Dog and Pet Euthanasia at Home in Adelaide
Pawssum's local Adelaide vets offer a home pet euthanasia service for dogs and cats across the northern, southern, eastern and western suburbs and the Adelaide Hills. Visits run 7 days, 6am to 11pm, and start from $399 with sedation first. Cremation adds from $279, or $459 with the ashes returned.
Trusted by 380,000+ Australian families · 4.6 stars from 2,805 Google reviews · Available 7 days, 6:00am to 11:00pm · From $399
Last updated October 2026.
Available across Adelaide
Why Adelaide families choose a vet at home
For many Adelaide families the hardest part is getting an unwell pet into the car. A home visit means your pet stays settled, and you choose a time that suits the family. Meet our vets.
Out of the heat
On a 40°C day a frail pet can stay inside with the blinds down, instead of travelling in a hot car.
Hills and suburbs alike
Our vets cover every side of the city and up into the Adelaide Hills, from Prospect to Mount Barker.
Paperwork made simple
We can explain the Dogs and Cats Online steps on the day, so the registration side is one less thing to work out.
At-home euthanasia for dogs and cats in Adelaide
Dog euthanasia at home in Adelaide
An older dog who struggles on the hot footpath in January can stay inside, cool and settled, while the vet comes to them. If arthritis is the worry, read about arthritis management and signs a dog is in pain.
Cat euthanasia at home in Adelaide
Your cat can stay in their own patch of shade or their favourite chair, from Prospect to Mount Barker. Read how to tell if your cat is in pain and when a cat should be euthanised.
How much does dog euthanasia cost in Adelaide?
Euthanasia at home in Adelaide starts at $399, sedation included. The total is $678 with general cremation, or $858 with private cremation and the ashes returned.
Peaceful at-home euthanasia from $399
Your $399 in-home euthanasia service includes:
- A licensed, experienced mobile vet who comes to your home at a time that works for you
- Gentle sedation before the procedure so your pet feels no fear or distress
- The euthanasia procedure itself, performed with care and compassion
- Unhurried time to be with your pet, with no time pressure
- Guidance on aftercare options, with no obligation to decide on the day
All prices are confirmed before any booking is made. There are no hidden fees. Some circumstances may carry additional costs, such as extended travel beyond standard service areas or the need for additional sedation for highly anxious or aggressive pets.
Peaceful euthanasia
From $399
Our team will book a licensed, experienced, and caring vet at a time that works for you.
Bookings are available until 11:00pm.
See more mobile vet costs
Our Adelaide dog euthanasia cost guide compares home and clinic prices across the city.
Pet cremation in Adelaide
Across Adelaide and the Hills, cremation is arranged in the same booking. Our vet transports your pet to the crematorium, and with private cremation the ashes come back to you.
General cremation
From $279
Includes: - Careful and respectful transport
- Cremation with friends (other pets)
- Ashes scattered in the crematorium gardens
- Careful and respectful transport
- Cremation with friends (other pets)
- Ashes scattered in the crematorium gardens
Private cremation (ashes returned)
From $459
Includes: - Careful and respectful transport
- Guaranteed individual cremation
- Ashes carefully delivered to you (in container)
- Careful and respectful transport
- Guaranteed individual cremation
- Ashes carefully delivered to you (in container)
Remembrance options
Call for a quote
Includes: - Careful and respectful transport
- Guaranteed individual cremation
- Ashes carefully delivered to you in a beautiful urn
Plus, your choice of: - Paw prints
- Keepsake jewellery
- Fur clippings
and other memorabilia to remember your pet by.
- Careful and respectful transport
- Guaranteed individual cremation
- Ashes carefully delivered to you in a beautiful urn
- Paw prints
- Keepsake jewellery
- Fur clippings
Payment options include Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Vet Pay, and Zip Pay.
Our memorabilia will help you create a beautiful and meaningful tribute to your pet
If you have questions about what happens next, read what happens to your pet's body after euthanasia at home. You can also arrange a prepaid pet funeral in advance.
Burying a pet at home in Adelaide
Councils such as Burnside only remove dead animals from council land, so arrangements for a pet that dies at home are up to you. If you're thinking of burial, check with your council. Adelaide vets advise at least a metre deep and well away from vegetable gardens, because the euthanasia drug can persist in soil for two years or more. That's one reason many families choose cremation.
Telling council and updating Dogs and Cats Online
SA's Dog and Cat Management Act requires the owner of a registered dog to tell their council as soon as practicable after the dog dies. The easiest way is through Dogs and Cats Online: open your pet's record, set Animal Status to "deceased", add the date and save. This also stops the renewal reminder, because all registrations expire on 30 June.
How does in-home pet euthanasia work in Adelaide?
Many pet owners feel anxious about what will happen, especially if they have never been through this before. Knowing what to expect can take a great deal of weight off the moment itself. Here is exactly how the process works, from the moment our vet arrives until they leave your home.
