Telemedicine Appointments

 “At some point, we move from ensuring a quality of life to ensuring a quality of death.”~ Dr. Mary Gardner  

There may come a day when your beloved pet has more days behind than ahead. Due to illness or advanced aging their future is dwindling. Despite all the care, none of us can escape death. They may no longer benefit from extensive tests and the goal has moved to making sure they have more good days than bad and managing their symptoms to keep them happy and comfortable in whatever time they have left (palliative care).  Some also call this hospice care. Our role here is to support quality of life and the human-animal bond until a natural death occurs or your family decides on humane euthanasia. 

Let us help you understand and manage your pet's needs; things like mobility issues, waxing and waning appetite or GI upset, pain control and incontinence.  We are here for you.

 Euthanasia.  From the early 17th century  Greek, from eu ‘well’ + thanatos ‘death’  it translates to mean easy gentle death.  It is our goal to ease the suffering of  your beloved pet in the comfort of familiar surroundings and people.  With the deepest of empathy. Without judgement.  

We appreciate how hard coming to the decision to euthanize your pet has been. We are not here to judge you or ask you twenty questions on how you have come to this most difficult pet owner decision. 

If you aren't sure if the time is right please let us know. We want to be as involved or uninvolved as YOU need. One simple but extremely helpful tool is a Quality of Life Scale.  The scale we use was adapted from Dr. Alice Hillalobo's book Canine and feline Geriatric Oncology, honoring the human-animal bond. The rating scale is meant to assist pet caregivers and veterinary staff in both guiding in best treatments and also evaluating treatment effectiveness at maintining your pet's comfort.  

When It's Time

Our compassionate client care specialist will prepare the appointment in advance. She will ask a few questions to make the experience as seamless as possible.

Our doctor and staff will arrive at your home and explain as much or as little of the process as you need. Please ask if there is something you want to know. Paperwork will be completed & signed. Your pet will almost alway receive a heavy sedative via injection to allow your pet to become deeply  relaxed and comfortable. It will then be followed with the euthanasia solution IV that acts quickly. 

If we will be transporting your pet with us for cremation we will step out to allow you privacy to grieve prior to retrieving a stretcher or soft blanket for transport back to our vehicle.

Our staff will provide information on how and when your pet's ashes will be available to come home with you if a private cremation is elected.