Preparing Your Pet For End-of-Life Care

Although no pet owner wants to think about life without their pet, eventually a decision must be made about what to do for your pet’s end-of-life care. In many cases, such as with chronic health problems or terminal conditions, you can plan ahead to help alleviate the stress, anxiety, and worry when the time comes. In other cases, death can occur unexpectedly, making the decision of what to do with your pet’s remains abrupt and challenging.

However, knowing what options you have can help ease your mind and make the situation less stressful. Here are the four most common ways to care for your pet’s remains.

#1: Group pet cremation

Group cremation is a popular option for pet owners who do not wish to keep their pet’s ashes. With this method, a pet is cremated at a crematorium and then their ashes are typically spread in a communal resting place on the facility’s grounds. Oftentimes, this area is a garden that is divided by months and years, so families can visit their pet’s final resting spot if they wish.

#2: Pet aquamation

The scientific name for aquamation is alkaline hydrolysis. This is a gentle, environmentally friendly, water-based form of cremation that uses flowing water, heat, and alkali to mimic natural decomposition after burial. After the aquamation process, only the pure mineral ash of the bones remains. While this method is common for people, services for pets can be difficult to find. However, you can ask your veterinarian to see if they can recommend any aquamation services for pets nearby.

#3: Individual pet cremation

Many pet owners choose to receive their pet’s ashes after cremation, and the crematorium ensures that the correct pet’s remains are returned to the proper family. Once you receive your pet’s ashes, you can place them in a decorative urn, have a small portion turned into jewelry, or spread them at your pet’s favorite spot.

#4: Home burial

In some cases, you may choose to bury your pet at home. However, at-home burial may not be an option in certain locations, such as an apartment, or if other restrictions apply.

If you have questions about the ways your pet’s remains can be cared for, contact our team for more information.