How to ask your vet about a paw print ahead of time
Ask when you book the appointment, not on the day: one sentence on the phone or in an email is enough, as long as it names the type of print and asks the clinic to note it on your pet's file. The conversation is short; 73%[1] of US owners in one survey said 20 minutes or less covered all of their pet's after-death care.
By the Paw Print Keepsakes & Memorial Impressions editorial team · Updated September 24, 2026 · 4 min read · Sources
- When to raise it, from senior checkups to booking
- Word-for-word scripts for phone, email and the exam room
- What to do if the clinic doesn't offer prints
The short answer
When should you ask your vet about a paw print?
Ask as soon as a goodbye appointment is on the horizon: when you book it, or even at the senior checkup where quality of life first comes up. Tell them which prints you'd like and ask them to write it on your pet's record. Then mention it once more on the day, briefly, at the start. If you haven't been through a goodbye appointment before, the ASPCA's guide to end-of-life care for pets is a calm primer on what usually happens.
Asking early matters because vets rarely advertise it. Only 20.6%[2] of reviewed US vet practice websites mentioned after-death care at all. Most clinics can help; they just wait to be asked. The poll results show who other readers asked to take theirs.
Who would you rather take the print?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Timing
What are the right moments to bring it up?
- At a senior or diagnosis visit. "If we get to the point of saying goodbye, do you take paw prints?" It's easier to ask before it's urgent.
- When you book the euthanasia appointment. The receptionist can add a note to the booking, which is the note the team will see.
- When booking a home visit. Home-visit vets bring what's on their list, so the kit needs to be requested in advance.
- At the start of the appointment. A single reminder while everyone is calm.
The first two are the ones that make the difference. Our print window timing guide shows what's possible if these moments have already passed.
What to say
What exactly should you say?
Short, specific and easy to write down works well. Adapt these:
- On the phone: "When we come in on Thursday for Max, could the team take a clay paw print and an ink nose print? Could you add that to his notes?"
- By email: "We'd like a paw print taken during Bella's appointment on the 12th: one clay and one ink if possible. Please let us know if there's a charge, and whether we can bring our own kit if you don't have one."
- In the room: "Before we start, just checking the paw print is on the notes. We'd like to stay while it's taken."
- If you'd rather not watch: "Could you take the print after we've said goodbye and left the room? We'll collect it with the ashes."
If you're planning a cremation as well, the memorial budget planner lets you add the print and any extras to the total before the day.
Free tool
Memorial budget planner
Add up cremation, urn, keepsakes and a farewell so the total holds no surprises.
Questions to cover
What should you ask the clinic about prints?
- Do you take prints yourselves, or does the crematory do it?
- Which types: clay, ink, inkless, nose prints?
- Is there a charge, and is it on the invoice or the cremation bill?
- Can I bring my own kit, and would a nurse help me use it?
- Can we be present, or would you take it afterwards?
- How will the print be labeled, and will it come home with the ashes?
Many owners are comfortable paying for this help: 62.2%[3] of US owners in one survey agreed some financial compensation is appropriate when a vet helps arrange after-death care. Prints themselves tend to be modest. One Arizona provider charges $10[4] for a clay paw impression or a nose print as add-ons.
Home goodbyes
Is asking different for a home-visit vet?
A little. Home goodbyes are common: 22.8% of euthanized dogs in the Dog Aging Project's end-of-life study were euthanized at home[5], and by our estimate ~18.9%[6] of all US dog deaths are in-home euthanasias. Home-visit vets travel light, so a print kit only comes if it's on the booking. Ask about it at the same time as timing and aftercare.
Home visits cost more, so it's worth knowing what's normal before you call. The US national average for at-home dog euthanasia is about $410[7], against $139[8] in a clinic. One national in-home network lists a base fee around Chicago of $530, plus $100 to $200 for evenings, weekends and last-minute visits[9]. Ask whether a print is included or extra.
Where would you prefer your pet's final moments to happen?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
If the answer is no
What if the clinic doesn't do paw prints?
Don't be put off. Ask one of three things instead:
- Can I bring my own kit? Most clinics will give you a quiet few minutes. The paw print kit chooser helps you pick one that's easy to use in a clinic room.
- Which crematory do you use, and do they take prints? Many do at intake. Call them yourself and ask them to note it.
- Could you take a clear photo of the paw and nose? A good photo can later be engraved or traced, even if no physical print exists.
For more on how prints travel between the clinic and the crematory, see who takes the print, and how to make sure it happens. Our services page also lists every route to a print.
