Most people have never been alone with an animal who has just died, and nobody explains what the next few hours are like. That gap gets filled by imagination, which is almost always worse than the reality. Heavenly Pastures arranges pet cremations for families in Lymm and the surrounding Cheshire villages, and this page sets out plainly what you may notice, so that none of it frightens you. To be clear about location, we hold no premises in Lymm. There is one crematorium, at Burscough near Ormskirk.
Written Gently, But Written Plainly
If you would rather not read this, that is an entirely reasonable choice and you should stop here. It exists because families ring us frightened by something perfectly normal, having assumed it meant something had gone wrong, and a few plain sentences beforehand would have spared them that. Nothing described below is unusual or a cause for concern, and none of it requires you to do anything.
What You May Notice
The body cools gradually over some hours. Stiffening sets in within a few hours and passes off again later, which surprises people who did not know it was temporary. The eyes usually stay open, and they can be gently closed if you would prefer, though they may not stay that way. There can be some movement as muscles relax, and there may be a little fluid from the nose or mouth, or the bladder or bowels may empty. All of this is completely ordinary. None of it means your animal suffered, and none of it means anything was mishandled. These are simply what a body does, and they are the same processes that follow any death in any species, including our own.
Sounds That Frighten People
Air sometimes moves in the chest when a body is lifted or turned, producing a noise that can sound like a sigh or a breath. It is not breathing and it does not mean anything has been missed, but it is genuinely startling if you are not expecting it, and people have described it as the worst moment of the whole day purely because it was unexpected.
What to Do Practically
Lay your animal somewhere cool, on a towel or blanket, away from radiators and direct sun. A tiled floor, a utility room or an unheated room is ideal. Something underneath is worth having, both practically and because it makes them easier to lift later without anybody having to handle them directly. If you have a spare towel you do not mind parting with, that is the sensible thing to use. Beyond that, nothing needs doing at all, and there is no rush. Time is far less pressing than people assume, and a few hours makes no difference to anything. People sometimes ring us at two in the morning apologising for having waited until then, and equally often ring within ten minutes apologising for being hasty. Neither needs apologising for.
How Long You Have
You do not need to ring anybody immediately. Sitting with your animal for an hour, or waiting until other people in the household are home, is completely reasonable. What we would say is that in warm weather the timescale shortens, so if it is a hot week, ring sooner rather than later and we will tell you honestly what is sensible.
If You Are Not Certain They Have Died
Where there is any doubt at all, ring a vet straight away rather than waiting to see. This is particularly true of cats and small animals, who can be extremely unresponsive without having gone. No practice will think you foolish for asking, and it is worth a phone call at any hour to be sure.
What Happens Next
When you are ready, there is a decision to make. An individual cremation service means your animal is the only one involved at any stage, which is why their ashes can be given back to you. A communal cremation service means several animals together, and no ashes go back to any family. The same team handles each with identical care. You will find the figures on the pet cremation price list, and our standards covers how everything is carried out.
Other Animals in the House
If you have another pet, letting them come and see tends to help rather than harm. They will usually approach, take it in, and walk away of their own accord. Animals who are prevented from doing this frequently search the house for a good deal longer afterwards. Do not force it either, since some want nothing to do with it, and that is equally normal.
How We Come to Lymm
Collection is from your home at a time that suits you, or from your veterinary practice if that is where things happened, and it is priced by travel time out from Burscough with the bands shown on the areas we cover page. There are also collections available beyond ordinary weekday hours at additional cost. Bringing your animal to us instead is equally possible. Our page on the cremation service following natural death covers the wider practical picture.
Ring and Ask Anything
If something is worrying you and you cannot bring yourself to describe it, ring 01704 776976 anyway and describe it badly. We will know what you mean. The contact form is there if writing is easier than speaking.