Frequently Asked Questions

We know that making arrangements for your pet to be put to sleep can be a daunting experience. That’s why we’ve tried to answer as many of your questions as possible about our home pet euthanasia services in Exeter, Torbay and Taunton. We hope that you will will find the answers to the questions below useful but if you have any queries you can contact us.

Before your appointment

  • We know that deciding when to put your pet to sleep is never an easy decision. We believe the decision is all about quality of life for your pet. This is something that you can assess with advice from your usual veterinary practice. Your vet or nurse can carry out a quality of life assessment which may help you decide when the time is likely to be right for you and your pet.

  • We generally recommend booking an appointment a few days in advance. Our service is for pet owners who wish to plan in advance for when the time comes. We usually have appointments available a few days ahead but please check availability on our booking page. If your pet becomes unwell before your appointment you will need to contact your usual veterinary practice and take their advice about whether your pet will need to be put to sleep by them. We do not offer an emergency or urgent euthanasia service, although we may occasionally have same day appointments available.

  • We have appointments available throughout each week and will try to accommodate your requirements. Our appointments do get booked up so it’s best to plan a little bit in advance. You can view our available appointments when you book online.

  • We have limited evening and weekend appointments so cannot guarantee availability. Please get in touch if you’d like to see if we can accommodate your request.

  • Yes, so long as your appointment is more than 24 hours away you can change your appointment as many times as you need without charge.

    You can change your appointment to any available appointment slot.

    You can do this online by following the instructions in your confirmation email.

    You cannot reschedule an appointment if it is less than 24 hours before the time of your appointment.

    If it is less than 24 hours to your appointment and you no longer wish to go ahead you will need to cancel. You can only do this by phone if there is less than 24 hours until your appointment.

    If you need to cancel you will receive a refund less a £50 administration fee.

  • No. If you think that your pet needs to be put to sleep urgently or outside of the normal working day you should call your usual veterinary practice and ask for their advice.

  • At this time our service is available for dogs and cats only.

  • There is no specific preparation which you will need to carry out. However, you may like to spend some extra time with your pet in their final days. Some owners find comfort in creating memories such as photographs or videos. You could also help them to get comfortable in the place where you will say your final goodbye by giving them treats nearby.

  • We recommend feeding your pet as you would normally do. You may wish to have some of their favourite treats available during the appointment.

  • When you complete your booking, you can specify whether you would like us to pass your details to Culm Valley Pet Cremations in the Blackdown Hills. We will then ask Culm Valley Pet Cremations in the Blackdown Hills to contact you so you can discuss the arrangements for your cremation. All cremations are guaranteed individual cremations. You may wish to discuss how you would like your ashes returned and the style of urn or casket.

Pricing and Payment

  • When you book online you can pay with a debit or credit card. If you book over the phone, we can take payment during the booking process with a debit or credit card. All payments must be made in full at the time of booking.

  • No. Cremation is charged separately by your chosen crematorium. If you choose to use our recommended crematorium, Culm Valley Pet Cremation, they will contact you to discuss the options for cremation and the prices. You will be invoiced for their services on collection of your pet’s ashes. You can find out more on their website.

  • We understand that you may need to cancel your appointment in certain circumstances.

    If it is more than 24 hours until your appointment, you can cancel online by following the link in your booking email.

    If it is less than 24 hours to your appointment you will need to cancel by phone.

    If you cancel your appointment we will refund your appointment fee less a £50 administration fee.

    You can also reschedule your appointment so long as it is more than 24 hours before your appointment time.

  • We offer a bespoke home visit service to ensure that you and your pet have the best possible experience when the time comes to say goodbye. We take as much time as you and your pet need and are never rushed. This extra care and attention generally costs more than if you visit your vet to have your pet put to sleep. Your vet may offer a home visit service themselves but this will often have to be fitted around their other appointments and not necessarily at a time that’s convenient for you. Our home visit prices are likely to be comparable to your own vet practice if they offer this level of service. We have made sure to offer a fixed price for complete transparency and certainty.

  • Your pet insurance may cover the cost of the euthanasia itself but is unlikely to cover the cost of the home visit. If you wish to claim on your pet insurance please let your usual vet know and we will work with them to ensure your claim is processed for you.

At your appointment

  • We generally allow around an hour for your appointment but sometimes it will take less time and sometimes more. We do have several appointments available in a day but we leave plenty of time between them to ensure that we are never rushed.

  • On arrival Sara will introduce herself to you and your pet and decide what will happen based on your pet’s circumstances and your wishes. A small sedation will usually be given to help your pet fall asleep over a short time. The final injection will then be given when you are ready. Sara will talk you through what’s happening at every stage, answering any questions you may have.

  • We know that some pets are not comfortable with strangers or people coming into their homes. If your pet is likely to be nervous, we may ask you to help us place a muzzle on your pet (dogs only) or we may ask you to help us by holding your pet. Having been a vet for many years, Sara is used to dealing with challenging situations and will do everything possible to make your pet feel as calm and content as possible.

  • We encourage you to stay with your pet during your appointment but you are not required to do so. We want you to be able to say goodbye to your pet and if you are there when we put them to sleep it will help them feel calm and relaxed. You can change your mind at any stage of the appointment.

  • We ask that your other pets are not present during the euthanasia. However, we encourage your other pets to say goodbye before your pet is taken away.

  • To make your pet feel calm and comfortable we will administer a sedative before we give the final injection to put your pet to sleep. They may feel the sedative injection a little or not at all, similar to their routine health check injections.

After your Appointment

  • If you have opted to use our recommended cremation service at Culm Valley Pet Cremations in the Blackdown Hills, Sara will take your pet after the appointment and transport them to the crematorium. If you have decided to make your own arrangements for cremation, we will leave your pet with you.

  • Rainbow Bridge Vets only provides home visit pet euthanasia services. However, we have partnered with Culm Valley Pet Cremations in the Blackdown Hills to provide a guaranteed individual cremation for your pet.

  • We have chosen to work with Culm Valley Pet Cremations because they only carry out individual cremations and share our commitment to making the experience at the end of your pet’s life as compassionate as possible. They are a family run business led by husband and wife team Diana and Steven and you will receive a personalised service according to your needs. Culm Valley Pet Cremations aim to carry out your cremation within 48 hours and never freeze your pet prior to cremation, which is what usually happens when you have your pet put to sleep at a vet practice. You can find out more on their website.

  • You can discuss this with Diana and the team at Culm Valley Pet Cremations when you arrange your cremation. Many owners like to collect the ashes from Culm Valley Pet Cremations where they have a dedicated quiet room of rest. If you prefer not to do so they can be delivered to you or sent by courier (both at additional cost). In some circumstances we can arrange to take your pet’s ashes to your usual vet practice for you to collect from there.

  • You can bury small domestic pet animals such as a dog or a cat on your own land, for example in your back garden. More information on what you need to do can be found here. We would advise any pet owner that preparing the space for your pet to be buried can be emotionally challenging and to seek support where needed.

  • We understand that having something to remember your pet by can bring comfort after pet loss. Through Culm Valley Pet Cremations you can choose to have a paw print or fur clipping. Other memorial ideas include pet portraits, jewellery or personalised memorials.

  • We know that losing a pet can be a life changing event and sometimes owners need support. We would highly recommend the Blue Cross Pet Loss Support service. Run by trained volunteers they offer free and confidential help at this difficult time. You can access their services by call, chat and email here.