When love means letting go
For many pet owners, the decision to euthanize feels like a heartbreaking contradiction. You want to hold on — but also don’t want your pet to suffer. That’s what makes putting your pet down an act of profound love. It’s a final gift of peace when life becomes pain.
Recognizing when that moment comes requires courage, clarity, and often, guidance from your veterinarian.
How do you know it’s time?
There’s no formula, but vets often recommend asking yourself:
- Can my pet still enjoy life?
- Are they eating, drinking, and interacting as usual?
- Are they in constant pain or distress despite treatment?
- Have they lost mobility or control over bodily functions?
- Are the good days outnumbered by the bad?
You know your pet best. If they’ve stopped doing the things they loved, or if they’re suffering with no medical path forward, it may be time to consider euthanasia.
Talking with your veterinarian
Your vet is your ally in this process. Don’t hesitate to:
- Ask questions – What symptoms suggest your pet is declining?
- Request a quality-of-life assessment – Tools like the HHHHHMM scale (Hurt, Hunger, Hydration, Hygiene, Happiness, Mobility, More Good Days than Bad) can help.
- Explore palliative care – Is there a way to manage symptoms for a little longer?
- Discuss logistics – Can the euthanasia happen at home or in-clinic? What are the steps?
Open communication ensures you understand your options and can make the best decision possible — one that honors your pet and your relationship.
What happens during euthanasia?
Understanding the process can reduce fear. Most veterinarians follow a peaceful, compassionate procedure:
- Sedation – Your pet is given a sedative to relax and become sleepy.
- Euthanasia injection – A barbiturate is administered, usually through a vein. It works quickly and painlessly.
- Final moments – Breathing and heart function cease within seconds. Your pet feels no pain.
You can stay with your pet the entire time, hold them, speak to them, or quietly be present. There is no right or wrong way — only what feels right to you.
Should you be there?
Many people choose to be present during euthanasia. It’s a deeply personal decision.
Reasons to stay might include:
- Offering comfort and familiarity to your pet
- Creating a sense of closure
- Being part of their final moments with love and dignity
Reasons not to stay might include:
- Emotional overwhelm
- Fear of remembering only the end, not the joy
If you’re unsure, speak with your vet. They will support you either way, and ensure your pet is treated with the utmost care.
What to expect emotionally
After putting your pet down, you may feel a mix of emotions — relief, guilt, numbness, deep grief. These are normal, and they may come in waves. Remember:
- You didn’t cause their illness — you ended their suffering.
- You chose compassion over personal heartbreak.
- You were there for them, in life and in passing.
Allow yourself to mourn fully. Reach out to loved ones, write a tribute, or join a pet loss support group. Grief is a reflection of love.
Planning the farewell
After euthanasia, you’ll need to choose final arrangements:
- Cremation (private or communal)
- Burial (at home, if legal, or at a pet cemetery)
- Memorialization – through keepsakes, paw prints, or ceremonies
- Cryopreservation (see below)
Give yourself permission to take your time with these choices. Honoring your pet in a way that reflects your bond can help the healing process.
Exploring cryopreservation for pets
For some, the love they feel for their animal companion goes beyond life itself. That’s why Tomorrow.bio offers pet cryopreservation — an option for those who wish to preserve their pet’s body after death using advanced vitrification and storage at cryogenic temperatures.
While revival isn’t currently possible, cryopreservation preserves the physical structure of your pet in the hope that future veterinary technology may one day offer new options.
To learn more or explore costs, visit our pet calculator or book a consultation.
After the goodbye
Life after saying goodbye is quieter — and often lonelier. You may instinctively reach for the leash, expect a bark at the door, or feel the silence at bedtime.
Be kind to yourself. Surround yourself with people who understand. Create rituals of remembrance. And remember: grief doesn’t mean forgetting. It means remembering with love.
About Tomorrow.bio
At Tomorrow.bio, we are dedicated to advancing the science of cryopreservation with the goal of giving people and pets a second chance at life. As Europe’s leading cryopreservation provider, we focus on rapid, high-quality standby, stabilization, and storage of terminal patients — preserving them until future medical technologies may allow revival and treatment.
Our mission is to make cryopreservation a reliable and accessible option for everyone. We believe that no life — human or animal — should end because current medical capabilities fall short.
📧 Contact us at: hello@tomorrow.bio
🌐 Visit our website: www.tomorrow.bio
🤝 Schedule a consultation: Book a call
