End of life care and euthanasia
Saying goodbye
Our pets bring us unconditional love and companionship
They are members of our families and, we understand how devastating saying goodbye can be, whether that be through end-of-life care or making the difficult decision to euthanise your pet. As pet owners ourselves, we know only too well how painful the experience can be. We care passionately, not only about our patients but our pet owners.
Planning for the end of a pet’s life is a sad but important milestone in any pet owner’s life. It is also one that most people find overwhelming.
The good news is that, with planning and foresight, you can make your pet’s end-of-life care as positive an experience as possible for everyone involved.
Being part of the Thameswood family means that we will know your pet well, and maybe even have been supporting your pet at our senior clinics. We hope that they live to a ripe old age and maybe even die naturally in your arms, having enjoyed a good quality of life.
If you’re questioning your pet’s quality of life and need support with determining their cognitive function and signs of pain, our team are here to support you and guide you through the next steps – we are only a phone call away. Towards the end of your pet’s life, like us, they will have good days and bad days. Determining when the time may be right for your pet is often he most difficult part. Rest assured, our team are here to support you, every step of the way.
When the time comes
When you have made your decision, with the support of our team, we will talk you through what will happen and discuss the environment you’d like this to take place. If we are providing a home visit, one of our vets and a nurse will arrive at a pre-arranged time in our pet ambulance, or if you would prefer to come to our clinic, our designated team will be waiting for you to take you to a private area.
You have the option of being with your pet until after they have passed. Your pets will find your touch and presence comforting; however, if you feel you will be too distressed to stay with them during their final moments, you can spend some time saying goodbye to your pet and perhaps, if you wish, see them shortly afterwards. We will be there to hug and hold your pet for you so they feel love and comfort until the very end.
Our team are bereavement-trained and we are a platinum-awarded Compassionate Care Clinic. Credentials aside, we are all loving pet owners too and have experienced the same loss.
Ongoing support
To support you during these final moments, we have created our beautiful garden room. A place where families can come together in a peaceful setting to say goodbye to their beloved pets in a dignified way. Away from a clinical setting, it allows you to take the time you need and for your pets to be relaxed, surrounded by nature and love.
We offer a complimentary memory pack to every family after they have said goodbye, which consists of an ink & plaster imprint of a paw, a lock of hair, and ‘forget me not’ seeds.
Should you like to have your pet cremated, we work closely with a crematorium in Newbury, who can individually cremate your pet should you wish.
Coping with the loss of your pet is so very difficult. We have trained staff who can help you and a variety of different support helplines that we will offer you when the time comes, whether it’s for you or for your children or a friend every occasion is different. Please come and see us when you feel stronger.