The process step by step
- Arrival and introductions. Our vet will arrive in plain clothes (no scrubs or white coats) at the agreed time. They will meet your pet wherever your pet feels most comfortable.
- A gentle conversation. Before anything begins, our vet will sit with you and talk about your pet's condition. We will answer any questions you have and give you an overview of each step. Nothing will happen until you are ready.
- Sedation. To help keep your pet calm and comfortable, we will administer a small sedative. The sedative is given with a tiny needle, which most pets do not even notice. After administering the sedative, your pet will enter a deep sleep within about ten minutes, feeling calm and warm, just like being under anaesthesia.
- The final medication. Once your pet is fully asleep, we will administer one final medication. Your pet will drift deeper into sleep, and their heart will gently stop within a minute or two. There is no pain or distress. Your pet is simply already asleep when they pass. If you'd like to know more, our vets explain whether pet euthanasia is painful in more detail.
- Time to say goodbye. After administering the medication, our vet will step away to give you some space. You take however long you need to be with your pet.
- Aftercare arrangements. When you are ready, we will discuss your options for aftercare. If you have chosen cremation, we will take care of transporting your pet. If you have chosen to bury your pet at home, your pet will remain with you.
What to expect on the day
On a hot day, ask for a morning visit. It's cooler for your pet, and easier on everyone if you're arranging cremation.
Visits run about 45 minutes to an hour. Close the blinds early in summer so the room is cool when the vet arrives.
A last outing in Adelaide
Adelaide's Park Lands and beaches are good spots for one last outing. Pityarilla Dog Park in Pelzer Park is fenced, with separate areas for small and large dogs. North Adelaide Dog Park in Bragg Park, off Robe Terrace, is fenced too. Ellis Park in the Park Lands is off-leash, and on the Holdfast Bay beaches dogs can be off-leash on the sand under effective control.
After your pet has passed
Grief is different for everyone, and there is no right way to feel. These services can help Adelaide families.
- Pets and People Pet Loss Support Line: 1300 431 450, any time, with a counsellor calling back within 24 hours (fees vary).
- Griefline: 1300 845 745, weekdays 10am to 8pm.
- NALAG: 13 000 GRIEF, weekdays, free.
When is it the right time? Recognising the signs
Knowing when to say goodbye is one of the hardest parts of pet ownership. There is no single moment when most pet owners arrive at the decision. Instead, they take days or even weeks to fully consider it. Our veterinarians have guided over 380,000 Australian families through this decision, and while every pet is different, there are some common signs that may indicate it is time for your companion to rest.
Physical signs your pet may be suffering
- Persistent pain that medication no longer manages well
- Difficulty standing, walking, or getting up from rest
- Loss of appetite, or refusing food they previously loved
- Laboured breathing or visible discomfort even at rest
- Loss of bladder or bowel control combined with apparent distress about it
- Significant weight loss or muscle wasting over a short period
- Untreatable, recurring infections or open wounds
Behavioural signs to watch for
- Withdrawing from family members and other pets
- Hiding in unusual places, or avoiding their favourite spots
- No longer responding to things they once enjoyed, like walks, food, play or affection
- A flat, distant look in the eyes; what many owners describe as 'the light going out'
- Restlessness, pacing, or being unable to settle comfortably
- Vocalising in pain or confusion, especially at night
A practical question to ask
Many veterinarians point to a simple question that has helped pet owners make this decision: are there now more bad days than good for your pet?
If there have been few good days lately and the bad days seem to outweigh the good ones, it may be time.
This is not a decision to be made lightly. However, vets would encourage pet owners to make this decision in honour of the life their pet has brought to the family. Many veterinarians hear most often from those who waited too long, and rarely from those who said goodbye when their pet was in their final days.
Keeping an Adelaide pet comfortable at home
If you are not ready yet, our Adelaide vets can visit to manage pain and comfort; read end-of-life care at home. Understanding quality of life in older pets sets out the questions to ask. You can begin with the free online quality of life assessment, book an in-home check from $159, or arrange a free end-of-life phone consult.
If you would like to speak with a veterinarian without making any commitments, we offer Telepet video consultations from $69. These no-pressure consultations allow our veterinarians to help you recognise whether your pet still has good time ahead.
Meet our compassionate mobile vets in Adelaide
Veterinary euthanasia requires more than veterinary skill. It requires the warmth, the calm, and the patience to be with one of the hardest moments in a family's lifetime. Every veterinarian in our network has been chosen for both of these roles.
Licensed, verified, and experienced
All Pawssum vets are fully licensed by the relevant Australian state veterinary boards, possess professional indemnity insurance, and have years of experience in veterinary medicine. Many of our partner veterinarians have specialised in palliative and end-of-life care for pets.
Available 7 days, 6:00am to 11:00pm
We operate 365 days per year, including public holidays, across our service areas. When time is of the essence, we are here for you.
