What Happens During In-Home Euthanasia? A Calm, Step-by-Step Guide for South Bay Families

What happens during in-home euthanasia, step by step

In-home euthanasia happens in three parts. Dr. DiGenova arrives and talks you through each step, then your pet receives a sedative and drifts into a deep, relaxed sleep. Only then is the final medication given. Nothing is rushed: you'll have as much time as you need before, during and after, and aftercare is arranged so there's nothing for you to organize.

This is how an Edencrest visit unfolds in homes across the South Bay, from the moment Dr. DiGenova arrives:

1. Arriving and talking. Dr. DiGenova meets your pet and explains each step at whatever level of detail you're comfortable with. You'll sign a written euthanasia authorization before the procedure begins.
2. The sedative. Your pet receives a sedative and drifts into a deep, relaxed sleep, usually in their favorite spot, in your arms, or on their bed.
3. Time together. There is no clock to watch. You can talk to your pet, stroke them, or simply sit together. You can also ask Dr. DiGenova to stop and talk at any point before the final medication is given.
4. The final medication. Once your pet is fully asleep and feels nothing, the final medication is given. The passing itself is calm and painless.
5. Confirming the passing. The veterinarian listens to confirm that the heart has stopped, because the moment itself is often too quiet to see.¹
6. Aftercare. If you've chosen aquamation, transport and coordination are arranged for you. A courtesy notification also goes to your regular veterinarian.

If you'd like the bigger picture first, including how to know when it's time, our complete guide to in-home pet euthanasia in the South Bay covers it.

When should you go to an emergency hospital instead of waiting for a home visit?

If your pet is struggling to breathe, having a seizure that won't stop, bleeding heavily, or in pain you can't bring under control, go to the nearest 24-hour emergency veterinary hospital now rather than waiting for a home visit. Edencrest provides in-home end-of-life care, not emergency treatment. Even a same-day home visit can't match an emergency hospital's speed.

When your pet is declining but settled, same-day home visits are often possible. Call or text (209) 561-5180 if you don't see availability online.

If you aren't sure it's time yet, a visit may not be the right first step. A quality-of-life consult is a calm, honest conversation with Dr. DiGenova, by virtual call or in your home, and it starts at $275. Many families leave the consult with a pain-management or comfort plan, not an appointment.

Why is a sedative given before the final medication?

A sedative is given first so that your pet is deeply asleep, calm and comfortable before the final medication. The 2016 AAHA/IAAHPC End-of-Life Care Guidelines note that the AVMA recommends sedation or anesthesia before euthanasia for companion animals, especially when families are present.² Because your pet is asleep, nobody needs to hold them still, so they can stay in your arms or on their own bed.

The 2016 AAHA/IAAHPC guidelines list what sedating first does for a pet:

• It minimizes your pet's anxiety.
• It takes away pain from the underlying illness.
• It means nobody has to restrain your pet.
• It may lessen reflexes such as agonal breathing, the deep involuntary breaths some animals take at the end.

The same guidelines say families should be told about every step, because knowing what comes next eases anxiety. Dr. DiGenova holds CAETA's Certified Peaceful Euthanasia Veterinarian certification and explains each step at the level of detail you want. You can read more about Dr. DiGenova and her training.

What might you see during and after in-home euthanasia?

After the final medication, your pet's breathing and heart stop, usually so gently that it's hard to tell when. Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine notes that the eyes stay open in most cases. A last breath or two can be a reflex the pet isn't aware of, and then the body relaxes completely.¹ Knowing this in advance keeps these moments from looking like pain.

Every change in this table is a normal part of a body coming to rest. Cornell's veterinary college describes the release of the bladder and bowels as completely normal and something an owner should expect.¹

A soft blanket or towel under your pet makes that moment easier to care for. If you would rather not see this part, stepping out of the room is a loving choice too. The AAHA/IAAHPC guidelines say a family's preference should be respected, and that no one should be made to feel guilty for choosing not to be present.²

Once your pet has passed, there is still no hurry. The same guidelines recommend that families be offered time alone with their pet afterward. Take that time for whatever you need: to sit together, to say a few more words, or to let other family members come in and say goodbye.

How should you prepare your home, family and other pets?

Preparing for in-home euthanasia takes very little. Choose a comfortable, familiar spot for your pet, put a soft blanket or towel down, and decide who you'd like to be there. Children and other family members are welcome, and Dr. DiGenova can help you think that through. Other animals stay in a separate room during the procedure itself.

A few things are worth settling before the visit:

• Your other pets can see and sniff their companion afterward, which many families find helps them understand, though it can make some pets more anxious.
• Paw prints, nose prints and name plates can be added when you book, and you can see paw prints and other keepsakes with their prices.
• Tell Edencrest before the visit if your pet has bitten or scratched anyone in the last 15 days, because the law may require observation or testing.
• Deciding on aftercare ahead of time means there is nothing to choose in the moment.

What happens to your pet after an in-home euthanasia visit?

After an in-home euthanasia visit, aftercare is arranged for you if you choose aquamation, a gentle water-based alternative to flame cremation. Dr. DiGenova transports your pet with care and arranges everything, and aftercare typically takes one to three weeks. With individual aquamation, your pet's ashes come back to you in a wooden urn. With communal aquamation, ashes are scattered respectfully and are not returned.

Communal aquamation starts at $160, and individual aquamation, with the urn included, starts at $410. You can collect the ashes in downtown LA at no charge, or choose USPS Priority shipping ($85) or professional hand delivery ($195). The choice between individual and communal can't be changed once the process has begun, so it's worth deciding calmly beforehand. Every option is listed with aquamation options and prices.

How do you book an in-home euthanasia visit with Edencrest?

You can book an in-home euthanasia visit with Edencrest online, or by calling or texting (209) 561-5180. Online booking starts with your address, which confirms you're inside the service area and shows any travel fee. Then you choose a time, share a few details about you and your pet, and pick any aftercare and keepsakes.

In-home euthanasia starts at $525, and payment is taken in full when you book, so there is nothing to settle while you're saying goodbye. If your pet passes away before the appointment, the visit is refunded in full. Edencrest visits homes in Torrance, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Palos Verdes, El Segundo, Gardena, San Pedro, Long Beach, Carson, Culver City and nearby communities inside the mapped service area, and you can see the cities we visit on the map.

When you're ready, you can book a home visit at a time that works for your family. If you have questions first, call or text (209) 561-5180 and ask them before you book anything.

Frequently asked questions