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The Price of Euthanasia And When To Pay
The price varies
from area to area and vet to vet, but £15 to £25
is the normal price range for euthanasia ($30 in
the US). It will be more expensive if there are
other fees involved e.g. for tests, operations or
if the vet performs the euthanasia in your own
home.
Vets understand
that it is difficult to write cheques when you are
in a state of shock or grief. If you are a regular
customer he may send you an invoice after a couple
of days. Alternatively, you may be able to prepay
when you arrive at the surgery - ask about this
when you make the appointment and arrive a few
minutes early. If you pay in advance or by
invoice, you may be able to leave the surgery by
its back door rather than walk back through the
waiting room.
If Your Cat Dies
Unexpectedly or Goes Missing
Many cats die
peacefully of natural causes or by euthanasia.
Although this is expected or even planned, it can
still be a shock when it actually happens.
Although the owner of an elderly cat half-expects
something to happen, if he dies suddenly or in an
accident this is more traumatic for the owner and
feelings of grief are compounded by feelings of
anger and often guilt.
Following an
accident of any kind (outdoors or indoors) it is
all too easy to say 'if only I had done this
instead of that', but you had no way of knowing
that he would meet with misfortune. Sudden death
is often due to a sudden stroke or heart failure
or to an illness or condition where there were no
symptoms for you or your vet to detect. A post
mortem, should you request it or agree to your
vet's request to perform one, may identify the
cause of death. It is unfair to yourself to feel
guilty at not noticing signs of illness if there
were no signs to for you to detect, but you may
wish to discuss the death with veterinary staff.
They can often reassure you that death was quick
and painless. Try to think of the good times you
enjoyed together and, although it is hard, try not
to feel guilty about an event you could not have
foreseen.
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