At-Home End-of-Life Care · Brisbane · Ipswich · Logan · Moreton Bay
At-Home Pet Euthanasia —
Gentle, Unhurried,
On Your Terms
When the time comes, your pet deserves to go gently — in the place they know best, with the people they love, without a clock running in the background.
Dr Stuart Cunningham is a mobile veterinarian providing compassionate, fear-free at-home euthanasia for dogs and cats across Southeast Queensland. No waiting room. No time limits. Their space. Their pace.
Why Choose At-Home Euthanasia?
A traditional clinic euthanasia means a car trip, a waiting room, unfamiliar smells and sounds — all on the hardest day of your pet’s life. For anxious animals, elderly pets, or those with mobility issues, that stress is real and significant.
At-home euthanasia removes all of that. Your pet stays in the environment they know best — calm, relaxed, surrounded by the people and smells they trust. Dr Stuart comes to you. No rushing, no strange places, no strangers.
It’s one of the most difficult decisions a pet owner ever makes. Dr Stuart’s role is to make it as peaceful, dignified, and meaningful as possible — for your pet, and for you.
What Happens During an At-Home Euthanasia Appointment?
Many families want to know exactly what to expect. Here’s how Dr Stuart approaches every euthanasia appointment — step by step, start to finish.
Dr Stuart arrives at your home and takes time to quietly introduce himself to your pet before anything else happens. The goal is to reduce the impact a stranger in the house has on your animal. There’s no rush — your pet’s comfort sets the pace, and Dr Stuart takes however long is needed for everyone to feel calm and settled.
Before any procedure begins, your pet receives an anxiolytic — an anti-anxiety and sedative pre-medication. This reduces stress, promotes relaxation, and settles your pet in preparation for the procedure. This step is non-negotiable in Dr Stuart’s protocol. Every animal deserves to feel calm and at ease before anything proceeds.
Once your pet is relaxed, Dr Stuart will place a small intravenous catheter. It’s a simple step that provides direct and reliable intravenous access for the final medication.
The euthanasia medication is a barbiturate — the same class of drug used in general anaesthesia, administered at a much higher dose. Injected slowly through the catheter, your pet drifts deeper into unconsciousness within seconds. Their breathing slows and then stops, followed shortly by the heart. Your pet does not feel any discomfort.
Dr Stuart confirms passing with a stethoscope and will let you know gently and clearly. After that, the time is yours — there is no rush at all. Dr Stuart will quietly leave the room to give your family as much privacy as you need.
If you’ve arranged aftercare through Pets Forever Cremations, Dr Stuart can transport your pet directly to PFC from your home when your family is ready. If you’ve made your own aftercare arrangements independently, Dr Stuart will say a quiet goodbye and leave your family in peace.
The PMV Difference
Dr Stuart’s priority order for every euthanasia appointment is simple, and it never changes.
Patient welfare comes first, always. If Dr Stuart isn’t satisfied that your pet is comfortable, calm, and relaxed, nothing proceeds. Full stop. There is no timeline that overrides this.
Once your pet is settled, everything else is built around what you need. Your requests guide how the appointment unfolds — there’s no standard template for how this has to look.
There are no KPIs, no targets, no next appointment waiting. This appointment gets all the time it needs — however long that is. Where patience meets care.
Your Wishes Matter — All of Them
No two families are the same, and no two euthanasia appointments look the same. Dr Stuart encourages and welcomes requests of any kind — cultural, religious, personal, or simply whatever feels right for your family.
Some families have specific cultural or religious customs around the death of a pet. As long as your pet is comfortable, Dr Stuart actively encourages these practices and works around them. No judgement, no standard template.
If a family member can’t be there in person — interstate, overseas, or simply unable to travel — Dr Stuart is completely comfortable with video calls. They can be present from wherever they are.
If someone important is on their way, you wait. Simple as that. As long as your pet is comfortable, there is no reason to proceed before the people who need to be there have arrived.
Whether you stay in the room is entirely your choice. It is one of the harder things to witness, and there is no wrong answer. From Dr Stuart’s experience, pets genuinely seem to take comfort from having their people close.
