prepare myself and my family for a home euthanasia?

1. Ask questions. Our service provides a video where I discuss the process of a home euthanasia. If your veterinarian doesn't have similar resources, just ask them to explain the process of what will happen during a visit. People have a much easier time taking in this information prior to a visit than during the visit.

https://pawprint.co.nz/2021/10/26/what-is-home-euthanasia/

2. Plan the day. This applies to in-clinic euthanasias as well. Some people plan a trip with their pet to the beach or McDonalds, while some people make a cup of tea and turn on a movie. It helps to provide some structure to the process by making a plan for the day or evening before the euthanasia visit.

3. Talk to your family or loved ones. Let them know they can be as involved (or not) as they choose. Help them make their plan for the visit, and give them space to ask questions as well. One of the most beautiful aspects of home euthanasia is the flexibility provided by being in the home environment, which allows people to be present during a visit while still remaining at their comfort level.

4. Choose. Pick the music, the surroundings, the beloved toys, or whatever is important to you. This is your journey with your pet.

29/01/2026

This is a repost from 2023, but it is as relevant as ever...

"How do you do your job?"

I get this question a lot during home euthanasias. Sometimes it even comes out as "You must have the worst job ever" (don't worry, I understand the appreciation behind that comment!)
We are all built to handle different challenges in our lives. I would struggle to handle the challenges of being a teacher, or a human doctor, or a stay-at-home mother (a big thank you to stay-at-home mums, including my own). I am designed for extremely stressful events, and as a result I do most of my work in emergency, animal welfare, and home euthanasia. It's what I'm built for.

Certainly, there is an emotional toll for vets during home euthanasias. There is also an emotional toll during in-clinic euthanasias. There is an emotional toll in explaining a cancer diagnosis, answering the on-call phone, and managing a disease outbreak in a herd. As veterinary staff, we are constantly developing our coping strategies regarding our emotional workloads.

And I am at peace with this aspect of my profession. By offering home euthanasia, I can attempt to remove a small amount of emotional pain for owners and insert a small amount of grace into this most difficult part of the journey. And that small impact, that means the world to me.

🐾

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25/11/2025

Elderly cats and hyperthyroidism

Although increased thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) can occur in cats under 10 years of age, it usually occurs in older cats. It is relatively common, affecting up to 10% of older cats.

The most common signs of hyperthyroidism are weight loss (despite an increased appetite) and irritability. Hyperthyroidism is almost always treatable, but does require life-long daily treatment. Without treatment, a cat with hyperthyroidism will gradually lose weight and become emaciated, requiring euthanasia.

Cats can be monitored for the development of hyperthyroidism with a simple blood test; it is highly recommended that all cats over 10 years of age have a yearly blood test that includes thyroid and kidney function.

Remember that weight loss in older cats is not necessarily due to old age!

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27/10/2025

Here at Paw Print, we understand that being able to accompany pets and owners during the final stages of a pet's journey is a privilege and honor, and we often get messages of thanks after our visits.

This bit of feedback is one of the many messages of love that we have recieved from owners over the years:

"I just want to begin by saying that I'm very grateful that people like you exist, doing the work you do, in the way you do. It's a tremendous act of standing in the breach and bringing all of your skill, courage and intuition to help pets and their pet parents navigate something that feels impossible.

Today was incredibly hard, but your quiet confidence, gentle demeanour and skill steered us safely through the storm we never wanted to face but knew would one day befall us. Having you there made all the difference in the world. We are truly grateful."

15/04/2025

Paw Print was creating in late 2021, and here we are - 3 1/2 years on! We are so grateful for the love that our owners feed back to us... it keeps us going. I would just like to share a small part of some recent feedback from the lovely owners of "Millie" (shared with permission):

"I just want to begin by saying that I'm very grateful that people like you exist, doing the work you do, in the way you do. It's a tremendous act of standing in the breach and bringing all of your skill, courage and intuition to help pets and their pet parents navigate something that feels impossible.

Today was incredibly hard, but your quiet confidence, gentle demeanour and skill steered us safely through the storm we never wanted to face but knew would one day befall us. Having you there made all the difference in the world. We are truly grateful."

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17/02/2025

Thinking ahead with older pets.

Your elderly pet may currently be healthy and well, but an elderly pet's health can deteriorate rapidly. Although it isn't pleasant to think or talk about end-of-life decisions when your pet is healthy, it can make the difficult decision slightly easier when the time comes.

Sometimes there are multiple people involved in a pet's life, and it helps to understand how each person feels about the end-of-life process. This is especially helpful if a pet deteriorates quickly, and you need to make a sudden decision on behalf of the whole family.

It is OK to consider cost as well. If you have an elderly pet that has led a long, full life and likely has other health problems, you don't need to feel obligated to pursue challenging and/or expensive procedures. This is especially true if the prognosis (expected outcome) for survival and quality of life are poor.

Once again, this advice just comes from experience. The most peaceful conversations I have had with owners about making the decision to euthanize a beloved pet happen when the owners have thought about how to make the decision ahead of time.

