Contact - Dr. Bennett's Veterinary House Calls - In-Home Pet Euthanasia, Wellness, General Veterinary Services.  

Mobile Veterinarian In The East Bay Area California

In-Home Euthanasia

In-home euthanasia allows pets to pass with dignity and comfort in their own home. Families can grieve in their home's privacy without holding back tears in a waiting room, and pets do not experience the fearful trip to the veterinary hospital. Dr. Bennett offers assistance with the entire 'end of life' process, including sedation, euthanasia, and care of remains. Dr. Bennett's Mobile Veterinary Service also offers pet  hospice, end-of-life evaluation, and treatment of chronic disease.  

When is it time to choose In home pet euthanasia?

Deciding to euthanize a pet is a challenging process for most people. Often caretakers are unsure or confused over the timing or what justifies In home pet euthanasia. However, the decision-making process can be more straightforward if one considers the following factors and variables.

Pets quality of life  

Dogs and Cats, descendants of apex predators, are not programmed to mask illness and pain like birds, rodents, and other prey animals. Therefore, a quality of life assessment can be relatively straightforward. Understanding a pet's medical condition and identifying the signs of pain and discomfort is essential in determining whether euthanasia is indicated or justified. 

The following is a list of signs that could indicate a pet is suffering and in need of euthanasia.

1) Increased respiratory effort and rate, chronic persistent coughing, and exercise intolerance.

2) Insatiable hunger and thirst. Not eating or drinking.

3) Reluctance to move.

4) No longer greeting caretakers, not interested in the environment

5) Not wagging tail or tail between legs

6) Vocalizing, shaking, hiding

7) Incontinence

8) Staring into space, pressing head in a corner, general confusion, unable to navigate the environment, atypical aggression. 

9) Constant itching or self-trauma (chewing, licking)

10) Chronic and persistent vomiting, diarrhea, seizures

11) Loss of body condition, emaciation, weakness 

12) Contorted postures, fidgetiness, repetitive efforts to get comfortable

Scoring systems incorporating the signs of pain, mobility, posture, and behavior are available to help determine the quality of a pet's life. However, most caretakers have watched their pet deteriorate over time and ultimately know whether their pet is suffering or not. A quality of life assessment by a veterinarian will help validate the decision to euthanize or treat with palliative measures. 

Challenges of caring for a sick or compromised pet

 It is also essential to consider the well-being of the caretaker and other family members. The human and animal relationship must be beneficial for both parties. Caretakers often must endure vocalizing at night, incontinence, paralysis, and other problems. It is not selfish or unethical to consider the burden caretakers must bear when contemplating the in-home pet euthanasia or continued palliation. Dr. Bennett will gladly assess or you and guide you in the right direction

The practicality of moving forward medically Vs. in-home pet euthanasia

It is sad but true that expenses are often a factor when considering treatment options for sick or injured pets. Emergencies, hospitalization, advanced treatments, or surgeries can cost thousands of dollars. 
Pet caretakers should not feel guilty about making a tough decision based on expense. 

Emotional readiness:

It is also essential to consider the willingness of family members to experience a in-home euthanasia. Palliative measures and hospice care may be an option to allow time for family members to become ready. Grief counselors are available for family members who have difficulty coming to grips with a pet's passing. 
These are all factors in choosing in-home pet euthanasia. Dr. Bennett's Veterinary House Calls is here to help you through the process. 

The process of in-home pet euthanasia

There are four stages of in-home euthanasia:  paperwork, sedation, euthanasia, and care of remains.

Paper work:   Upon arrival, Dr. Bennett introduces himself to the pet so that trust is build, minimizing stress and fear. Dr. Bennett will collect payment, ask the necessary paperwork be signed and explain the process of pet euthanasia.  All of this is done prior to the pet euthanasia so that caretakers do not need to fumble with payment while grieving.

Sedation: Dr. Bennett will administer a sedative to the pet, leading to a comfortable sleep within 1-7 minutes. After receiving the sedative, pets feel euphoric and at ease as they gently fall asleep. Once asleep, the pet will not feel any pain or anxiety before or during the euthanasia. 

Euthanasia: As soon as the pet is asleep, Dr. Bennett will administer the euthanasia solution. In most cases, Dr. Bennett will give the final injection into a vein which causes instant passing. In some cases, the final euthanasia solution will be injected into the abdomen, allowing your pet to pass over a 2-10 minute period peacefully without pain, discomfort, or fear. 

Care of remains: After the in-home euthanasia is complete, Dr. Bennett offers to leave the family/caretaker alone with their pet for up to 15 minutes so they can continue to say goodbye and grieve. Dr. Bennett also offers to take the remains at once if preferred. Family members may be present or not for any part of the euthanasia process.

Preparing for in-home pet euthanasia

1) Family members should decide if they want to be present during the euthanasia process before the doctor's arrival; however, Dr. Bennett can also help with this decision. Many family members prefer to only be present during the sedation but not the euthanasia. If a family member or caretaker chooses, they do not have to be present for any part of the process. 

2) A decision should also be made regarding the aftercare desired for the pet: Private cremation with ashes returned or communal cremation with no ashes returned.

3) A nice place with bedding or a blanket should be designated for euthanasia. Preferably, there is lighting with minimal distraction. Cramped spaces are discouraged.  

4) Upon arrival, Dr. Bennett will ask that the necessary paperwork be signed and payment collected before performing the euthanasia so that caretakers do not need to fumble with payment while grieving after the euthanasia.

Dr. Bennett offers two choices for the care your pets remains:

Private Cremation: Remains cremated individually, the ashes are collected and returned to the caretaker.

Communal Cremation: Remains cremated with the remains of other pet with no ashes returned. The ashes are scattered over the crematoriums memorial park


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  • Urns come in a standard or upgraded style.
  • Standard: Cedar box with engraved name plate.
  • Upgraded: Urn may have wood engraving , paw print or other insignia.

Service Area

Dr. Bennett Veterinary House Calls provides in-home euthanasia services to the East Bay Area including Contra Costa County and parts of Alameda County and Vallejo. Service area includes Walnut Creek, Lafayette , Concord, Pleasant Hill, Orinda, Moraga, Alamo, Martinez, Danville, Hercules, Pinole, El Sobrante, Oakland, Martinez, Berkeley, Piedmont, Richmond, Albany, Kensington, Point Richmond, Albany and Kensington.  

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Territory our Mobile Veterinary Service Covers

Dr. Bennett's Mobile Veterinary service delivers quality veterinary care on a house call or mobile basis throughout Contra Costa County and Alameda County. We perform in-home pet euthanasia and also provide outpatient medical services and wellness. Because of our central location on the Contra Costa and Alameda county border near El Sobrante we can perform vet house calls to most of the East Bay Area.  Dr. Bennett was raised in the Walnut Creek and the Concord area thus most of our clients live in the Walnut Creek and Berkeley corridor which includes towns like Orinda and Lafayette, Alamo and Pleasant Hill. As displayed on Google Places we will travel out in a radius of thirty miles from Walnut Creek. This includes towns like Hercules, Pinole, El Sobrante, and Vallejo in West Contra Costa County extending to Pitsburg in Eastern Contra Costa County. We cover the northwestern part of Alameda County which includes Oakland to El Cerrito and Albany. 

Location

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