End of Life Care

End of Life Care

We cherish every moment we have with our pets. Although their final moments can be some of the most difficult, they are just as precious as all the rest. During a pet’s final days, our veterinarians at Advanced Mobile Vet Care will be with you day or night to help you maintain your pet’s comfort and quality of life with at-home hospice care and end of life services.
When we visit you and your fur baby in your home we are better able to assess your pet and the environment they live in. We may pick up on things that you may not know to point out during an exam in a veterinary clinic that can improve your pet’s quality of life.

What Is Pet Hospice Care?

Also called end of life care, hospice care for pets is similar to hospice for people. In hospice care, veterinarians focus on providing supportive, palliative care and treatments to keep terminally ill pets as comfortable as possible until their time comes. Hospice care allows a pet to live out the final moments of his or her life with dignity, in the comfort of their own home, and surrounded by the people and pets they love.
Veterinary hospice care is designed to support a pet’s health while keeping them happy and comfortable with the following services:
  • Pain recognition training for pet parents
  • Pain management
  • Nutritional support
  • Fluid therapy
  • Bandage and wound care
  • Incontinence management
  • Environmental assessment and adjustments

When Is End of Life Care the Right Choice for a Pet?

Pets can enter hospice care after being diagnosed with an incurable illness or injury or when a terminally ill pet’s family decides that pursuing further treatment is no longer appropriate. At this time, our veterinarians will focus on shifting a pet’s care from curative treatments to palliative care.
Our veterinarians understand how difficult and stressful it can be for pet parents to make these kinds of decisions, and we’ll be with you every step of the way. We do our best to support your family by helping you make compassionate decisions. While helping you understand what to expect during your fur babies final months, weeks, or days, we not only provide you with our expert opinions and advice, but we’ll also ensure you are fully aware of all available options.
Dr. Stryker often suggests to families that are struggling with this decision, to consider these things:

A. Is your pet having more good days or bad days? Take an average over the past 10-20 days or the next 10-20 days. Their good days should far outweigh their bad days.

B. Pick three things your pet enjoys and when they stop doing these things, their quality of life may not be what it should be. Some of these things are:

a. Greeting you at the door when you get home

b. If they stop laying in their favorite spot in the house, or if they lay in remote places they typically do not

c. If they stop eating, especially their favorite treat(s), or drinking

d. If they stop playing with a toy or housemate that they typically would play with

C. Sometimes when you see your pet daily, it is hard to notice slow decline. Animals are innately wired to hide disease, so subtle cues can be hard to pick up on. It may be a good idea to have a friend or family member that knows your pet to have a visit. They are often able to pick up on changes you may not see day-to-day.

At-Home End of Life Care for Orange County Pets

At Advanced Mobile Vet Care, we understand how important your pet’s happiness and comfort are during their final moments. By bringing your pet’s hospice care to your home, we eliminate the stress and discomfort of transporting your pet to the veterinary clinic during such a sensitive time. To learn more, we welcome you to contact our clinic.