Veterinary Hospice Care
Caring for an ill pet can be as intensive as caring for a human family member. Some illness is more easily managed than others, and some pets may be more easily cared for than others. However, the physical, emotional and financial stress can be overwhelming. You may consider veterinary hospice as an option that is right for you.
Veterinary hospice care is for pets that have a terminal illness from which they will not recover. Hospice is a philosophy, not a place. It involves developing a team and a plan of care.
The hospice team for pets consists of the family, veterinarian, veterinary specialists, friends, relatives, pet sitters, grief counselors, and other end of life service providers. The veterinarian may bring in other veterinary specialists to provide acupuncture, …show more content…
There are physical demands- lifting to support a pet, frequent rotating so they don?t develop pressure sores, getting up several times a night for medications, and bathing to keep them clean (especially if they need assistance to urinate or defecate).
There are financial and time issues as well. Who will care for the pet while we are at work? How do we function at work or home when we have been awakened several times a night to care for our pet? Financially we may not have the resources for continued care- medication, treatments, and otherwise.
Emotionally the end of life can be a rollercoaster. The highs of a good day when our pet is really enjoying life and the lows when our pet- who looked so good yesterday- is now tired and withdrawn.
Care taking for a terminally ill pet can be rewarding, but it is a significant undertaking; and the responsibility should not be taken lightly. Taking a hard look at a plan of care, your resources, and determining what is feasible and what is not is part of the hospice plan. Discuss your options and how you will care for your pet- and yourself- as you begin your pet?s end of life
Caring for an ill pet can be as intensive as caring for a human family member. Some illness is more easily managed than others, and some pets may be more easily cared for than others. However, the physical, emotional and financial stress can be overwhelming. You may consider veterinary hospice as an option that is right for you.
Veterinary hospice care is for pets that have a terminal illness from which they will not recover. Hospice is a philosophy, not a place. It involves developing a team and a plan of care.
The hospice team for pets consists of the family, veterinarian, veterinary specialists, friends, relatives, pet sitters, grief counselors, and other end of life service providers. The veterinarian may bring in other veterinary specialists to provide acupuncture, …show more content…
There are physical demands- lifting to support a pet, frequent rotating so they don?t develop pressure sores, getting up several times a night for medications, and bathing to keep them clean (especially if they need assistance to urinate or defecate).
There are financial and time issues as well. Who will care for the pet while we are at work? How do we function at work or home when we have been awakened several times a night to care for our pet? Financially we may not have the resources for continued care- medication, treatments, and otherwise.
Emotionally the end of life can be a rollercoaster. The highs of a good day when our pet is really enjoying life and the lows when our pet- who looked so good yesterday- is now tired and withdrawn.
Care taking for a terminally ill pet can be rewarding, but it is a significant undertaking; and the responsibility should not be taken lightly. Taking a hard look at a plan of care, your resources, and determining what is feasible and what is not is part of the hospice plan. Discuss your options and how you will care for your pet- and yourself- as you begin your pet?s end of life