Wherever your pet is most comfortable — the couch, the backyard, the bedroom, their favourite bed. Dr Stuart works around your pet’s preferred space, not the other way around.
If you’re wondering whether something is too much to ask — it probably isn’t. The goal is for this appointment to feel right for your family. Just ask.
Pricing
PMV pricing is transparent and all-inclusive — no facility fees, no hidden charges, no surprises. Pricing is based on your pet’s size and the time of the appointment.
- ✓ Pre-medication & anxiolytic
- ✓ IV catheter placement
- ✓ Euthanasia medication (barbiturate)
- ✓ No time limits — stay as long as you need
- + Memorial keepsake items
- + Contact Dr Stuart for full inclusions
- + Cremation transport: $150 (see Aftercare below)
Aftercare Options
What happens after is entirely your decision. No pressure, no timeline, no rush.
Many families choose to bury their pet in their garden. This is often permitted on private property, but regulations vary between local councils. Before choosing this option, check with your relevant council (Brisbane City Council, Ipswich City Council, Logan City Council, Moreton Bay Regional Council, etc.) regarding:
- Minimum burial depth requirements (typically at least 500mm)
- Required setback distances from water mains, drainage, and property boundaries
- Any size restrictions or conditions relating to the animal
PMV recommends confirming with your local council before proceeding. Rules differ between areas and may change.
Pets Forever Cremations (PFC) is Dr Stuart’s personal recommendation for aftercare. There are no financial incentives or referral agreements between PMV and PFC in either direction — it’s a service Dr Stuart trusts and feels confident recommending based on his experience with them.
PFC offers different cremation options depending on your preference. Contact PFC directly to discuss what’s available and what’s right for your family — Dr Stuart can provide their details.
Individual cremation is available for families who would like their pet’s ashes returned. PFC will guide you through the options for urns and containers directly.
Cremation without the return of ashes is available for families who prefer this option. Your pet is cared for with dignity and respect throughout.
If PFC is not available to collect immediately after the appointment, Dr Stuart can transport your pet directly to PFC at an agreed time. There is no intermediate storage — your pet goes directly from your home to Pets Forever Cremations. Not to a holding facility, not to a clinic. Directly.
This transport is only available to Pets Forever Cremations. If you choose a different cremation provider, you would need to arrange collection separately with them.
Where We Operate
At-home pet euthanasia is available across Southeast Queensland:
Travel fees may apply for Gold Coast, Toowoomba, and outer service areas.
About Dr Stuart Cunningham
Dr Stuart is an experienced veterinarian with over 10 years in practice. He established Personalised Mobile Vet after recognising a genuine gap in veterinary care — animals who needed help but couldn’t cope with the clinic environment, and owners who deserved a vet who actually had time for them.
He operates without time limits, without KPIs, and without targets. There is no appointment booked after yours. His only measure of a successful visit is whether the animal and their family left the experience feeling genuinely cared for.
Euthanasia appointments are some of the most significant Dr Stuart conducts. He takes the trust families place in him seriously — before, during, and after.
“Lose your patience, you’re done.” — Dr Stuart’s philosophy in six words.
- ✓ BVSc qualified veterinarian
- ✓ 10+ years veterinary experience
- ✓ Fear-free philosophy
- ✓ $5M professional indemnity coverage
- ✓ Registered with the Veterinary Surgeons Board of Queensland
Frequently Asked Questions
Is at-home euthanasia available after hours?▾
How do I know when it’s the right time?▾
Is at-home euthanasia available for both dogs and cats?▾
Can other pets in the household be present?▾
What if my pet passes before Dr Stuart arrives?▾
Do I need a referral from my regular vet?▾
How long does the appointment take?▾
Is euthanasia painful for my pet?▾
Can I contact Pets Forever Cremations directly?▾
Can I have time alone with my pet before the procedure?▾
Here When You Need Us
There’s no good time for this conversation, and there’s no pressure. If you’d like to talk through your pet’s situation before booking, Dr Stuart is happy to help.
Available daily (except Wednesdays) · 12pm–12am