WHAT IS PET HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE?
This new service is run by Dr. Brodeur, a boarded critical care specialist. She became interested in improving the quality of end of life care for patients after seeing many owners unprepared for the death of their pets in the critical care setting. Dr Brodeur’s own experiences with end of life care of her pets in the home has also driven her interest in improving this care for all. Palliative care is a program of care focused on living well at any stage of illness. We seek to increase comfort and minimize distress for pets with any illness.
Pet hospice is a program of care that addresses multiple needs of the pet and owner through the advanced stages of progressive and life limiting illness. In other words, hospice focuses on deliv-ering palliative care to patients from the time of a terminal diagnosis until end of life. The focus shifts from curing a disease, to managing symptoms. It is a partnership between the veterinary team and pet’s family to create and modify a plan to allow a pet a comfortable and dignified life, and end of life.
HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE (HPC) CAN BE USEFUL FOR MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF PATIENTS:
- Metastatic neoplasia
- Advanced kidney disease who is no longer responding to treatment
- A older pet with arthritis and no specific other diagnosis, who is starting to experience issues with quality of life such as decreasing appetite, confusion, or house soiling.
- A pet whose end of life is expected within days to weeks, and owners need guidance on how to tailor the approach to their needs
- Pets seen through the emergency or specialty service who are given a terminal (ie, days to weeks) diagnosis and have no primary care veterinarian relationship
- Owners who would like to refocus from treatment to comfort care only
- Owners who are opposed to euthanasia and are seeking hospice-supported natural death
Consultations
The consultation begins with a general assessment of the owner’s understanding of their pet’s condition and their biggest concerns. We also discuss the caregiver’s primary goals in their pet’s end of life journey. Establishing the owner’s emotional, financial, and time budgets for care of their pet, and experience with end of life are also covered. We discuss current treatment and any additions (or subtractions) to improve the quality of life of the patient and caregiver. Finally, we create an end of life plan and discuss the process of euthanasia and a pet’s final day. The owner also gains access to the hospice email, which allows direct communication with the doctor.
HPC will work hand in hand with a pet’s primary care veterinarian to ensure continuity of care and the greatest comfort for pet and owner.
Consultations can take place at Central Hospital for a new client, but can be done over zoom or over the phone if the pet has been seen here within a year.
Thinking about end of life is difficult for every owner, but by discussing and making a plan, we can strive to make saying goodbye as serene as possible.
Grief Resources
Losing a beloved pet can be an incredibly emotional and challenging experience. Whether you’ve said goodbye to a loyal dog, a playful cat, or any other cherished companion, the grief can be profound. Fortunately, there are resources available to help you cope during this difficult time. Learn More Here.