Euthanasia &
End-of-Life Care

Compassionate Support Through Every Stage

Caring for your pet through every stage of life is one of the greatest honors of our profession. When their comfort or quality of life begins to decline, our dedicated team is here to help you understand your options and walk beside you through each decision.

Our end-of-life services include:

  • Quality-of-life consultations

  • Pain and comfort management

  • In-hospital euthanasia

  • At-home euthanasia (when our schedule allows)

  • Aftercare and memorial options

  • Compassionate guidance from specially dedicated team members

You do not have to navigate this process alone.

Logo for Fox Run Veterinary Hospital featuring a stylized fox with crossed arms and the text 'Fox Run' in cursive above. The words 'Veterinary Hospital' are curved along the bottom.
“Fox Run cared for my elderly dog through her final years and, ultimately, helped me say goodbye. She had been by my side since college, and I’ll always be grateful for the kindness, compassion, and support they showed us throughout the entire process.”
— Jenn H.
A close-up of a tabby cat with green eyes and a green collar being held by a person in blue and pink scrubs.

Signs It May Be Time to Talk

Every pet and every situation is different. Families often begin considering an end-of-life conversation when they notice:

  • Ongoing pain that can no longer be well controlled

  • Difficulty breathing

  • Advanced cancer or organ failure

  • Severe weakness or mobility problems

  • Frequent falls or difficulty standing

  • Loss of appetite or refusal to eat

  • No longer enjoying favorite activities

  • Withdrawal from family members

  • Confusion, anxiety, or distress from cognitive decline

  • More difficult days than comfortable days

You do not need to wait until your pet is in a crisis to contact us. Our team can help you evaluate their comfort and understand the options available.

Schedule or Speak With Our Team

To discuss a quality-of-life consultation, pain management, in-hospital euthanasia, or at-home euthanasia, please call:

719-418-9494

A dedicated member of our team will help you with:

  • Choosing the appropriate type of appointment

  • Understanding what to expect

  • Reviewing scheduling and availability

  • Discussing costs and aftercare

  • Answering questions about your pet’s comfort

  • Supporting you throughout the process

We are honored to care for your pet throughout their life and grateful for the trust you place in us during these tender moments.

A Conversation, Not a Commitment

It can be difficult to know when your pet’s quality of life has changed or when it may be time to consider saying goodbye.

A quality-of-life consultation gives you the opportunity to meet with one of our veterinarians, discuss what you are seeing at home, and better understand your pet’s comfort, medical condition, and available options.

These appointments may include a discussion of:

  • Pain and mobility

  • Eating and drinking habits

  • Breathing changes

  • Interest in favorite activities

  • Anxiety, confusion, or cognitive decline

  • Good days compared with difficult days

  • Treatment and comfort-care options

  • Whether euthanasia should be considered now or in the future

A quality-of-life consultation does not mean you are committing to euthanasia. It is simply a supportive conversation designed to help you make an informed and compassionate decision.

Lap of Love also has a Quality of Life Scale on their website which can help guide these conversations and decisions.

A dog lying on a wooden floor with a bone in its mouth, resting its head on its paws, near a white wall with a small vine plant hanging on it.

Pain & Comfort Management

Supporting Comfort for as Long as Possible

For some pets, the next step may be adjusting their medical care rather than immediately considering euthanasia.

Our veterinarians can help develop an individualized comfort-care plan that may include:

  • Pain medications

  • Arthritis or mobility support

  • Anti-nausea medications

  • Appetite support

  • Anxiety management

  • Palliative care

  • Environmental or lifestyle adjustments

  • Ongoing quality-of-life monitoring

Our goal is to help your pet remain as comfortable and connected to your family as possible.

What Is Euthanasia?

The word euthanasia means “good death.”

In veterinary medicine, euthanasia is a gentle and painless medical procedure used to relieve suffering when a pet’s quality of life has significantly declined.

The decision is deeply personal and is never easy. Our team will explain each step, answer your questions, and give you the time and privacy you need.

In-Hospital Euthanasia

A Peaceful and Private Goodbye

In-hospital euthanasia is available for families who prefer to say goodbye at Fox Run Veterinary Hospital.

Our specially dedicated team members will guide you through:

  • What to expect during the appointment

  • Comfort and sedation options

  • Aftercare choices

  • Cremation and memorial products

  • Estimated costs

  • Any personal requests or questions

The procedure is peaceful and painless. We provide unhurried time before and after so your family can say goodbye in the way that feels right for you.

At-Home Euthanasia

Fox Run Veterinary Hospital now offers at-home euthanasia appointments for established clients who would prefer a peaceful goodbye in their pet’s familiar surroundings.

This is a new and thoughtfully developing service. Scheduling availability depends on our ability to integrate the service responsibly into our hospital schedule.

Our goal is to offer this service carefully so every family receives attentive, compassionate, and unhurried care.

Benefits of an
At-Home Appointment

At-home euthanasia may be especially helpful for pets who:

  • Become anxious or distressed at the veterinary hospital

  • Have significant mobility challenges

  • Are difficult or painful to transport

  • Feel most comfortable in a familiar environment

An at-home appointment:

  • Takes place in your pet’s favorite resting space

  • Allows family members to be present

  • Provides a quiet and private environment

  • Uses the same gentle medical process as an in-hospital appointment

  • Gives your family time to say goodbye without the stress of traveling

At-Home Appointment Requirements

At-home euthanasia appointments:

  • Are available to established Fox Run Veterinary Hospital clients

  • Must take place within a 20 minute drive of the hospital

  • Require a 50% deposit to reserve the appointment

  • Are scheduled with an arrival window rather than an exact time

Providing an arrival window allows our team to give each family the time and attention they deserve without rushing a previous appointment.

What to Expect

Before the appointment, a dedicated team member will speak with you about:

  • Your pet’s current condition

  • The location of the appointment

  • Who would like to be present

  • What will happen during the procedure

  • Aftercare and cremation options

  • Memorial products

  • Pricing and deposits

  • Any special requests your family may have

During the appointment, our team will move at a gentle pace and explain each step before it happens. You may spend time with your pet before and after the procedure.

Two gray boxes, a carved wooden stamp, and a white candle on green grass.

Aftercare & Memorial Options

Our Sympathy & Memorial Care Coordinators will help you understand the available aftercare options, which may include:

  • Private cremation with return of your pet’s ashes

  • Communal cremation

  • Memorial urns

  • Clay paw prints

  • Resin paw prints with your pet’s fur

  • Other available remembrance items

You may discuss these choices before the appointment so you do not feel pressured to make decisions during an emotional moment.

Logo for Fox Run Veterinary Hospital featuring a stylized fox with crossed arms and text in cursive that says 'Fox Run'.
“I love Fox Run Veterinary! I have an older cat now, they have watched over her since the place opened. Genevieve is 15 and everyone there is so kind and helpful. They really work with your budget to make sure your pet gets what they need. They don’t wine and dine you and give you an enormous bill at the end. Not only that, they follow up with you, and always ask how she is doing. The best veterinary hospital I have been to in Colorado Springs! I totally recommend.”
— Jenice