Hospice & Euthanasia

When to Consider Hospice:

Hospice begins when a pet has a terminal condition or when treatments are no longer improving comfort or quality of life.  Hospice supports living comfortably at the end of life, and the emphasis is on honouring the pet’s remaining time rather than extending life. It often takes place primarily at home, where pets feel safest.

 

You may want to discuss palliative/hospice in the following situations:

• When curative treatment for chronic disease is no longer desired or appropriate

• Diagnosis of a terminal condition

• End-stage kidney disease

• Late-stage congestive heart failure

• Advanced cancer or metastatic disease

• Progressive neurological disorders (e.g., advanced dementia/cognitive dysfunction, degenerative myelopathy, progressive seizures not responsive to treatment)

• End-stage endocrine disease (Cushing’s, Addison’s, untreated hyperthyroidism in cats, late-stage diabetes complications)

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Our hospice care plans are tailored to each pet’s medical needs and their family’s goals. They may include pain and mobility management, managing hydration and providing nutritional support, medications for anxiety, nausea, or breathing discomfort, guidance on home modifications for safety and ease, and regular quality-of-life check-ins and guidance.

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What is hospice care?
Hospice care is providing support and care for a pet approaching the end stages of life. Hospice care looks at supporting both the pet and the family. It promotes comfort and improves quality of life of the pet during the end stage of life. Hospice care helps to manage symptoms of a condition or disease when there is not cure or the goal is no longer to cure but to manage and support the symptoms. Hospice care aims to help support the pet at home where they are most comfortable with their loved ones maximizing the time with their family. Hospice cares allows Continuous care at home to help manage the pets symptoms with the help of veterinary professionals to ensure max comfort and management at home promoting quality of life.

 

What does hospice care look like?
Hospice care looks different depending on the pets needs, conditions, and goals and wishes of the family. It is important to work with your veterinary team to determine the best hospice care plan to meet both the pet and the family. The plan takes into consideration of the needs and the capabilities of the family. Hospice care can be medications, supplements, specialized diets, mobility harnesses or making adjustments at home. Changes at home can include specialized beds, limiting access to stairs, adding pet stairs or ramps to help pets get up and down, Non slip flooring to avoid slips, special food dishes. If you are unsure of what adjustments you can make to your home to help your pet ask your veterinarian to help you.

 

Why is Hospice care so important?
Hospice care is so important as it helps to manage symptoms when there is no treatment or treatment is not in the best interest of the pet. It allows to make a pet comfortable as the pet reaches the end stage of life where with management can have a good quality of life. This allows the pet to live as comfortably as possible until the pet passes away or humane euthanasia is in the best interest of the pet. It is important that hospice care starts early in the disease stages to ensure this allows minimal discomfort or pain as the symptoms are managed before they becomes more complicated and helps to slow the progression through management. If you are unsure when palliative care should start for your pet consult your veterinarian.

 

How can my vet help with hospice care?
Your veterinary care team can help with hospice care in multiple different ways including diagnostics, monitoring progression and changes. Assessing any new conditions to ensure all conditions are managed in the palliative care plan. They can create a plan to help maximize the comfort of both the pet and the family. This allows a plan to be created with the pet and family in mind and finding a plan that meets the needs of both. During palliative care it is important to monitor your pets quality of life and discuss any changes with your veterinary team to ensure if there are any changes they can be addressed and the plan can change in according to the needs of the pet and family. This ensures the needs and symptoms are managed appropriately. This also helps determine if palliative care is still in the best interest of the pet or if it's time to start looking at humane euthanasia. Keeping track of this is an important part of creating the most affective end of life plan for your pet.

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When to Consider Euthanasia:

Euthanasia is a humane, medically supervised procedure which peacefully ends a pet’s life to prevent further suffering. It is considered the kindest option when a pet’s quality of life has declined to a point where comfort and happiness can no longer be maintained. Euthanasia allows pets to pass away without pain, fear, or distress, typically in the presence of the people they love most.

 

You may want to discuss euthanasia in the following situations:

• Chronic or uncontrollable pain despite medication

• Major organ failure

• Difficulty breathing or persistent respiratory distress

• Inability to maintain weight, inability to eat or drink

• Paralysis or severely compromised mobility

• Incontinence or inability to use the bathroom independently

• Withdrawal, hiding, or disinterest in daily life

• More “bad days” than good days, even with treatment

• When long-term chronic disease management has started to impact an owner’s quality-of-life

• If you feel your pet is not living a dignified life

 

Our team works to make the experience gentle and peaceful for both pets and their families so they experience a peaceful and dignified goodbye.

 

What to Expect at a Euthanasia Appointment

Before the Appointment:

We will help guide you through aftercare options, including cremation or home burial where allowed. Many families choose to complete pre-payment before the appointment begins, allowing them to leave quietly afterward without administrative tasks.

 

Sedation:

Most pets receive a sedative to help them relax and feel completely comfortable; sometimes they fall into a deep sleep. This medication takes effect within minutes and allows your pet to rest peacefully in your presence.

IV Catheter Placement and Euthanasia Medication

 

Administration:

Once your pet is relaxed or asleep, the veterinarian may place an IV catheter to administer the euthanasia medication smoothly and painlessly. In small or medically fragile pets, an IV may not be ideal; in those cases, the euthanasia medication may be administered gently into an organ (such as the liver or kidneys) when IV access isn’t feasible.

 

Both options are humane, painless, and chosen based on what provides the calmest experience for your pet.

 

After the Injection:

The medication works quickly, typically within seconds to a minute. Your pet will fall into a deep, peaceful sleep and pass away. You may stay with your pet for as long as you need.

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