Dr. Gayle
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
Adelaide
Get a quick assessment of your pet's quality of life
If you are not ready to speak with someone and just want a little more guidance on whether pet euthanasia is the right decision, you can use our quality of life assessment tool below. It is only a guide, and symptoms should always be assessed by a vet, but it might put you on the path to making the right choice for your companion.
Not sure if it's time? Talk to one of our vets
If you'd like the reassurance of a vet coming to your home for an in-person assessment, we can organise a vet to come to you. Our friendly and compassionate vet will assess your pet's vitals, overall condition, levels of pain, discomfort, mobility, illnesses, and any other welfare-related issues. They will also be able to advise you about whether your pet is suffering or not with certainty. You will get all the information you need to do what's right for your best friend. Peace of mind from just $159.
Preparing ahead with prepaid funeral services
Losing a pet is one of the hardest parts of life, and thinking about it in advance can feel overwhelming. But planning ahead can also be an act of love, a way to make sure future moments are handled with care and less stress.
Pawssum's prepaid funeral services give pet owners the option to plan arrangements early for their other pets. You can decide on the type of farewell, choose memorial options and settle costs in advance. When the time eventually comes, everything is already organised, allowing you to focus fully on being there for your pet.
Areas we cover across Adelaide
Our Adelaide mobile vets cover the northern, southern, eastern and western suburbs and the Adelaide Hills.
Pet euthanasia near me in Adelaide
Suburbs we visit include Prospect, Norwood, Unley, Glenelg, Brighton, Marion, Mitcham, Henley Beach, Port Adelaide, Salisbury, Elizabeth, Modbury, Tea Tree Gully, Stirling and Mount Barker.
If your pet needs help after 11pm in Adelaide
These are open 24/7:
- SASH Adelaide, Kent Town
- Greencross Vet Centre and AVSARC, Norwood
- Roseworthy Veterinary Hospital, Roseworthy (for the northern fringe)
From 6am to 11pm, our urgent home visits in Adelaide can help.
Pet euthanasia in other cities
Pet euthanasia in Sydney · Pet euthanasia in Melbourne · Pet euthanasia in Brisbane · Pet euthanasia in Perth · Pet euthanasia in Canberra · Pet euthanasia on the Gold Coast · Pet euthanasia on the NSW Central Coast · Pet euthanasia in Newcastle
Pawssum mobile vets Adelaide
Address308 Glen Osmond Rd
Fullarton SA 5063
Phone
0480 030 580
Monday 6am - 11pm
Tuesday 6am - 11pm
Wednesday 6am - 11pm
Thursday 6am - 11pm
Friday 6am - 11pm
Saturday 6am - 11pm
Sunday 6am - 11pm
Adelaide pet euthanasia FAQs
The home visit starts at $399, with sedation. Choose general cremation and the total is from $678; choose private cremation and it's from $858. See our Adelaide cost guide.
Booked with a home visit, general cremation is from $279. Private cremation is from $459, with the ashes returned to you anywhere in Adelaide or the Hills.
Yes. A local vet comes to your home in the suburbs or the Hills, any day from 6am to 11pm. Book a visit or call 1300 343 580.
Yes. The Dog and Cat Management Act requires owners of registered dogs to tell council as soon as practicable. Set your dog's status to "deceased" on Dogs and Cats Online.
Possibly. Councils set the rules, so check with yours first. If you do, Adelaide vets advise at least a metre deep and away from vegetable gardens, because the euthanasia drug can persist in soil.
Dr Gayle, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), looks after at-home euthanasia across Adelaide. She led the clinical team at the RSPCA before moving to home visits. Meet our vets.
Yes. Our Adelaide vets can visit to manage pain in a pet's last weeks, and a home quality of life check is from $159.
If you can, yes. From 2013 to 2022, Adelaide averaged 5.1 days a year at 40°C or more, nearly three times the rate of the previous 40 years. A cooler morning is easier on an unwell pet.
Only the small sedative needle, which most pets barely notice. After that they are deeply asleep and feel nothing. More in is pet euthanasia painful?
When pain is no longer controlled, your pet struggles to get up, stops eating or withdraws from the family. Our free quality of life assessment can guide you, or a vet can visit from $159.
SASH in Kent Town and Greencross with AVSARC in Norwood are open 24/7. Roseworthy Veterinary Hospital covers the northern fringe.
Often. It depends on your suburb and how booked our vets are, so call 1300 343 580 for the quickest answer.
Yes, if you choose private cremation, and the ashes come back to you. General cremation is shared, and ashes aren't returned.
Usually not. Pets dying naturally often go through days of discomfort. Euthanasia lets them drift off while asleep. Dr Gayle can visit from $159 to help you decide.
Plan on 45 minutes to an hour.
We know how hard this must be, so we're with you every step of the way.
Over 380,000 pet lovers trust Pawssum, read their reviews below
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When the time comes, we are here in Adelaide.
Call 1300 343 580 or 0480 030 580, or book online. Our Adelaide vets visit across the suburbs and the Hills, 7 days, 6am to 11pm.
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Open 7 days a week from 6:00am to 11:00pm including public holidays
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