PET HOSPICE

What is Pet Hospice?

Pet hospice is a compassionate approach to supporting pet parents and other caregivers in loving and assisting companion animals nearing the end of life. It prioritizes comfort, dignity, and quality of life by managing pain, relieving symptoms, and ensuring pets feel safe and loved in a familiar environment, almost always at home. As it was developed, hospice philosophy seeks to provide physical, emotional, social, and spiritual care by an interdisciplinary team of practitioners.

What is Palliative Care?

Palliative care shares the same principles as hospice care, focusing primarily on comfort rather than cure. It aims to enhance quality of life by managing symptoms and relieving pain, whether the condition is treatable, chronic, or terminal. In many ways, palliative and hospice care are similar. The main difference is that palliative care can be introduced at any stage of illness, even alongside curative treatments.

Think of hospice care as a specific form of palliative care reserved for when recovery is no longer possible, and the focus shifts entirely to end-of-life support.

Is Pet Hospice Right for My Family and My Pet?

Deciding whether animal hospice is right for your family and your pet is a personal choice, shaped by your unique circumstances and your pet’s needs. Understanding the challenges and benefits of animal hospice can provide valuable insight to help you make the best decision.

Pet Comfort and Pet Pain Relief

• Hospice care focuses on managing pain and symptoms, ensuring pets are as comfortable as possible in their final days. This helps reduce suffering and improves the pet’s quality of life.

In-Home Care

• Pets receive care in the comfort of their own homes, surrounded by familiar sights, sounds, and loved ones. This can be less stressful for pets than clinic visits, allowing for a more peaceful experience.

Personalized Care Plans

• Hospice plans are tailored to meet the unique needs of the pet and the family's preferences. This individualized approach helps address the pet’s physical, emotional, and social needs.

Improved Decision-Making

• Hospice care provides pet parents guidance and resources to make informed, compassionate decisions. It helps pet parents feel confident in their choices, knowing they do what is best for their pet’s comfort and dignity.

Stronger Human-Animal Bond

• The bond-centered approach of hospice care allows for meaningful interactions with pets during their final phase of life. Families can focus on creating positive, comforting moments that reinforce their connection with their animal companions.

Caregiver Support

• Hospice care includes emotional support for pet parents, helping them navigate the difficult emotions of end-of-life care. This can reduce feelings of guilt, stress, and overwhelm, making the caregiving process more manageable.

Guidance on Euthanasia or Natural Death

• Hospice care helps families understand and plan for either peaceful euthanasia-assisted death or a hospice-supported natural death. Having a clear plan minimizes the stress and uncertainty of end-of-life decisions.

Pet hospice planning allows for thoughtful decisions that balance your and your pet's quality of life. A veterinarian qualified through pet hospice training and experience can perform a quality-of-life evaluation to determine if animal hospice is a good option for your dog’s or cat’s care. 

Critical considerations often underestimated include the pet parent(s) and family’s well-being, the  potential for caregiver fatigue, emotional stress, and budget. Resources and social support available in your community and in your home are very important, too.

What Conditions Warrant Hospice and Palliative Care?

• Cancer
• Organ failure (e.g., kidneys, liver, heart)
• Arthritis or mobility issues
• Cognitive dysfunction (e.g., dementia)
• Chronic illness with diminishing quality of life
• Recommended treatments that don’t align with family wishes (e.g., surgery)
• Any medical condition where pain is well-managed

What is a Pet Hospice Care Plan?

A Pet Hospice Plan of Care is tailored to the needs of both the terminally ill pet and the values, goals, beliefs and needs of their family to result in “comprehensive care” for all. 

It begins with a hospice-trained veterinarian performing a Quality of Life Assessment after reviewing records requested from the primary care and specialty care veterinarians. Upon arrival at their home, the veterinarian thoroughly interviews the family to get vital information about the pet’s behavioral and psychosocial well-being. They gently perform a physical exam on their pet and the veterinarian shares the observations. To ease their caregiving duties and add to the pet’s comfort, the veterinarian will ask to see key elements like stairs, food and water bowls, and litter box locations so they might make subtle changes in the home environment. The veterinarian thoroughly explains the findings and the family asks as many questions as occur to them at the time. They learn as much as can be predicted about the medical journey ahead and what’s expected of them to continue home hospice care.

It’s beneficial to include the entire family including caregiving children at this appointment so everyone is clear on the medical aspects of the Plan of Care. Non-veterinary team members utilize the Quality of Life Assessment findings to guide their support and assistance for the caregiving family. 

The Pet Hospice Care Plan is directed by the family and overseen by the designated hospice care team veterinarian. When comprehensive care is desired for family support, they may arrange coordination and support by a Pet Hospice Case Manager or Coach. Clear communication with the family and among members of the team is key to the success of this approach (see the Benefits of the Interdisciplinary Team FAQ below).

