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What is Aquamation for Pets?

Everything you need to know about water-based cremation for your pets

Sydney Dahl
lovecoda

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Losing a pet is never easy, and making cremation decisions for your pet can be incredibly difficult.

Aquamation provides an alternative to traditional cremation for pet parents that are looking for a more eco-friendly and gentle cremation option. In this post, we’ll explain aquamation for pets, its benefits, availability, and cost.

Aquamation: A Gentle and Eco-Friendly Process

Aquamation, also known as alkaline hydrolysis, is a water-based form of cremation. It gently breaks down a pet’s body using a combination of water, heat, and alkaline solutions.

Unlike traditional cremation, which involves high temperatures and flames, aquamation has minimal environmental impact, as it does not release harmful emissions.

Aquamation vs. Traditional (Flame) Cremation

Aquamation is a gentler and more environmentally friendly option compared to traditional flame cremation. Instead of exposing the pet’s body to high temperatures, aquamation uses a longer process of water and alkaline solutions. This results in a natural breakdown of tissues.

Additionally, aquamation has a lower environmental impact, as it does not release harmful gases or chemicals. The sterile liquid produced during aquamation is safe and sustainable.

Benefits of Aquamation for Pets

Aquamation offers two main benefits for pet owners:

  • It is an environmentally friendly option, as it avoids harmful emissions and produces a sterile liquid that can be used as fertilizer.
  • The process is gentle, resembling natural decomposition and providing comfort to pet owners.

Compared to traditional cremation, aquamation uses less natural gas, has less carbon dioxide emissions, and uses less electricity.

What is the result after aquamation?

Aquamation results in bone fragments, processed into a coarse or fine powder, that can be placed in a special urn or keepsake box. The process of aquamation dissolves the body down to the whole skeleton, and those bone fragments are what you receive back. What you receive back may look similar to, but is not quite the same as, flame based cremated remains.

Availability of Aquamation for Pets

Aquamation is becoming more available at pet crematoriums and funeral homes nationwide, but it is not yet the default for most vets. Additionally, not all pet crematories offer aquamation services.

If you’re considering aquamation, first check with your vet to see if they work with or recommend an aquamation facility in your area. If your the default option from your vet is not aquamation, they may still work with you to arrange cremation through an aquamation facility-just ask.

You can also search online directories such as the International Association of Pet Cemeteries and Crematories or search “pet aquamation” in your area on Yelp or Google.

Cost of Aquamation for Pets

The cost of aquamation varies depending on the pet’s weight, size and location. On average, it ranges from $100 to $300 for small to medium-sized pets, while larger pets may cost $600 or more. Despite being more expensive than traditional cremation, many pet owners find the gentle and eco-friendly process worth the additional cost.

Summary

Aquamation offers pet owners a gentle and environmentally friendly option for saying goodbye to their beloved companions. With its benefits and increasing availability, aquamation is becoming a popular choice for pet cremation.

Though the loss of a pet is never easy, choosing a respectful and compassionate option like aquamation can bring some comfort during a difficult time.

References:

Cremation
Pet Loss
End Of Life
Funeral Pre Planning

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Sydney Dahl
lovecoda

Written by Sydney Dahl

1 Follower
Editor for

Founder at Coda. Passionate about pets and making loss feel a little lighter.

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