02/01/2025

Holiday dietary indiscretion

(Caution, there will be a lot of discussion about vomiting and diarrhea in this post)

As emergency veterinarians, we see a large spike in the number of pets (particularly, dogs) presenting to vet clinics after eating something unusual during the holidays. Some of these conditions can be serious, and even life-threatening. How do you know when to worry? These are some situations that may indicate that your dog needs to see a veterinarian:

Vomiting more than 2-3 times in 24 hours.
OR
Severe lethargy (listless, uninterested in food or other activities)
OR
watery and/or bloody diarrhea
OR
vomiting/unwell within 12-72 hours of eating a non-food object, bone, or high fat food (such as pork fat)
OR
blood in the vomit
OR
not eating anything for over 24 hours
OR
diarrhea that fails to improve after 48-72 hours

If in doubt, remember that you know your pet better than anyone else. If you think that your pet is unwell or just not themselves, head down to your local veterinary clinic. Better safe than sorry!

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16/11/2024

Itchy pets

Vets often see itchy pets at this time of year, as the weather gets warmer and the pollen levels increase. What should you do if your pet is itching?

Firstly- where is your pet itching? If it's itching around the base of its tail, it might be fleas. If you pet is itching its ears, you probably need a vet visit for examination and treatment.

Itchy feet and itchy groin/armpits can be difficult to manage. You can try using a gentle pet shampoo to clean the areas and you can apply a soothing cream (such as Bepanthen Nappy Rash, or a veterinary advised cream) to hairless areas. However, if the itch is not resolving, you may need to have a veterinary visit.

If your dog gets itchy at this time every year, you may want to consider a long-lasting allergy injection at your veterinarian. Remember, good food and appropriate shampoos often result in good skin, but sometimes your pet will need a veterinary visit to resolve skin issues.

04/10/2024

Managing older pets in the heat

My Nellie is almost 13 years old and she has a long, thick black coat. Even now, with the weather warming up, I've noticed her starting to pant a lot during the warmest part of the day or when she's hard at work on the farm. Just like elderly people, elderly pets often have trouble coping with hot or cold weather.

My number one suggestion for managing long-haired dogs and cats in the heat is to give them a haircut. I usually shave Nell's hair just before Christmas, leaving about 2cm of fur. I find that this makes an immediate difference to her comfort in the sun and the heat. Some dogs have coats that don't tolerate shaving; these dogs can have their coats stripped with special brushes. Don't forget to put a jacket on them if there is a bit of cold weather after you shave them!

My other suggestion is simple, but sensible. Try to keep your pet inside or in a cool, shady place during the hottest part of the day. Take your dog for walks in the morning and evenings. This advice is especially important for brachycephalic dogs (smooshed face dog like pugs, bulldogs, etc) and overweight dogs.

Plenty of drinking water is always important. Some dogs enjoy a shallow paddling pool to lay in as well. Don't be afraid to get creative to help your pet cope with the heat, because your old pet will appreciate it!

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17/08/2024

When is it time?

I've spoken about this in the past, but it is worth exploring again. I often get people asking me: "How do I know it's the right time to euthanize my pet?"

The answer is (almost always) Quality of Life. Can your pet eat and breathe with ease? Does your pet look relaxed and peaceful, or does it look disengaged and listless?

What I have learned is that almost nobody regrets putting their pet to sleep a few days too early, but they sometimes regret leaving it a few days too late.

And my experience with owners that are trying to find the exact right time is that they often end up putting their pet down urgently. This is OK, but it doesn't leave space for mental preparation and it may mean that the pet attends an after hours clinic.

Remember, if you need advice on your pet's quality of life, reach out to the vet that knows your pet the best, and to trusted friends and family.

15/07/2024

What is body condition score?

During your pet's routine check-up, you may hear the phrase "body condition score", followed by a number indicating your pet's score. What does this mean and why do we use it?

Body condition simply refers to the amount of fat that a pet has. Pets are usually scored on a 1-9 scale (there are different scales), with scores 4 and 5 being ideal. Scores under a 4 are considered underweight and scores over a 5 are considered overweight.

The reason veterinarians use a scoring system instead of a description is that it is much easier to understand what a "6" is than what is meant by "slightly overweight".

Not all pets are built the same, and some pets will sit around a body condition score 6-7 for most of their lives. Other pets may struggle to keep weight on due to illness and will be closer to a 3. Using body condition scoring helps give us target body condition, monitor changes, and ensure pets are not reaching the extremes of the body condition scoring scale.

How about you give it a go on your pet?

23/06/2024

When one pet is euthanized, how should we manage the other pets in the household?

I often have other household pets present at home euthanasias or, if they are quite disruptive (think, young Labrador), they often visit the euthanized pet soon afterwards. I will preface my opinion (below) with the comment that- you know your pets the best and your opinion about how to manage them during the euthanasia of another household pet is the most valid opinion.

Some pets don't really ah.... love.... the other pets in the house. These pets generally don't show much grief and move on with life with minimal fuss after a household pet has been euthanized.

But some other pets don't deal with the loss as well. Every pet is different, and you may find that your deceased pet's best buddy just continues to live life normally. Or you may find that your pet is quiet and lonely for quite a bit of time.

If you have a pet that has a strong bond with a pet that is being euthanized, and it is possible to show them the deceased pet soon after the euthanasia (it's not always practical)- I suggest you do. Some pets don't understand that their friend has passed away and can search for the deceased pet for quite some time.

I also suggest that you make time (especially for dogs) to spend one-on-one with your pet, over the next couple of weeks after their friend has passed away. It is reassurance for them... and for you as well.

And my final comment is about cats. Although you can't bring your cat to an in-clinic euthanasia, at home I find cats decide if they want to be a part of the process. Some disappear, and some stay close by- give cats the option and they will process their grief in a way that feels right for them.