As a seasoned veterinarian with three decades of experience conducting in home dog euthanasia in Tucson, one of the most frequent questions I am asked is “How much will it cost to euthanize my dog?”.
The following factors affect what it will cost you if you wish to humanely euthanize a dog:
- veterinary clinic based euthanasia vs in home euthanasia
- corporate franchise veterinary service vs a locally owned veterinary practice
- location of your home
- size of the dog
- week vs weekend appointment
- if you choose to have your dog cremated, different options have different costs
I will break down each of these below. That way you have a handy list you can refer to as you are thinking through your decision.
Regarding travelling to a local physical veterinary clinic vs using an in-home euthanasia veterinarian who comes to your home, it can sometimes cost more to have your dog euthanized at a clinic. However, increasingly dog owners prefer the more private, peaceful, and customizable home based because that is where your dog feels most comfortable. Shop around, and feel free to use my list of 7 questions to ask so you choose the best veterinarian. Remember, you are not only looking for a veterinary doctor who is technically competent, but also someone who has a personality that fits what you are looking for.
Regarding location of your home, if you live outside of town, or in a more remote rural location, you can expect to pay more. Remember, when a doctor is driving to your home, their professional time is being used up. Just call and get a quote, because veterinarians are highly experienced in offering quotes.
Regarding the corporate versus locally owned veterinary practice factor, it is important for you to know that the world of veterinary medicine is becoming increasingly populated by nationwide corporate franchises. After practicing for over 30 years, I recognize that the entry of corporate franchises has very significantly changed in-home euthanasia. For example, corporate entry has led to dramatic price increases for pet parents. Let me say that veterinarians working for nationwide corporations can certainly do quality work. However, I am unaware of any studies or evidence showing that franchise-based vets offer better experiences, or services, for the pet and their owners.
Meanwhile, the franchise employed vets tend to charge higher prices because part of what you pay is going back to the nonlocal corporation, and away from the corporate employed veterinarian. In contrast, as a local owner of an at-home euthanasia private practice, I am able to charge much less, because none of my money is siphoned off to another business entity. There is no large corporate hierarchy being paid by what I do. Simultaneously, I am able to maintain the highest level of quality. You should shop around, and compare apples to apples. Again, you can refer to my 7 questions to ask to find your best at home euthanasia veterinarian.
Regarding size of the dog, some veterinarians will charge a higher rate for larger pets. However, in my practice I do not charge additional fees for larger pets. So you need to shop around.
Regarding week versus weekend, if you are using an at-home euthanasia veterinarian, they will sometimes charge more for weekend appointments. However, some veterinarians like myself do not charge any additional fees for weekend appointments.
Regarding types of cremation packages, there are several options. You can go to my website page where the typical options a veterinarian offers are listed. A communal cremation is where your pet will be cremated alongside other pets. With this option no ashes are returned to the owners, but you are often able to still purchase a clay paw print from the crematorium.
A second option is where your pet will be cremated in a distinguishable space within a larger crematorium setting. In this instance there will be a physical barrier between your pet and the other pets being cremated which prevents your pet’s remains being mixed up with other animals. You will then be able to receive the ashes for your pet. Ashes will often be returned in a cedar box and a clay paw print will be included with the return.
A third option is a completely private cremation where your pet will be cremated by themselves in the crematorium.
Now that I have clarified factors that can affect pricing, here is my current list of pricing as of July 2025:
Housecall euthanasia: $325.00. Travel time increases this price and is variable depending on driving distance.
Communal cremation: $100.00. With dogs over 80 pounds this price can increase.
Communal cremation with clay paw print: $165.00. With dogs over 80 pounds this price can increase.
Individual cremation (partitioned cremation): $250.00. This includes ashes being returned in a cedar box and a clay paw print.
Completely private cremation: $300.00. This includes ashes being returned in a cedar box and a clay paw print.
It is important that you use the veterinarian who uses a reliable and trusted crematorium. I have used the same crematorium called Lasting Paws for over 15 years. In fact, I personally know the driver who picks up and delivers for me. I am focused on maintaining the highest quality control possible.
If you are in difficult financial circumstances, I feel it is important for you to be educated about your options to save money. There are several affordable local aftercare companies here in Tucson, AZ that I recommend. They are as follows: The Pet Cemetery of Tucson (520.722.8434), Family Pet Services (520.358.9469) and Cholla Aquamation (520.349.9154).
I hope this blog has been helpful to you. I look forward to the opportunity to answer any other questions you might have. Just remember, you can always refer to my quality of life checklist by clicking here. I use this checklist to help pet parents know when the time is right to say goodbye. This checklist is based on my 30 years of veterinary practice. Also, please feel free to visit my website. Make sure to do a lot of research and ask a lot of questions so you feel informed before you make any decisions.
If you are not sure how to find the best at home veterinarian given your unique situation, use my list of 7 questions that I have developed from several decades of at home euthanasia experience
