Pet euthanasia costs

We have just had to have our beautiful springer spaniel PTS a few days ago.I don't think I've ever cried as much. But our experience with the vets -who we've used for 45 years and always been good made it more stressful. Or rather the receptionists.When I enquired about PTS at home I was told £194.Once on the phone and again when we called in the surgery with our other dog for her boosters and we confirmed we wanted one last weekend with him then PTS on Monday.Told again 194. Then quoted £420 for him to be taken for cremation. On the day we had to ring first thing to request the vet.Told a time and told it was £194 did we want to pay now over the phone please.Said we would call in at the surgery to pay as we were at our favourite walk nearby giving him a last sniff and potter.I was already in bits.Only told be told when at the surgery it had suddenly gone up to £300+ for home euthanasia. The 194 for for the vet to do home visit but we hadn't been told the extra cost to administer the PTS drugs.What the heck did they think I'd meant when I asked originally!One receptionist was lovely and genuinely sorry.Another had been totally lacking in empathy.
However the vet and nurse that did come eventually were so kind and compassionate and he went so peacefully at home I'm glad we choose that.
As for cremation. We used a local equine and pet crematorium we found when I talked to a friend and she recommended it.Cost £150 as opposed to 400+.Collected him 30 as minutes after vet left so we got to cuddle him.Ashes ready to collect from individual cremation the next day. In a scatter tube as he's going in the garden.A little bottle with some of his fur and a beautiful card.
Shall not be using the vets for cremation with our old girl -his sister -when the time comes.And will be using the other branch of vets in future as don't want to see the receptionist who was so blunt and only bothered about the money when I was so visibly upset.

Elless

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?

Yes, a lot!

The latest canine friend I had euthanised had the very best specialist vet to euthanise him in his own home. This was the most expensive treatment I could buy, I am far from rich, however paying over the odds was my choice to help me as much as my dear little friend. I seem to remember it cost me about £400 with all the extras,

There’s a pet crematorium not far from me. I’d managed to bury our cats myself in the garden, but when DH dug a hole deep enough for one of our spaniels - it nearly killed him. After that, we took them ourselves, after being PTS at home to that crematorium and collected the ashes a couple of days later (with a certificate guaranteeing the contents) in either a box so the ashes could be scattered in our rose bed, or in the case of DD1’s cat, in a sealed casket with his name on a plaque and a paw print on a card to be framed.

Indeed. Rules about water pipes, etc.

Basgetti

Lathyrus3

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

People contemplating this need to look carefully at the laws surrounding it. We wanted to but even with our then two, large gardens, it wasn’t suitable.

You do not need permission to bury your pet in your own garden - providing, of course, that you own the property.

Lathyrus3

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

People contemplating this need to look carefully at the laws surrounding it. We wanted to but even with our then two, large gardens, it wasn’t suitable.

I took one of my pugs to be put to sleep after she was diagnosed with bladder cancer. I was quite surprised at the cost £200, this was a 10 minute appointment. It would have been cruel to her if I had waited for her to die naturally, she was in pain & struggling to walk. It was heartbreaking & to be honest I feel the vets take advantage when you feel you have no other choice.

Our Cocker wàs in kennels while we were away for a couple of days. He was nearing the end of his life but very well loved there.. We had aaked the kennel staff and vet just to keep him in a cool place if he died in our absence as we intended to bury him in the garden when the time came but there was a mix up and he was frozen solid sitting up in a cardboard box! It was an unpleasant experience. One of the goldfish in the garden pond had died as the pond had partly frozen so we buried them together which helped a bit.... The kennel owner had stayed with him to the end and refused the fee for his stay.

We buried our beloved cat in the garden (you should have heard us blubbing). On the advice of the vet, we put a large stone over his grave to prevent foxes getting at him.
I don't know what we'd have done if we hadn't had a garden. Do there exist pet cemeteries with paid spaces available?

My six year old cockerpoo had an inoperable tumour. From reluctance to walk to inability to move and confusion was a matter of days. Our vet came to the house. I lay with him in his bed, telling him what a good boy he was and how much I loved him. He went peacefully to sleep. His big older dog companion, who’d been like a big sister, role model sniffed his body and seemed to understand he’d left us.
Her older dog was pts at the vet’s and she wandered the house, looking for him for some time.

Obviously it’s more expensive to have your vet come to you. I was fortunate to be able to pay. Our vet is excellent, and continuity for humans and animals helps

On my front field (about 3/4 acre) is a pony, 2 cats, 4 dogs that were ours and a dog that was a friend's of mums (he was also the dad to our dog on the back field, his bit on the side was the 1st we buried in the front field 30/12/93!)

