Book an appointment

Unless there is an emergency that requires immediate euthanasia, please try to book an appointment by calling 3264 6700 so we may schedule you at a time that allows plenty of privacy and time with your pet.

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Do you wish to be present?

Many pet owners want to be close to their pets as they are put to sleep, however others do not want this to be their final memory of them. We respect both points of view and will ask upon arrival for your preference. If you do wish to be present, you will be given close access to your pet once the veterinarian and nurse are in place to perform the procedure. Please know that it's OK if you wish to leave part way through the procedure, too, and you may do so via our rear door to avoid the reception area.

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Body care

There are three options in taking care of your pets’ body once they have passed, and it can be helpful to discuss these with your family beforehand. 

Home burial - It's important to consider all local by-laws if you wish to bury your pet somewhere on your own land.  You may wish to bring a favourite blanket to take them home in, or alternatively we provide a biodegradable burial bag at no cost. Consider that if you’re renting your home, understand that you may eventually have to leave your pet there.

Cremation with friends - Pet crematoriums provide a service where deceased pets are cremated with other pets and the ashes are not returned to owners. There is a fee for this, which is paid to Petmania at the time of the euthanasia procedure.

Private cremation or cemetery burial - We work with companies who are truly devoted to respectful handling and care of your deceased pet. You can choose to have your pet cremated at the special pet crematorium or buried in a beautiful pet cemetery. With cremation, you can get the ashes returned in a huge range of urns, boxes or personal keepsakes and these costs are all handled directly with the company. It is helpful to do some research prior to making the appointment with us so we may let the crematorium know your wishes as soon as possible.

You can browse the websites of some local crematoriums here:

Pet Angels      Pets Eternal     Pets in Peace

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Do you wish to have a post mortem performed? 

It can bring comfort and understanding to families for a post mortem to be performed on their pet, particularly if they are a young pet that has become ill suddenly, or if there are other pets in the house that may be at risk of toxin exposure etc. A post-mortem, or "necropsy" is an investigative procedure performed professionally by veterinary pathologists at the University of Queensland. The pet is transferred there by a crematorium (or you can drive your pet's body yourself if preferred) immediately after death and results are made available to families 4 to 6 weeks after testing. Initial results may be available as early as 48 hours after testing, if the findings show a risk to other pets or family members.

The procedure itself takes place within 2 to 3 days of passing, however thorough testing and official reporting takes up the remainder of the time. The fee for a post-mortem examination and report is $800.

The body is treated with gentle hands and complete respect during this procedure, and is then lovingly sewn back up for you. It is not possible for owners to be present for a post mortem and you cannot have the body returned for burial following a post mortem. All pets are cremated after a necropsy, and regular private cremation fees apply if you would like your pet's ashes returned to you. 

You may wish to instead donate your pet's body to scientific research, which has a transfer fee of $100 and there is no report generated from this method.

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On the day..

When you arrive at the veterinary surgery, the receptionist will prepare an authorisation form which asks you to make the above choices. Your invoice will be completed based on these choices. We find it best to finalise the payment of the invoice at this time so you don't need to hang around reception after the procedure.

If you do not wish to be present for the euthanasia and you have chosen a cremation option, you can say your goodbyes to your pet and leave the surgery at this point.

If you wish to be present for the euthanasia procedure, your pet will be taken into the treatment room by a nurse to have an IV catheter fitted, while you wait in the private loungeroom. In old and sick pets, low blood pressure and dehydration means it is more difficult to catheterise your pet, so we take our time and let the pet get comfortable with us first. We know this time apart from them must seem like an eternity, but we want to minimise stress and discomfort to your pet. 

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We will then bring them back to you in the consultation room. We will usually offer them lots of treats at this point, including chocolate. We think no pet should go to heaven without tasting chocolate! Please feel free to bring in treats with you too.

The veterinarian and a nurse will be present in the room and a long tube will run from your pets forearm to the veterinarian. The first drug we administer is a sedative and will make your pet quite sleepy. They will often curl up on your lap or put their head on you. The second drug we administer is a stronger anaesthetic which is given at an overdose level, to stop your pets’ heart. It is dark green in colour, for safety reasons so that we never accidentally administer it to a patient. It is flushed through the tubing with plain saline fluid and your pets heart will stop, almost immediately. Sometimes they can appear to take a big breath or twitch, which is simply the anaesthetic working its way around the body and they are not aware of these movements. It is important to prepare yourself that your pet may urinate or have a bowel movement at this time, when everything ‘relaxes’. The veterinarian will then listen to the chest in multiple places, to confirm the absence of a heartbeat, and will let you know 'they have passed now'.

You are offered private time with your pet and can then leave the surgery when you’re ready. If you are taking your pet home for burial, we will remove the catheter from their arm and gently move them to a biodegradable bag, or leave them on a special blanket if you brought one.

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There's no right or wrong way to grieve

We understand the great sadness that comes with losing a pet, and you should not be embarrassed or afraid to show this emotion. You will often see the veterinarian or nurse with tears in their eyes as well, or sometimes we hold it together until you have left!

If you have chosen an individual cremation or burial with a pet crematorium, a representative from that company will be in contact over the coming days. You may also wish to consider a funeral or viewing for your pet, which can be arranged directly with the crematorium. 

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We greatly respect this difficult time for your family and if there are any religious or cultural customs you wish for us to observe during this procedure, simply discuss them with the receptionist when booking.