What Do I Need to Do to Prepare My Home for Pet Hospice?

Preparing your home for pet hospice involves creating a comfortable and accessible environment for your pet. Key suggestions include:

• Assistive Devices: Recommendations can include ramps for getting big dogs into the car, non-slip mats to prevent falls, and harnesses for easier mobility assistance and getting up and down stairs.
• Resting Areas: Evaluate the availability of comfortable bedding, cozy spots, or other resting areas, and ensuring they are in quiet, accessible locations so they can be close to family activity or quiet when they want peace and quiet.
• Assessing Safety: Suggesting ways to limiting access to stairs and other hazards, e.g., baby gates or exercise pens.
• Feeding and Hydration Stations: Considering relocating food and water bowls to reduce effort for the pet, especially those with limited mobility, e.g., raised food bowls, water in many rooms.
• Elimination: For cats suggestions can include easily accessible litter box locations with low-entry designs to minimize strain. For dogs who cannot hold urine or stool, discuss disposable waterproof pads or consider diapering and related hygienic matters. Your veterinarian or Pet Hospice Coach or Case Manager can evaluate your home setup and provide tailored recommendations to enhance your pet’s comfort and reduce caregiving strain.

What is an Interdisciplinary Team and How Can We Benefit From One?

An Animal Hospice Interdisciplinary Team is a group of professionals and volunteers who work together to provide holistic care for a terminally ill pet and their family. The team’s goal is to address the medical, emotional, and practical needs of the pet while supporting the caregiving family throughout the end-of-life journey.

Who is Part of the Team?

• Veterinarian: Leads the team by overseeing the pet’s medical care and developing the Pet Hospice Plan of Care.
• Pet Hospice Case Manager or Coach:
• Provides guidance and coordinates the care plan
• Ensures communication among team members and with the caregiving family
• Ideally has advanced training in animal hospice and professional experience in animal or family care
• Non-Veterinary Team Members:
• Veterinary care coordinators and technicians
• Animal Service Providers, such as animal massage therapists or bodyworkers
• Grief counselors, licensed mental health providers, or spiritual counselors
• Animal chaplains and energy workers
• Volunteers who assist with practical or emotional support

Why would I benefit from a team approach to care?

The team collaborates to ensure that care extends beyond medical needs to include emotional, spiritual, and practical support. For example:

• Guidance for the Family: Helping the caregiving family make informed decisions and navigate the emotional aspects of pet hospice.
• Comfort for the Pet: Providing pain management, environmental adjustments, and physical therapies.
• Support Services: Offering counseling, grief support, and resources to ease caregiving duties.

By working together, the interdisciplinary team ensures a compassionate and comprehensive approach to animal hospice care, prioritizing good quality of life for both the pet and their family.

What is a Hospice-Supported Natural Death?

For some pet parents, euthanasia may not feel like the right choice, especially if it conflicts with their cultural, religious, or spiritual beliefs. In these cases, hospice-assisted natural death can be an alternative. This approach provides comprehensive palliative care under the guidance of a veterinary team, focusing on maintaining comfort and dignity as the pet crosses the Rainbow Bridge.

With a clear plan and proper support, we can help pet parents anticipate their pet’s needs throughout the natural dying process, making the transition as smooth as possible. Understanding what to expect during this process is essential to managing symptoms effectively and ensuring the pet’s comfort. Families are always prepared for euthanasia in cases of irretractible pain and to prevent potential suffering.

This approach requires high dedication from everyone involved, as hospice care like this is hands-on and intensive. However, it can be a profoundly enriching experience, allowing you to guide your pet through the final phase of life with love and compassion. The goal is to honor your pet’s journey while minimizing distress and avoiding suffering every step of the way.

Since Pet Hospice is Modeled on Human Hospice Philosophy, does that mean Euthanasia is Discouraged?

No, euthanasia is not discouraged in pet hospice. Some pet parents may choose to pursue a hospice-assisted natural death because euthanasia isn’t in alignment with their cultural, religious, or spiritual beliefs. However, the option for euthanasia should always remain available. If a pet experiences severe discomfort or distress, euthanasia can be a compassionate choice to prevent unnecessary suffering. Families can call on a home euthanasia veterinarian for this service, but if one isn’t available, it’s essential to include an emergency veterinary clinic in the plan.

Two prominent veterinary organizations, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), recognize and support this approach. They emphasize the importance of a comprehensive pet hospice care plan and an interdisciplinary team's involvement. This model, based on the principles of the human hospice movement, ensures compassionate and personalized care for terminally ill pets.