Costs to consider before the passing of your pet

Whether you have a dog, cat, or horse, turning the page to the final chapter of their life is heartbreaking.

Sadly, something to consider as we approach the end of our pet’s life story is how much their passing will cost financially – additional to the emotional pain of their loss. 

In this article, we’ll explore approximate costs that should provide a fair expectation of what you may pay to put them sleep, arrange their cremation, and have keepsakes made. 

However, it’s important to note that the following costs* are likely to differ for each individual’s situation, depending on the services you choose and your location within the UK. Additionally, costs will increase if you access veterinary and cremation services out of hours.

You can navigate to the section that’s most relevant to you, if you’d prefer:

Putting pets to sleep

The costs of putting your pet to sleep will vary according to their species and size.

For more information, please visit our articles about what to expect when a pet is put to sleep and what happens after a pet is put to sleep.

Costs of putting a dog to sleep

If you choose to have your dog put to sleep at a vet practice, the cost of that service might include the consultation, the procedure itself, and, sometimes, cremation. 

A euthanasia appointment will vary greatly in cost depending on several factors, such as:

  • Your pet’s size or breed.
  • Your pet’s weight.
  • Time of day (out of hours appointments will cost more).
  • Whether the vet requires assistance (e.g. a vet nurse).
  • Location (i.e. at home or at the vet practice).
  • If you choose to have your pet cremated (with or without ashes returned).

So, you’ll need to ask your chosen vet for advice about the prices of their services, to get a more accurate prediction of the costs you should expect.

To provide a general idea, according to our data**, an average cost for a dog euthanasia appointment is £143.13 – which may be more or less, dependent on the factors listed above. 

Costs of putting a cat to sleep

Having your cat put to sleep at a vet practice is similar to having a dog put to sleep, meaning it may include consultation, procedure, and cremation costs. 

Just as for dog euthanasia costs, the following factors will influence what you’d have to pay:

  • Your pet’s size or breed.
  • Your pet’s weight.
  • Time of day (out of hours appointments will cost more).
  • Whether the vet requires assistance (e.g. vet nurse).
  • Location (i.e. at home or at the vet practice).
  • If you choose to have your pet cremated (with or without ashes returned).

According to our data**, an average cost for feline euthanasia appointment at a vet practice is £122.97. 

Costs of putting a horse to sleep

Costs of equine euthanasia appointments vary greatly, due to the widely ranging veterinary prices across the UK. However, to have a horse put to sleep by injection, our data** suggests the average cost is around £142.99 – excluding transportation and cremation costs.

Removal costs must also be factored in when considering a horse’s euthanasia appointment. Although vets can offer support by providing the contact information of reputable removal companies, many animal crematoriums that cater for horses do offer transport to their facilities, too.

If arranging for your horse to be removed privately after they’ve been put to sleep, that service might cost upwards of £200-£350.

Again, the factors to be considered when vets calculate costs include:

  • Your horse’s size or breed.
  • Your horse’s weight.
  • Time of day (out of hours appointments will cost more).
  • Whether the vet requires assistance (e.g. a vet nurse or assistant).
  • Location (i.e. field accessibility at your stable yard).
  • If you choose to have your horse cremated (with or without ashes returned).

Having pets cremated 

There tend to be two options for pet cremation – ‘communal’ or ‘individual’. 

Opting for communal cremation means your pet’s ashes won’t be returned to you, though may be scattered in a peaceful garden of remembrance by the crematorium team. An individual cremation guarantees your pet’s ashes will be returned to you in a casket, urn, or scatter tube of your choice. 

Just as for veterinary fees, the costs associated with cremation tend to vary across the country.

Costs of cremation for dogs

Average cost of communal cremation for a dog – £100 to £300+

Average cost of individual cremation for a dog – £295 to £340+

Please note: A dog’s size is likely to influence the cost of cremation (for example, the larger the breed, the more expensive the service).

Costs of cremation for cats

Average cost of communal cremation for a cat – £100 to £170+

Average cost of individual cremation for a cat – £180 to £225+

Costs of cremation for horses

Average cost of communal cremation for a horse – £460 to £690+

Average cost of individual cremation for a horse – £500 to £1,300+

Please note: A horse’s size will have an impact on the cost of cremation (for instance, the service will cost more for a horse over 16hh than a pony under 12hh).

Costs of keepsakes to remember your pet

Sometimes, having a keepsake made to remember our much-loved dog, cat, or horse might not be something you consider during difficult end-of-life decisions.

To help you decide upon an affordable way to remember your dog, cat, or horse, here are some basic prices for memorial keepsakes (please expect these prices to differ):

  • Memorial jewellery containing your pet’s fur, hair, or ashes – £60 to £170+
  • Memorial frame containing photographs and/or items (e.g. collar or headcollar) – £40 to £140+
  • Personalised memorial photo book or photo album – £20 to £40+

You can visit our article about ways to remember your pet for further inspiration as to other memorial options available.

Please visit our Pet Bereavement Hub to access additional support if you’re struggling to come to terms with losing your much-loved dog, cat, or horse.

Photograph of a dog memorial statue beside a bench in a park

*The costs listed in this article were correct at the time of publication in October 2024. 

**Animal Friends’ claims data from October 2023 until October 2024.

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