Yes, you can give your vet a small gift: in Québec, the veterinarians' code of ethics expressly allows "customary thanks" and "gifts of modest value." The most appreciated gift is still a handwritten card; for the whole team, snacks to share or a coffee-shop gift card work better than an object for one person.
Updated October 7, 2026. Sources read on that date and linked in the text.
What works for each occasion
| Occasion | What works | What to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Thanks after treatment (surgery, illness, emergency) | A card that names what touched you, a recent photo of your recovered pet, snacks to share. | A dish to reheat or serve: hard to eat "on the fly" in a busy animal hospital, as a veterinary surgeon told Vetstreet. |
| After euthanasia | A thank-you card, even weeks later. A donation in your pet's memory. A photo of them when they were healthy. | Feeling you must hurry or spend: the words matter more than the gift. |
| Retirement | A card signed by several clients, an album of photos of the pets they treated, a personal keepsake linked to their own animals. | An expensive gift from one person (see the rule below). |
| Christmas and the holidays | Healthy snacks or fresh fruit for the whole team, a gift card for a nearby coffee shop, a note for reception and the techs too. | Yet another box of cookies: clinics receive a lot of baked goods and appreciate healthier options (Vetstreet). |
| Vet Tech Week | A note naming the technicians, a snack for the break room. | Forgetting them: they are often the ones holding your pet and preparing the room. |
If you give flowers, skip lilies: the whole plant is toxic to cats, and a few grains of pollen licked off the fur can cause fatal kidney failure (FDA). In a clinic where cats come and go, they are not a good choice.
Can a vet accept a gift in Québec?
Yes, if it stays modest. Québec's Code of ethics of veterinary surgeons (CQLR, c. M-8, r. 4, in French) bars vets from receiving a commission, rebate or benefit related to their practice, "except customary thanks and gifts of modest value" (s. 19, para. 2, our translation). The code sets no dollar amount.
In practice:
- A card, snacks, a small gift card: no problem.
- An expensive gift, personal cash or a gift tied to a treatment or prescription: avoid it. It can put your vet in an awkward spot under their rules.
- For a bigger gesture: several clients can pool together for a gift to the whole team, or make a donation in the vet's name.
Animal health technicians do not have their own professional order in Québec (Qualifications Québec), but the same logic applies: a small gesture for the whole team is always welcome.
After euthanasia: the thank-you that matters
Euthanasia is a heavy moment for the team too. "Vets hurt too," notes Fear Free Happy Homes: a card thanking the vet for their compassion can go a long way. In a 2020 study in The Canadian Veterinary Journal, 36.9% of the Ontario veterinarians surveyed showed signs of burnout. A sincere note does not fix that, but it counts.
There is no rush. A week, a month or longer, the message still means something. Think of reception too, who take the hardest calls, and of the techs, who prepare the room and stay with you.
10 lines for a card after euthanasia
A simple way to write it: what they did → how it made you feel → a memory of your pet. Use a line as is, or mix them.
- Thank you for taking the time to explain everything, without ever rushing us.
- Your gentleness with [name] in his last moments helped us more than we can say.
- Thank you for calling her by her name until the very end.
- You cared for him for [X] years. Thank you for every one of those visits.
- Thank you to the whole team, from reception to the techs: we felt surrounded.
- We will not forget the soft blanket and the time you gave us.
- It was the hardest decision, and you helped us make it for her.
- [Name] never loved vet visits, but he really liked you.
- Thank you for the paw print. It is on our fridge.
- Thanks to you, she left calm and without pain. That is all we wanted for her.
You can add a photo of your pet from the good days: vets like to remember the animals they cared for (Fear Free Happy Homes).
A donation in memory
The Université de Montréal's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (Saint-Hyacinthe, page in French) accepts "In Memoriam" donations, including in memory of an animal. You can also ask your clinic whether it supports a fund for stray or injured animals: Vetstreet suggests it as a gift. Say so in your card: "In [name]'s memory, we made a donation to…".
Vet Tech Week in 2026
- Québec: National Animal Health Technician Week runs October 16 to 24, 2026 (ATSAQ, in French).
- Canada: October is RVT Month for RVTTC, which encourages clients to recognize technicians.
- United States: National Veterinary Technician Week is October 18 to 24, 2026 (NAVTA).
It is a good moment for a note or a snack, even if your pet is doing great.
If you are grieving
Losing a pet is real grief. Your vet can often point you to support near you. In Québec, Info-Social 811 is a free, confidential line where you can talk to a psychosocial professional, any time. To keep their memory in your own way, see how to remember a pet who passed away.
Read next
- Pet sympathy gifts: memorial ideas for a friend who lost a pet
- How to remember a pet who passed away: keepsakes for you
This guide is published by Chibiyo, a small shop in Québec that prints pet figurines. For a retirement, a small figurine of the vet's own pet can make a keepsake; it is never necessary, a card is enough.
FAQ
Can vets accept gifts from clients?
Yes, if they are modest. In Québec, the Code of ethics of veterinary surgeons (s. 19, para. 2) allows "customary thanks" and "gifts of modest value." It bars commissions, rebates and benefits tied to their practice.
What gift should I give my vet after my pet's euthanasia?
A handwritten card thanking the team for their compassion, with a memory of your pet. If you want to do more: a snack for the whole team, or a donation in your pet's memory.
How much should I spend on a gift for my vet?
The code sets no amount: it says "modest value." A card costs almost nothing and is the gift vets mention most often. For a bigger gesture, pool together with other clients or make a donation.
What do you give a vet who is retiring?
A card signed by several clients, an album of photos of the pets they cared for, or a keepsake linked to their own animals. Memories touch more than expensive things.
When is Vet Tech Week?
In Québec, National Animal Health Technician Week runs October 16 to 24, 2026, according to the ATSAQ. In Canada, October is RVT Month. In the United States, NAVTA's week is October 18 to 24, 2026.