Can I stay with my pet the whole time?

Yes, for as long as you want. You can hold your pet throughout, or step out at any point if that is easier. Neither choice is wrong and our team will not have an opinion about it.

How do I know when it is the right time?

There is rarely one clear signal. Talk to us before you feel certain and describe what you are seeing at home. Our veterinarians will go through it with you honestly, and sometimes the answer is that there is still good time left.

Can I bring my family or my pet's bed?

Please do. A blanket, a bed, or a favourite toy from home is welcome, and you are free to bring as many or as few people as you want. The comfort room is private and opens onto its own exit.

End-of-Life Care for Dogs and Cats in Victoria

End-of-life care is the appointment nobody books early and everybody remembers. Most families arrive already knowing, and what they need is not persuasion. What they need is time, a quiet room and a team who will not rush them through it.

When You Are Unsure

Deciding When It Is Time

This is the part that keeps people awake. There is rarely a single clear signal, and most owners are looking for permission as much as information. Talk to us before you are certain.

Our veterinarians will go through what you are seeing at home, honestly and without a sales pitch, and sometimes the answer is that there is still good time left and something can be adjusted. Dr. Vandeep Shergill founded this practice in 2017, and the owners have always insisted that this conversation is never hurried.

Our Comfort Room

A Quiet Room with a Private Exit

A general exam room is a working space with a scale in it and a queue behind it, and it is the wrong place for this.

Private and quiet

Our comfort room is quieter than an exam room and opens onto a private exit, so you never have to walk back out through a waiting room afterwards.

Your family, your way

Bring a blanket, a favourite toy or a bed from home, and as many or as few people as you want. If you would rather sit on the floor with your dog or cat than use a table, that is entirely fine.

The Appointment

What Happens, Step by Step

Before you arrive

Tell reception what the appointment is for. We book these into quieter parts of the day where we can, and explain where to park and which door to use. Ask for a few quiet minutes in the room beforehand if you would like them.

A gentle sedative

We explain each step before it happens, and then we stop talking. Your pet is settled on their own blanket and given a sedative, so they drift into a deep sleep in your arms.

A peaceful goodbye

Once your pet is fully relaxed, the final injection is given. It is quick and it is not painful. You can hold your pet throughout or step out at any point, and neither choice is wrong.

Time afterwards

The room is yours for as long as you want it. There is no time limit, and nobody will knock.

We Are Here When You Need Us

Call our team to talk things through, even if you are not ready to decide. We will go at whatever pace suits your family.

FAQ

How can I tell whether my pet is having more bad days than good?

Keep a simple note at home across a week or two, marking the good days and the difficult ones. A written record often shows a pattern that day-to-day memory hides, and it gives our veterinarians something concrete to go through with you.

Can children be present?

Yes, if that is what your family wants. Our team will follow your lead rather than steer you.

Can you come to our home instead?

Yes. Our veterinarians also make house calls for end-of-life care in Victoria. See our In-Home End-of-Life Care page, or call (778) 265-4500 to ask about a home visit.