Comfort Care

Hearing bad news from your pet’s doctor is heartbreaking. It can be hard to think at all, and often our thoughts rotate between confusion, sadness, reminiscing, and worry. Sometimes even anger or helplessness show up. It can be difficult to understand what your pet is going through, what’s going to happen to them, and what we can do to help. This is where veterinary hospice comes in.

The word “hospice” may bring on the weight of other heavy emotions, and it may make you think that there is no hope. However, that’s the opposite of what our goal is. When we consider hospice care, understand that it is pure comfort care, where our focus is completely on what things we CAN do to make your pet feel the best they can. Hospice can be used at the same time that we’re trying to cure a disease. We don’t stop fighting, we embrace the fight with extra support of hospice. However, if/when it is the most appropriate for your pet and family, sometimes we do switch from trying to cure disease to focusing on truly living life in whatever time we have left. We tailor everything we do to your family and your pet.

Hospice care is an in-depth consultation with a hospice certified veterinarian who will:

• review your pet's record and history
• perform a physical exam on your pet
• ensure your family thoroughly understands your pet's disease, likely progression, and options for care
• help you identify your family’s goals for your pet’s life
• work with you to develop a treatment plan for your pet that is realistic for your family and consistent with your family’s needs and values
• follow up and adjust the plan as needed
• assist in addressing psychological and social needs of the caretakers involved with your pet, as well as grief. The vet and vet staff are not human mental care specialists but can help connect you with resources to address this very important and difficult part of caring for your pet.
• guide your family through the end of your pet’s life, decisions made around euthanasia or natural death, and memorializing the bond you have with your pet.

This consultation can take 60 to 90 minutes and can take place in the clinic or in your home. There is a questionnaire we ask you to fill out ahead of time to help your family discuss your goals and help the vet understand your family. Everyone in the family involved in your pet's care and decision making should be involved in filling out the questionnaire and be present at the consultation.

When you’re ready to move forward with comfort focused care for your pet, please contact River City Veterinary Hospital and request a hospice consultation with Dr. Amy Albrecht, DVM, CHPV.