Free tool
Paw print keepsake chooser
Match a print method to your pet's size, fur and the keepsake you want to keep.
Clinics rarely say no to a paw print. They just can't offer what nobody asked for.
If you'd like us to find vets or crematories near you that take prints routinely, send us a few details and we'll reply by email. And if you still want to choose the style of print, our ink, clay and 3D cast comparison explains the options. Our local pages cover how clinics and crematories differ by area.
Reader polls
What would you choose?
Vote anonymously and see how other readers answered. The results are live counts from people who visit this site, so they show real opinions, not a scientific sample.
Who would you rather take the print?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Where would you prefer your pet's final moments to happen?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Would you pre-pay for aftercare while your pet is still healthy?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Questions people ask
Is it awkward to ask the vet for a paw print?
Not at all. Vet teams are asked for prints often, and many keep kits specifically for end-of-life appointments. Asking shows them what matters to you, which helps them plan a gentler appointment. If you find it hard to say out loud, send a short email or ask the receptionist to add it to the notes.
Do vets charge for paw prints?
Some include a print as part of their end-of-life care, some charge a small fee, and some leave it to the crematory, which may charge separately. Add-on prices at US providers often fall between about $10 and $76. Ask whether there's a charge and where it will appear, so there are no surprises on either bill.
Can I bring my own paw print kit to the clinic?
Usually, yes. Tell the clinic in advance so they can give you a few quiet minutes and, if you'd like, a nurse to help hold the paw. Choose a kit that's quick to use, such as an inkless kit or pre-softened clay, and bring a towel and some wipes.
When should I ask about a paw print if my pet is seriously ill?
As soon as you can. If your pet is declining, a print taken now, while they're comfortable at home, is often clearer and calmer than one taken on the final day. You can still ask the clinic to take another at the appointment. It's easier to have two prints than to wish you had one.
What if I forget to ask on the day?
Call the clinic as soon as you remember and ask whether your pet is still with them. If not, ask which crematory collected your pet and call them directly; prints can be taken any time before cremation. Ask each place to confirm the request by email so it isn't lost.
Sources and our estimates
- [1] 73% of surveyed dog/cat owners said they need 20 minutes or less for the after-death body care conversation with their veterinary team. Cooney KA, Kogan LR, Brooks SL, Ellis CA. Pet Owners' Expectations for Pet End-of-Life Support and After-Death Body Care. Topics in Companion Animal Medicine, 2021 (PMID 33383233), 2021.
- [2] Only 20.6% of reviewed US veterinary practice websites mentioned after-death body care (32% referenced euthanasia at all). Cooney, Kogan, Brooks, Ellis - Pet Owners' Expectations for Pet End-of-Life Support and After-Death Body Care, Topics in Companion Animal Medicine (2020), 2020.
- [3] 62.2% of US owners agreed that some financial compensation is appropriate if a veterinarian helps arrange after-death body care. Cooney, Kogan, Brooks, Ellis - Pet Owners' Expectations for Pet End-of-Life Support and After-Death Body Care, Topics in Companion Animal Medicine (2020), 2020.
- [4] Memorial add-ons at A Greener Place: $15 laser-engraved paw print, $10 clay paw impression, $10 nose print, $5 fur clipping. A Greener Place Pet Aquamation – Pricing, 2026.
- [5] Of euthanized dogs in the Dog Aging Project, 76.7% were euthanized at a veterinary clinic or hospital and 22.8% at the owner's home. Dog Aging Project End of Life Survey - Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (2026), via PubMed Central, 2026.
- [6] About 19% of all US dog deaths are in-home euthanasias. Our estimate: 83.0% euthanised x 22.8% of euthanasias at home = 18.9%. How we calculate.
- [7] CareCredit's 2025 cost study put the US national average for at-home dog euthanasia at $410 (range $325-$747). CareCredit (Synchrony) - How Much Does It Cost To Euthanize a Dog? (2025 ASQ360 procedural cost study), 2025.
- [8] CareCredit's 2025 cost study put the US national average for in-clinic dog euthanasia at $139 (range $110-$253). CareCredit (Synchrony) - How Much Does It Cost To Euthanize a Dog? (2025 ASQ360 procedural cost study), 2025.
- [9] Lap of Love, a national in-home euthanasia network, lists a base in-home euthanasia fee of $530 in the Chicagoland area, plus $100-$200 for evening, weekend, holiday or last-minute visits. Lap of Love - How Much Does In-Home Pet Euthanasia Cost?, 2025.
Find vets that offer prints near you
Tell us what you need and where you are. We'll reply by email with clear options and prices so you can decide in your own time.