Know Your End-of-Life Care Options: Ask Your Vet about Water Cremation
- jenryan02013
- Jun 6
- 6 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
June 5, 2026
Our beloved rescue pup, Riley, turned 15 today. She is, of course, the best dog ever and we cannot even imagine what life will be like when she passes. But I know the day is coming and I want Riley’s end-of-life journey to be as peaceful and dignified as possible.
Before we started Aqua Bridge, I had never really thought about the “end-of-life” process for pets. When I was a kid, our old dog Ruffy went off to “the farm” one day and we just accepted it. I can still picture him in a grassy pasture hanging out with a flock of sheep. When our 21-year old cat, Maija, passed away, we left her with the vet and did not think to ask about what would happen next. That was 10 years ago and the conversation about end-of-life care for pets has changed significantly since then.
Indeed, pet ownership has never been more popular – today, 62% of Americans own a pet and 35% have more than one furry friend. Nearly all pet owners say their pets are part of their family; and half of these owners say their pet is on par with their human family members![i][ii] This is not just because they are furry and cute (although it doesn’t hurt). Having pets around increases our sense of well-being and belonging, helps reduce stress and combat loneliness, and can even help us be more physically healthy.
This might seem obvious to those of us who are already converted, but there is science behind how we feel about our pets. Decades of research have now been devoted to understanding how interacting with pets can contribute to our physical and emotional health. An increasing body of evidence is showing that engaging with animals can be therapeutic for children, adults, and the elderly alike. The unconditional love and companionship that pets can provide is priceless in so many ways. That is why it is so hard to think about, much less plan for, their passing.
Knowing when it may be time to say goodbye.
While we cannot predict how and when our pets' time will arrive, it can be helpful think ahead about what you want their last days to be like. In our first Navigating the Path to the Rainbow Bridge blog, we discussed the physical and behavioral signals from your pet that it may be time to consider euthanasia.
It is important not to ignore the signs. I have had many vets tell me that waiting for a pet to pass naturally is not necessarily the kindest thing. Our pets cannot tell us how much pain they are in, so we need to help interpret for them to avoid unnecessary suffering. Love is about knowing when your pet’s comfort, dignity, and peace matter more than prolonging the amount of time you have with them.
Sometimes it is a moment of crisis that you are not expecting. You take your pet to the vet and learn that they are in critical condition and there is nothing more to be done. More often, there is a difficult decision to be made. Rely on your vet’s medical advice but also consider your pet’s age and quality of life going forward. Try to separate your own feelings from how your pet is feeling. While medical signs do not make the decision for you, they do provide important guidance that should not be ignored.
When the time comes, you can choose to euthanize at your vet clinic or hospital (for around $300) or you can ask the doctor to help make your pet comfortable so you can make arrangements for a vet to come to your home to help you say goodbye.
In-home euthanasia appointments are more costly ($400 or more) and are not feasible for everyone, but many vet clinics and hospitals have nicely decorated “comfort rooms” for this purpose. We have three intentionally furnished comfort rooms at Aqua Bridge as well. Regardless of the setting, veterinary teams approach the euthanasia process with compassion and kindness.
Pet “After Care” Options
Many people do not realize that there are multiple options for caring for our beloved pets after they pass. Some of us prefer to leave our deceased pet with our trusted vet and not think about what happens next. That is a perfectly appropriate way to say goodbye. There is no right or wrong way to cope with your pet’s passing – all that matters is that they know how much you love them.
If you do not specify your after care wishes with your vet, your pet will most likely be included in a communal cremation process at a large crematory in the area. Most vet clinics no longer bury deceased animals due to changing state and local laws related to environmental concerns about soil and groundwater contamination by the medicine used to conduct the euthanasia. Home burial is also an option in some areas, but families should also check with their city public health department before deciding.
If you would like to have your pet’s remains returned home to you, there are several options to consider in anticipation of a pet’s passing:
Aquamation
Also known as water “cremation,” the Aquamation process uses a water and mineral solution that is heated and circulated around the pet’s body over several hours, facilitating the natural break down process. At Aqua Bridge, we pride ourselves on this innovative and more environmentally conscious approach. Not only does Aquamation require 90% less energy, it is also a much more gentle and respectful process than cremation.
Every Aquamation process is private, meaning that each animal is placed in an individual compartment and tracked carefully from start to finish. You are guaranteed to receive only your pet’s remains.
Aquamation produces about 20% more remains than cremation and they are a sandy white in color, as opposed to the gray ashes that result from cremation.
The Aquamation process takes a total of 72 hours and your pet’s remains will be returned home to you within 5-7 days.
Our standard prices for the Aquamation process are $300 for pets up to 40 pounds and $350 for pets weighing 41 pounds and up. At Aqua Bridge, we do not charge a transportation fee if your home is within 25 miles of our Golden Valley location.
Flame Cremation
The default after care option for most vet hospitals and clinics is still cremation. It is what people know and understand because it is so common among human burial processes. The cremation process is fast but harsh – the chamber is heated to 1800 degrees for 1-2 hours. Because cremation requires burning of fossil fuels, it releases harmful emissions into the environment -- 500 pounds of CO2 per cycle. When the cremation is complete, the remaining bone fragments are “cremulated” to produce the gray ashes.
Cremation through your Vet – If you are euthanizing your pet at the vet clinic or animal hospital, the team will talk with you about options for private cremation ($275 - $450) and communal/group cremation ($80 - $235). Private cremation (meaning your pet is the only one in the incinerator) is significantly more expensive than communal, but your pet’s remains cannot be returned following a group cremation. Due to the high volume of pet cremations today, it can often take up to 2 weeks to receive your pet’s remains and you must pick them up at the vet clinic or hospital.
Cremation on your Own – There are several large cremation providers in Minnesota that work directly with families. In addition to private cremations, some providers offer “separated” or “semi-private” cremation where the pets are placed in the chamber together but spaced apart so you can receive most of your pet’s remains ($195 - $250).
Most vet clinics and many cremation providers do not post their pricing clearly on their websites, so it is difficult to decipher what the total cost will be after an urn, paw print, and other memorial keepsakes are factored in.
All cremation providers charge extra transportation fees ($55 - $115 each way) for pick-up and delivery of deceased pets and remains.
Aqua Bridge -- Mission Driven, Compassionate Customer Service
We take our responsibility very seriously and are committed to ensuring the highest quality, personalized customer service, every time. If you are considering working with an in-home euthanasia provider to plan your pet’s journey over the Rainbow Bridge, ask them about Aqua Bridge and Aquamation as an alternative to cremation.
We are thrilled to partner with MN Pets and Coda Pet to offer a comprehensive, seamless and less stressful end-of-life care process for families. Reach out by phone or email and we will handle the rest – from scheduling with a trusted vet, to arranging pick-up and delivery, to a sensitive, stress-free payment experience. We also offer special rates for families who come to us through the Animal Humane Society and MN SNAP. There is an affordability crisis underway in veterinary care and our mission is to ensure that no family is turned away from Aquamation due to cost.
You will have a single point of contact throughout the process and we will carefully accommodate your schedule and wishes for your pet. No detail will be overlooked. We will be here when you need us – 763-265-9520..
Thank you for visiting – we hope this information is helpful!
ENDNOTES
[i] Anna Brown, Pew Research Center. “About half of U.S. pet owners say their pets are as much a part of their family as a human member.” July 2023; available at
[ii] American Pet Products Association - https://americanpetproducts.org/industry-trends-and-stats
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