Pet Hospice: What You Need to Know

When a person becomes terminally ill with no hope for a cure, palliative care services such as hospice offer relief to patients and comfort to their families during the final stages of life. These services are instrumental in creating tranquility during a heartbreaking time, and help people focus their attention on enhancing the quality of the life that remains.Many people love their animals as they do their own children and would do anything in their power to ease the pain and suffering of an ill-fallen pet. Once reserved exclusively for humans, these end-of-life services are becoming available to pet owners as animal hospices are popping up all over the country. As these services become more ubiquitous, it’s important to understand exactly what to expect:Pet Hospice Defined: There is some ambiguity in the pet-care industry when it comes to providing a clear-cut definition for pet hospice care. It may seem semantic, but it’s important to address these issues so that set protocols for hospice care providers and expectations for pet owners can be established. Hospice care is essentially the ending of aggressive treatment for the purpose of a cure, with renewed focus on the pet’s comfort and quality of life.

“Making the decision for hospice care is an important part of keeping the family veterinarians and veterinary staff on the same page in regards to purpose and outcome of care.”-Dr. Christina Nutter, Gentle Journey

The Direction of Pet Hospice Care in Arizona:As the industry grows, there are a number of different ways that pet hospice services can be administered. Many of the services offered can be handled at the primary care facility, provided the trip isn’t too taxing for the animal. If the vet is willing to make house calls, this will provide additional support and comfort for the infirmed animal. Alternatively, once the decision to switch focus to palliative care has been established, many pet owners may choose to opt for in-home services, often at suggestion of their family vet.Electing to go with an in-home service has several advantages. First off, it removes any uncertainty regarding expectations for the care provided. The decision has already been made to switch from a curative to a palliative approach, eliminating any ambiguity about the intentions of the provider. The third-party service is there for one purpose: to ease suffering and improve quality of life. Second, in-home care removes the added stress that traveling to vet’s office creates. And, finally, with an in-home palliative care provider the animal doesn’t have the same negative associations they might have garnered through past experiences with their vet.Regardless of the specifics of service, more and more options are becoming available to Arizona pet owners who are caring for sick animals. As more hospice services are made available, pet owners are empowered to minimize the suffering of their ailing pets in a civilized, dignified way.