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Pet euthanasia costs

(40 Posts)
valdavi Sat 13-Sept-25 15:05:07

Aveline, the same happened to me when my last cat was put to sleep. Why they can't realise that it's less kind to the animal than doing the same with owners there to comfort their cat is beyond me.
I changed vets for this & other dissatisfactions.

silverlining48 Sat 13-Sept-25 14:17:22

From childhood we have always buried our cats, guinea pigs, goldfish in the garden, with flowers or a rose bush planted on top. All but the last one died at home without a vet, but we took our last cat to the vet who wanted us to leave her with them, and when we said we were taking her home to bury the vet scared us with tales of foxes digging pets up. We took her home anyone and though we do have foxes visit the garden none have tried to dig this cat or our 4 previous cats up.

Aveline Sat 13-Sept-25 14:15:43

Gosh. 'Fallen stock'. Nice way of putting it.

DsNanny Sat 13-Sept-25 14:07:02

Holts is £265 plus vat for a 40kg + dog

DsNanny Sat 13-Sept-25 14:04:50

Don’t go through the vets - look for an independent company or even better do you have a local horse abattoir ? They will often collect and cremate your domestic pet not just horses. They will be alot cheaper than places the vets will use.

sodapop Sat 13-Sept-25 13:10:55

A choice of individual cremation or not here. We paid 250 euros for an individual cremation for our JR.

Sparklefizz Sat 13-Sept-25 11:57:35

I have 5 much-loved cats buried in my garden here, surrounded by plants and shrubs.
4 of them had had to be put to sleep at the vet's but I brought them home afterwards and they looked so peaceful. The 5th little cat was found dead by a neighbour after being hit by a car and she is buried in the garden too.

Georgesgran Sat 13-Sept-25 11:24:39

It’s an awful decision to make and my mantra is a ‘day too soon, is better than an hour too late’. We buried the cats, guinea pigs, rabbits and goldfish in the garden and I think the vet charged £175 to come to the house to euthanize the cats.
A couple of the dogs were buried, but as it was such hard work for DH, we started to have them cremated at the local Pet Crematorium. Depending on the circumstances of their deaths, either the vet sent their remains there (guaranteed our dogs!) or on 2 separate occasions we took them. I think it was about £200 per pet (17kg spaniels) then we collected their ashes from the Crem, in the cheapest container (not the wooden casket with name plate) and scattered their ashes over where the others are buried. £500 should cover a home visit and cremation.
Our dogs weren’t insured, as we had too many, but I believe some policies cover euthanasia.

Primrose53 Sat 13-Sept-25 11:05:27

Lathyrus3

My husband came from a family that always buried their pets and then planted a shrub or tree over them.

That’s what we do. We have guinea pigs, goldfish, a cat and 3 small dogs buried in our garden.

My son knew a lad who worked at a vets. He said all the dead animals were just dumped in one big skip round the back of the surgery.

When one of our dogs was PTS aged 18 they asked me if we would like a “nice little cremation” and the cost was shocking. I declined and brought him home and buried him in the garden.

I do know it cost my friend £200 to have her pet goat cremated and that was several years ago.

Witzend Sat 13-Sept-25 11:01:36

I can’t even remember what it cost to put our dog to sleep - I was just so grateful that it was a home visit - far less stress for her. Bless her, she was lying on the grass in the front garden in the sun when the vet arrived - and wagged her poor old tail. 😰
It was the first anniversary of 9/11, too.

What did really upset me, was when I went to collect her ashes. The receptionist, clearly new and clueless - handed them over with a super-bright and chirpy, ‘There you go!’
I was in tears on the way home.

Aveline Sat 13-Sept-25 11:00:29

Over the years many of our cats have been 'put to sleep' due to extreme old age or illness. Up till last time all it took was an injection and they went off to sleep with us stroking them. Always so sad. However, last time it was much more of a palaver. Poor Finn was taken away to have his paw shaved and a line put in. He was then brought back and something injected via this line. He died. I only wish we'd known that the vet now used this stressful procedure. Poor puss he must have wondered what had been going on. We only went ahead in the first place because we wanted to spare him the nightmare of procedures the vet said just might give him a few more months with us. We'd have loved that but not at the cost of his pain and suffering.
It seemed expensive after all the extras but we weren't counting the money. I just wish it had been done more kindly.

Lathyrus3 Sat 13-Sept-25 10:50:19

My husband came from a family that always buried their pets and then planted a shrub or tree over them.

valdavi Sat 13-Sept-25 10:40:42

We had our last dog cremated, I don't know how much it was, DH insisted.
I actually dislike having his ashes on display, we have a big poster up with pictures & his collar on it to remember him by, plus other photos. It feels weird to me, but DH values them so I tolerate.

Whitewavemark2 Sat 13-Sept-25 10:33:53

Well, we did have our Westie cremated and ashes returned. But honestly? I have never been convinced that they were his ashes as they weighed almost as much as he did.

So when our little cairn was euthanised we said goodbye and keep him in our memories and remember him with flowers in the garden that flower at the time of his death - mostly primroses.

As to cost?

Well I was a night time emergency so over £500. That was for consultation and euthanised.

Elless Sat 13-Sept-25 10:23:24

After a visit from the vet this week we have been advised to consider having our beautiful golden retriever put to sleep. I have looked online at costs for cremation and getting her ashes back and am horrified at the price. She is a big girl weighing 50kg which I know adds to the cost. Has anyone any experience of costs?