Quality-of-Life and Pre-Euthanasia Consults
At Euthabag, our mission is to improve the end-of-life experience, and that includes caring for pets with dignity and helping families prepare for the end of a pet’s life. We create tools for veterinary teams and resources they can share with pet parents, from the first conversation about quality of life through euthanasia, aftercare and grief.
We encourage veterinary practices to offer two dedicated appointments when the pet’s condition allows. A quality-of-life appointment helps families understand how their pet is doing and make informed decisions with a trained veterinary technician or a veterinarian.
A pre-euthanasia appointment gives families time to ask questions and plan what happens once they’ve decided on euthanasia. There is so much to be covered from the medications used, how quickly they take effect, expected reactions, families’ feelings, aftercare choices, ways to honor the pet, special requests during the appointment, and more. We don’t believe squeezing this all into a 30-minute appointment on the day of euthanasia is effective for anyone – the family or the vet team.
We have linked resources to support you in these appointments below.
Quality-of-Life Appointments
When a family asks, “How will I know when it’s time?” a dedicated visit gives you space to talk about what they’re seeing at home, what you’re seeing on exam, and what those changes mean for their pet’s comfort. Together, you can discuss what may still help and when to reassess.
Ask what has changed at home. Talk about appetite, mobility, rest, and whether the pet still enjoys familiar routines or activities. Ask the family what a good day looks like for their pet now.
Give families a way to track changes. Share the free online quality-of-life calculator before the visit or as a follow-up. Use their observations and the results alongside your clinical assessment.
Agree on what happens next. Discuss comfort-care options when appropriate, what changes should prompt a call and when you’ll check in again.
Pre-Euthanasia Appointments
Even when a family knows euthanasia is the right decision for their pet, they may have a long list of questions. It can be hard to remember them in the middle of saying goodbye. A planning visit gives families time to bring their questions, talk through their choices, and take in the answers at their own pace.
Walk through the visit. Explain how much time to allow, what the medications are intended to do, what the family might see and who can be in the room. Ask about fear, travel or handling concerns so your team can plan for the pet’s comfort.
Talk about aftercare ahead of time. Explain how the pet’s body will be cared for and what options are available through your clinic, including cremation, return of ashes, urns or cremation boxes, keepsakes and costs.
Invite questions about the goodbye and what follows. Ask if the family would like help talking with children or finding grief support. Send home a short summary and the resources they’re most likely to use.
When a pet needs urgent care, cover the essentials in the time available and prioritize the pet’s comfort.
Resources for End-of-Life Appointments
Assessing Quality of Life
Pet Quality of Life Calculator. Share this free online tool so families can bring their observations about daily comfort and routines to the appointment. You can also send them home with printed versions of pain detection scales for cats or dogs, which may help them feel more confident in their decisions moving forward.
Planning Euthanasia and Aftercare
Compassion Preparation Guide for Pet Families. Send this checklist ahead of the visit to help families think through what they’d like to ask and how they want to say goodbye.
Pet Euthanasia and Aftercare FAQs. Share the printable guides for common questions about euthanasia, body care, cremation, burial and other aftercare options.
Supporting Families Through Pet Loss
Helping Children Through Pet Loss. Offer this printable brochure to families looking for age-appropriate ways to talk about a pet’s illness or death and help children take part in saying goodbye.
Pet Loss Support. Share this hub with families looking for pet loss books, memorial ideas and guidance before and after a loss.
Pet Loss Support Groups and Grief Counselors. Point families to this directory when they’d like to connect with a support group or counselor.
Tools and Training for Veterinary Teams
Veterinary Euthanasia Appointment Checklist. Give your front desk a consistent way to cover key details when booking euthanasia. Sign up to receive the free checklist.
Chill Protocol for Dogs. Review a pre-visit medication reference for veterinary teams planning care for dogs who are fearful or anxious about coming to the clinic.
Pre-Euthanasia Sedation Protocols for Dogs and Cats. Review a veterinary reference with sedation options for cooperative and reactive patients.
End-of-Life Training for Veterinary Professionals. Explore webinars and training on end-of-life care and supporting families.
Handout To Explain How To Personalize Euthabag. We know some vet pros struggle with how to bring up the idea of personalizing a Euthabag. This handout does the talking for you and can be easily left with the owners, along with markers for personalization.
Dignified Body Care and Simplified Handling. Share this insight with your team to show how Euthabag supports streamlined workflows, safety, and mental well-being of the vet staff.
Bring These Appointments Into Your Vet Practice
After a loss, some families may find it hard to return to the practice where they said goodbye. The trust you build by listening and guiding them through that experience can make it easier for them to reach out again when they need veterinary care in the future.
A British study showed that 60% of pet parents that just experienced a euthanasia with their pet, wished they planned a visit before the euthanasia itself. Another study shows that 31% of pet parents felt unprepared for their pet's euthanasia. Pet parents want support and guidance during this time, and we can easily meet this need.
Quality-of-life and pre-euthanasia appointments give families time to ask difficult questions, understand their options, and feel supported as they make decisions for their pet. We encourage you to make time for both conversations in your practice so families know they have a team they can turn to at every step.