In my bedroom are 2 cats ashes (They were indoor cats) and On the mantle piece are 5 dogs. ALL sister's and mum have been made aware, that when i cark it, put the ashes in with me. That way no one has to worry what to do with them.

AuntieE As far as I know it’s never been illegal to bury pets in the garden. Certainly human ashes can be put in the garden, but bodies too I think. Assuming you dont plan to move.

I have a garden, and it is legal here to bury cats and small dogs on your own property. Formerly, when I lived in a big city, vets included sending pets to the crematorium in the cost of putting them down.

I would not want to have a pet's ashes standing around in a urn, but I do understand that others might.

All you can do, is ask if any vets in your area include disposal of the corpse in their charges, and ask animal cremators for their charges.

Not an agreeable task, but it has to be done.

I am sorry you are faced with the decision,

My very lovely Vet comes to the house. She has euthanised the majority of our old dogs (we foster/adopt). They have all been cremated and I personally dont get/want their ashes back (my parents ashes were the same just scattered at the crem).
If you live near a pet crematorium you can take your pet yourself which reduces the cost. A vet friend did this with her old labrador. All our pets have had a very gentle and calm end of life. Sedation by normal injection which they are unaware of. Once that has taken effect then a line is placed without their knowledge before the lethal dose is administered. We have said goodbyes in the garden, on the sofa, and on our bed.
Euthanasia isnt cheap and I think this is one reason elderly “pets” are abandoned.

We had to have our little lad pts last month at the vets, we were with him right till the end, it's so important to be with them I think, even though it breaks your heart. We even had his sister with us and it amazed me how quiet and respectful she was, she even laid her head across his chest when he had gone.
It cost £180 for the euthanasia, if we had let the vet take him to the crematorium, they were going to charge an extra £475 with the return of the ashes. We took him ourselves to the crematorium and it was £260 for 15kg in weight, quite a big difference. We collected his ashes next day and he's still with us, I haven't got the heart to scatter his ashes yet, I'm keeping him with us for now

We only moved to this area a year ago and are lucky to have found a vet who comes out to your house so when the time comes our girl will be at home. Unfortunately we haven't got anywhere to bury her, the people in the house before us have covered all the gardens with thick stones and she is a big dog so it would be very difficult even if we did have somewhere.
It is really hard to make 'that' decision, one minute she seems fine and the next she's bad again, it's heart breaking.

I paid for a very expensive specialist vet who does nothing but euthanasia. She comes to the animal's home, takes care of all the animal's special needs and feelings , and the owner's needs and feelings. It was very very personalised. Little Sandy was PTS on my bed lying safely between my legs on top of a waterproof sheet and blanket she brings for just such a purpose.

Her initial phone consultation about the dog's condition and possible alternatives to euthanasia was free of charge. She followed up the PTS visit with a phone call to ascertain was I okay and a condolence card. Cost about £400. It was a lot to pay but I pick and choose what is worth the money, to me.

My Belgian Shepherd passed away peacefully a few minutes before our regular vet arrived. The vet did check her over and stayed for a cup of tea. We never did receive a bill for the visit
All our pets have been buried in the garden

We have always stayed with our pets till the end.

Ask your vet ; they will quote a range of charges. Usually
Euthenasia at your home.
Euthenasia at the vets ( with owner present)
Euthenasia + cremation
Euthenasia + cremation+ return of the ashes.

We always use "Euthenasia at home", (minimises stress for the pet) and we bury our pets in the garden.

Please stay with your pet until the very end. They may have been part of your life, but you’ve been all of theirs.

Having the euthanasia done at the Surgery is definitely a cheaper option. We’ve done it every which way.

Perhaps this thread is a sad reminder to budget for every eventuality.

Goodness me Elless!
We had our treasured cat put to sleep at the vets 3 years ago. Can't remember the cost but do remember thinking it was reasonable . We then took her home and she is at rest in the garden.

I've just had an email back from our vets - £480! that's without having the ashes returned to us 😢

The cost of having Peggy PTS and cremated (I didn’t want her ashes back) was £150.
I do wish the receptionist had been more tactful though.
She came through to collect the payment while Peggy was next door having the line put in and said, ‘Aw, Bless her! She’s being ever so good.’
I know she meant well but she might just has well have stuck a knife in my heart. 🥲