Pet Hospice

Watching beloved pets struggle with pain and discomfort in their declining days is traumatic for many pet owners, causing them anxiety, guilt, stress, and grief. They are haunted by questions: What should I do? What is the most humane way for me to help my pet? Is euthanasia the answer?

The Need for Pet Hospice

Given the love affair so many people have with their pets, it was only a matter of time before pet hospice would come into existence. The idea for pet hospice arose naturally from the human version, which emerged in the 1960s, and like hospice for people, pet hospice is first and foremost a philosophy and, in some cases, also a specific place.

Pet Hospice Philosophy

The hospice philosophy is the key to its healing power, a philosophy that is similar for both humans and pets.

• Pet owners acknowledge that death is imminent and that it is time to make plans to give their pets the most caring, loving end-of-life experience possible—physically and emotionally—in their familiar home environment where they will feel safe and loved.
• Pets receive palliative care: medications that keep them pain-free and with minimum side effects. Pet owners are often trained by veterinarians skilled in pet hospice on how to administer the needed drugs. If and when euthanasia becomes an option, these veterinarians can help that that decision.
• Pet owners are offered emotional support and/or counseling prior to and after the pet’s death. This can take the form of phone calls, e-mails, and/or individual or group sessions.

Finding a Pet Hospice

The best time to think about hospice for your pet is before health issues deteriorate to a point where you will need to make a quick—and especially emotionally charged—decision. Although it is not easy to think about your pet’s eventual death, hospice helps you plan ahead, which can significantly reduce the emotional and physical pain for both of you and make the death more peaceful.

More and more veterinarians are becoming skilled in handling hospice issues and in helping pet owners develop care plans for their beloved companions. If your vet does not offer end-of life services, you can contact the American Association of Human-Animal Bond Veterinarians or the American Veterinary Medical Association, which can help you find local vets who specialize in pet hospice. You also may ask which vets make house calls. This can be especially helpful if your pet is difficult to transport or if you are not physically able to take the pet to the vet’s office.

Support After Your Pet’s Death

It’s important to have a support system to help you cope not only with the impending death of your pet, but with your grief after the fact. Pet hospices offer both services. Community groups for pet loss, including those run by some veterinary hospitals and local Humane Society locations, are other sources of support.

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