Pets at Peace — Living with love, passing with peace
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By Tiffany Boisjolie, DVM

What Should I Do If My Pet Dies at Home?

Medically reviewed by Dr. Tiffany Boisjolie, DVM

25 years of veterinary experience, specializing in compassionate in-home end-of-life care for dogs and cats in Arizona.

Reviewed and updated September 1, 2026

If your pet has just died at home and you found this while trying to work out what to do next, we are sorry. This is written to be practical and calm. Take the parts that help and leave the rest.

First, confirm your pet has passed

Signs that death has occurred: no breathing for several minutes, no heartbeat when you feel the chest behind the left elbow, no response to touch or voice, eyes open and fixed, and over the following minutes the gums fading from pink to pale. If there is any doubt, or any chance your pet is unconscious rather than gone, call an emergency veterinarian immediately.

Things that are normal and can be startling

  • A final sighing breath or a muscle twitch shortly after death.
  • Release of the bladder or bowels as the muscles relax — have a towel ready.
  • The body cooling over a few hours, and stiffening (rigor mortis) within roughly three to six hours, easing again after a day or so.

    • Caring for the body until aftercare is arranged

    If you cannot arrange collection or transport right away, a few steps slow decomposition and make things easier:

  • Place your pet on a towel or blanket, on their side, with the legs gently folded — the body will stiffen in whatever position it is left in.
  • Wrap them in a clean blanket, then a plastic sheet or bags to contain any fluids.
  • Move them to the coolest place available — a garage, a cool tiled floor, or a large cooler with ice packs kept away from direct contact with the fur.
  • Keep other pets and young children from the area if that is easier for you.

    • The body can usually be kept cool at home for a number of hours — often overnight — while you make arrangements. The cooler you keep it, the more time you have.

    Your aftercare options

    You have the same choices you would have had otherwise: home burial where local ordinances allow it, or communal, individual, or private cremation. Our article on private vs. communal cremation explains the difference, and the fees page lists what each costs.

    In the Phoenix area, backyard burial is subject to city rules on depth and location relative to water lines and property boundaries — check your municipality before you dig. Apartment and HOA restrictions often rule it out entirely.

    How we can help

    If your pet has died at home and you would like help, call us. We can arrange transport of your pet to a trusted crematory and handle the cremation arrangements for you, including returning ashes if you would like them. You do not need to have been a client beforehand.

    If a natural death looks like it is coming, but has not yet

    If your pet is failing and you are hoping to avoid a distressing final crisis, it is worth talking to a veterinarian about a planned goodbye. Our quality of life assessment can help you judge where things stand, and you can call us to talk it through.

    Sources

    1. American Veterinary Medical Association — Euthanasia and pet loss resources for owners
    2. The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center — Honoring the Bond: after a pet dies
    3. International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care — After-death care of the body

    We're Here When You're Ready

    Call or text (602) 818-6999 to schedule a peaceful goodbye at home.

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