How Much Does It Cost to Euthanize a Dog?

One of the saddest realities is that pets live such short lives. Naturally, you want to keep your dog with you as long as you can, but you also don't want them to suffer more than necessary due to illness or old age. End-of-life care for pets often means showing them the same love you've shown them throughout their lives by providing them with a peaceful exit through euthanasia. Learn how much it costs to put your dog to sleep so you can be financially prepared when the time comes.

What Does It Mean to Put Your Dog to Sleep?

The medical term for putting a dog to sleep is euthanasia, which is the humane process of using drugs to end a pet's life quickly and painlessly. Sometimes also referred to as “putting a dog down," euthanasia is intended to provide final relief for dogs who are suffering and have significantly impaired quality of life due to old age, severe pain that is unmanageable or a terminal illness.

Why a Dog May Need to Be Euthanized

The following reasons may prompt veterinarians and pet parents to consider putting a dog to sleep:

• All options for medical intervention have been exhausted.
• There's no hope that the dog's condition will improve.
• The dog is experiencing severe pain that can't be relieved with medication or other forms of pain management.
• The dog no longer has the capacity to enjoy life.
• Pet parents no longer have the time, money or emotional capacity to continue treatment.

When to Consider Putting Your Dog Down

Euthanizing your dog is a difficult and often heartbreaking decision. Pet parents faced with this choice want to be certain it's the best thing for their beloved companions.

To help both grieving pet parents and veterinarians determine when it's the right time to consider euthanasia, Dr. Alice Villalobos, a veterinary oncologist, developed a “Quality of Life" scale — sometimes called the H5M2 scale — to help assess whether your dog still has an acceptable quality of life.

Quality of Life (H5M2) scale

On a scale of zero to 10, with 10 being the highest quality, pet parents rate their pets in the following categories.

• Hurt: How well-managed is your pet's pain and ability to breathe without difficulty?
• Hunger: Is your pet still eating on their own? Are they able to keep food down?
• Hydration: Is your dog getting enough fluids, either from drinking on their own or from subcutaneous fluids, to stay adequately hydrated?
• Hygiene: Are they able to go to the bathroom, either on their own or with assistance, and be kept clean and comfortable?
• Happiness: Does your pup still interact with you and engage with things that bring them enjoyment?
• Mobility: Can your dog get up and walk around without stumbling? Do they risk harming themselves when trying to move around?
• More good days than bad: Overall, does your dog seem content more often than not?

A total score of less than 35 may mean your dog's quality of life is significantly diminished and it's time to discuss euthanasia with your vet.

Read Related: Is it Time To Say Goodbye? 21 Signs a Dog May Be Dying and How To Help

How Are Dogs Put Down?

When the time comes to have your dog put to sleep, the veterinarian or veterinary technician administering the procedure should walk you through the steps involved and what to expect.

• After allowing you time to say goodbye, they'll give your dog a strong sedative to put them in a deep sleep. They might also administer pain and anti-seizure medications to ensure your pet's comfort. Whether you remain with your dog during the procedure or leave them alone with the vet is up to you.
• Once your dog reaches deep sleep, the vet will administer a lethal dose of pentobarbital, either through an IV catheter or via injection, to stop the heart. If delivered through IV, this drug will cause death within seconds. Injecting it will take longer, up to 15 minutes.
• Following the injection, you may be allowed time to sit with the body before it's taken away for final preparations. If you choose to bury your dog, your vet may prepare the body for burial and return it to you to take home. If your vet offers to handle cremation, then the body will be taken away to be cremated. If you opt for a private cremation, you'll be able to pick up your dog's ashes when they're ready. But if you consent to a communal cremation, in which your dog is cremated along with other deceased pets, you won't get their ashes back.

Where Can You Euthanize a Dog?

Depending on where you live and what's available in your area, you may have a choice between taking your dog to the vet to be euthanized or having it done in the privacy of your own home. Both options have advantages and drawbacks. Here's what to expect in either case.

Vet clinics and animal hospitals

Both veterinary clinics and animal hospitals offer euthanasia services. Most clinics try to make both their patients and pet parents as comfortable as possible during the procedure, providing privacy and allowing time and space for pet parents to say their goodbyes beforehand and express their grief after it's over. You'll most likely be allowed to bring comfort items for your pet, like a favorite toy, a blanket that smells like home and a treat if they're able to keep food down.

