Pet & Animal Cadaver Bags for Vet Clinics, Crematories & Labs
Heavy-duty, opaque polyethylene bags for holding deceased pets and animals, made for veterinary hospitals, pet cremation services and animal research labs. We supply the bags vet hospital groups use to collect pets from their clinics for cremation, in sizes from cats and small dogs up to giant breeds and research swine.
Cadaver Bag Sizes by Animal
| Bag size | Thickness | Color | Per case | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20" x 25" | 3 mil | Green, opaque | 250 | Cats, small dogs, rabbits and pocket pets |
| 33" x 46" | 3 mil | Brown, opaque | 100 | Medium dogs |
| 40" x 60" | 3 mil | Blue, opaque | 50 | Large dogs |
| 40" x 60" | 4 mil | Blue, opaque | 50 | Large and heavy dogs, when you want a stronger bag |
| 38" x 65" | 6 mil | Black, opaque | 50 | Giant breeds, research swine and other heavy or bony animals |
Body shape matters as much as weight: a long-bodied or deep-chested dog may need the next size up. For animals with sharp bones, hooves or claws, or bags that will be moved more than once, go thicker.
Custom Sizes and Colors
The sizes above are the ones we make most often, but cadaver bags can be made to your size, thickness and color: a smaller bag for pocket pets and birds, an extra-long bag for giant breeds, livestock or wildlife, or a different color for each size, clinic or cremation type. Custom bags are made in production runs with a minimum quantity.
Request a quote with the sizes, thickness, colors and how many bags you use a month or a year.
In Stock Online: Black Heavy-Duty Bags
These black bags ship from stock and can be ordered online by the case:
- 38" x 65" 6 mil black, 50/case: our heaviest bag, used by research labs for swine.
- 38" x 60" black, 3 mil (100/case) or 4 mil (50/case): large dogs.
- 33" x 40" 3 mil black, 100/case: medium dogs.
Choosing a Cadaver Bag
- Opaque, not clear. Owners and staff shouldn't see the animal. All of these bags are fully opaque.
- Thickness. 3 mil handles most pets. Use 4 mil for large dogs and 6 mil for giant breeds, livestock and research animals, or wherever bags get stacked, dragged or moved several times.
- Color by size or service. Different colors make it easy for clinic staff and drivers to tell sizes apart at a glance, or to separate pets by cremation type or clinic.
- Closing the bag. These are flat, open-top bags: twist, then close with a zip tie, twist tie or tape. Label the bag or attach the ID tag outside before it's closed.
- For cremation. The bags are polyethylene, which contains no chlorine (unlike PVC or vinyl body bags). Ask your crematory or incinerator about anything they require.
Cadaver Bag FAQ
What size bag do I need for a dog? Usually 20" x 25" for small dogs, 33" x 46" for medium dogs and 40" x 60" for large dogs. Giant breeds need a 38" x 65" 6 mil bag or a custom extra-long bag. Body shape matters, so go up a size for long-bodied or deep-chested dogs.
What thickness should a pet cadaver bag be? 3 mil works for most pets. Choose 4 mil for large dogs and 6 mil for very heavy animals or bags that will be handled several times.
Do you sell bags with handles or zippers? No. Ours are heavy-duty flat bags without handles or zippers, which keeps the cost per bag low for clinics and crematories that use them every day.
Can these bags be cremated with the animal? They're polyethylene, which has no chlorine (unlike PVC or vinyl), and vet hospital groups and pet crematories use them for cremation. Check your crematory's or incinerator's own requirements.
Are these bags for burial? Polyethylene doesn't break down in the ground. For a home burial, check local rules; many owners bury pets in a blanket, a wooden box or a biodegradable container instead.
Do you sell to research labs? Yes. Labs use our 38" x 65" 6 mil black bags for swine and other large research animals.
Is there a minimum order? Most of these bags are made in production runs with a minimum quantity, so ask for a quote with your monthly or yearly use. The black bags above ship from stock.