After the death of a pet the aftercare options commonly considered include burial (if legally permissible in that municipality) and flame cremation. In this age of environmental care and concern there is an awareness about the contribution of greenhouse gases into our environment in association with both of those aftercare choices. One emerging option for aftercare (for humans and animals) is water-based cremation. Although the process has been understood for a very long time, it has not been a service readily available until recent years. Water-based cremation is also a service that can be offered in-house by veterinary practices or animal care-centric business endeavors.

In this segment Kathleen Cooney, DVM, CHPV, CCFP introduces us to water-based cremation and explains how it works, the advantages of this aftercare option compared to burial and flame cremation, as well as other practical considerations.