At-home euthanasia services

If you'd like to say your final goodbyes in your own home, companies like Lap of Love offer at-home euthanasia services. Having your dog put down at home can be more expensive than having it done in a clinic, but it allows them to pass away in the comfort of their own home, surrounded by familiar objects and loved ones. It also avoids subjecting them to one last trip to the vet, which may be necessary if car rides or vet visits make your dog anxious, or if they're too unhealthy to travel.

How Much Does It Cost to Euthanize a Dog?

Euthanasia costs vary widely from one region to another, and different vets may charge different fees as well.

Here are the average costs of putting a dog to sleep, depending on where you decide to have it done:

• At a clinic or pet hospital: $80 to $195¹
• At home: $240 to $375¹

Here is a breakdown of all the potential costs involved in euthanizing a dog:

• The veterinarian or veterinary technician's fee
• A fee for an office visit, or time and travel expenses for an at-home procedure
• An examination fee if an exam is conducted prior to the procedure
• The required dosage, depending on the size and weight of the dog
• Any additional medications administered at the beginning of the procedure
• Equipment used in the procedure, including needles and syringes, IVs and catheters

No-Cost Pet Euthanasia

Your local animal shelter, as well as local humane societies and pet rescue organizations, may offer free or steeply discounted euthanasia services. This is the cheapest way to put your dog down, usually costing under $50 if they charge at all. They may also offer discounted cremation or burial services.

In some large cities, nonprofit animal welfare organizations provide financial assistance to help lower-income households with pet care, including end-of-life care. If you need that kind of help, ask your vet if they can put you in touch with an organization in your city. Alternatively, if you have family or close friends who own property where there are no restrictions against pet burial, you could ask them if they would allow you to lay your pup to rest on their land.

Options for Handling Your Dog's Remains

A backyard burial for your pet may be an option, but it isn't always feasible. If you'd like to be able to visit your dog's gravesite, you can have them interred in a pet cemetery rather than burying them at home. The cost of burying your dog in a pet cemetery starts from $400 to $600 and up, depending on the size of the dog and choice of casket, and includes a casket, the burial plot and a fee for the actual burial. This typically doesn't include the cost of a headstone or maintaining the grave.²

Your vet may provide pet cremation services, or if not, they can refer you to a pet cremation service provider. How much it costs to have your dog cremated will depend mainly on whether you choose a private or communal cremation.

Private cremation means that your dog will be cremated alone, and their ashes will be returned to you to keep or dispose of as you see fit. Some private cremation packages may include an urn for the ashes and keepsake items such as jewelry containing some of your dog's cremains. The average cost of private pet cremation including euthanasia in the U.S. runs from $230 to $350 at the veterinary office, $420 to $800 if you choose to have it done at home.¹

Communal or group cremation means your dog will be cremated along with the remains of other deceased pets. Because there's no way to keep your pet's ashes separate, you won't get them back. However, the average cost of communal pet cremation including euthanasia is between $130 and $350 at the veterinary office or $320 to $650 at home, making it a more affordable option for your dog's final rest.¹

Does Pet Insurance Cover the Cost of Euthanasia?

If you have pet insurance, you might be able to get reimbursed for putting your dog to sleep; it depends on the type of coverage included in your policy. Most pet insurance companies that cover euthanasia will only pay for it if a veterinarian recommends it as part of overall care for an accident or condition that's covered by your policy. Cremation or burial may be covered as well. Examine your policy and check with your pet insurance provider to make sure your dog will be covered if the worst happens.

The CareCredit Credit Card Is Here to Help

Saying goodbye to your beloved pet can be one of the hardest things we do, but the CareCredit credit card can be there for you when you need it most.* Whether it's your first veterinary visit or your last, CareCredit is here to help you manage the costs of your pet's care. Find a veterinarian near you that accepts CareCredit and download the CareCredit Mobile App today to manage your account, find a provider on the go and easily access the Well U blog for more helpful articles, podcasts and videos.

In addition to pet care, you can also use your CareCredit credit card for dentistry, cosmetic, vision, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases, spa treatments and so much more within the CareCredit network. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?

Expert Reviewer

Dr. Kathy Wentworth, V.M.D.

Dr. Kathy Wentworth was the Medical Director of the VCA PetPoint Medical Center and Resort, located in Irvine, California. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine and became board-certified as a Diplomate in Canine and Feline Practice by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in 2010.

Author Bio

Jean Marie Bauhaus is a freelance writer and novelist who has been writing pet content since 2013. Her work has appeared on Forbes.com, Hill's Pet, Chewy, AKC.org and more.