End of Life Care

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With grace and dignity.

Saying Goodbye

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Summit Veterinary Care offers at-home palliative and end of life care for your beloved pet. If you need our assistance during this difficult time, Summit Veterinary Care will be there for you.

Palliative
Care

Our dedicated team is committed to providing comfort and support during challenging moments. If your pet requires specialized palliative care, Summit Veterinary Care is here to offer our expertise.

We understand the importance of maintaining your pet’s quality of life, and we are ready to assist you with the personalized and compassionate care your beloved companion deserves.

End of Life
Care

Our team offers compassionate and comforting euthanasia, ensuring that your pet’s final moments are peaceful and surrounded by a familiar warmth of loved ones.

When the time comes, you can rely on Summit Veterinary Care to provide gentle and supportive care, making the farewell process as serene and loving as possible. Your pet’s comfort and your peace of mind are our top priorities during this difficult time.

Grief
Support

Grief looks different for everyone. There are support groups and hotlines to help you through this tough time. Below are links to help with grief.

Agape Pet
Services

Summit Veterinary Care Veterinarians work closely with Agape Pet Services to ensure your pet is taken care of properly. Agape Pet Services offers a wide variety of urns, keepsakes, memorials and coping resources. Click the button below to learn more about the services Agape offers.

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Pet Loss Support

Pet Loss Resource

Association for Pet Loss

Quality of life Calendar

End Of Life Care FAQ’s

Emotions during the end of your pet’s life can be overwhelming. Being prepared for the final stages can be one of the best ways to deal with this anticipated grief, and help your pet.

HOW MUCH DOES EUTHANASIA COST?

Please call us at 571-248-1175 for information regarding pricing.

HOW DO I KNOW WHEN IT'S TIME?

As a loving pet owner, you know your pet better than anyone and will notice when they are not acting like themselves. While each pet’s experience is different, there are similar patterns of behavior that may mean the end is close. If you find yourself asking “Is it time?”, you should monitor your pet’s behavior for these five common signs:

Loss of Interest
Extreme Fatigue or Loss of Energy
Loss of Bladder or Bowel Control
Loss of Appetite
Labored Breathing

Please reach out to us at 571-427-0052 to discuss if you are unsure.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT DURING AN END OF LIFE CARE APPOINTMENT?

It is important to know what to expect so you are as prepared as you can be in this situation. When you arrive at the clinic, we will escort you to our rainbow room – especially designed to make you and your pet feel at home. The doctor will come in and discuss your pet’s decline and let you know what medications she will give. We place an IV catheter to give the doctor access to administer the medications. Once you are ready, the doctor will talk you through what she is administering and advise you when your pet has passed. You have as much time as you’d like to spend with them before and after the procedure.

HOW CAN I COPE WITH THE LOSS OF MY PET?

The first step in dealing with your loss is to allow yourself to grieve. You didn’t lose “just an animal.” This animal was special because they were a member of your family, and research has found that the loss of a pet is just as painful as the loss of a human. The grief process is the same.

When you’re determining how to deal with the death of a pet, it’s important to understand that everyone grieves differently. People all go through a process to help them deal with and release the hurt, and everyone has their own timetable to complete that process.

Over 87 percent of pet owners experience at least one symptom of grief after losing a pet. After six months, about 35 percent of people still experienced grief over their pet’s loss. Even a year after the loss, over 22 percent were still experiencing grief. Don’t rush yourself through the process. Heal at your own pace.

Remembering Your Beloved Companion

Below are the complimentary urns that are available with a private cremation. Each urn also comes with a custom engraved brass nameplate. The standard is usually “In Loving Memory” and the pet’s name, however, you can have this engraved with whatever you’d like. We offer complimentary clay paw prints and a lock of fur keepsake as well.