If your pet has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, or is just showing age-related decline, there are often still many therapies and options that can help your pet feel better. We can often improve their quality of life, as well as yours as their family.
Sometimes this includes making changes in their environment, such as adding non-slip rugs in key locations or making food and water bowls more readily accessible. Other times, this can mean adjusting pain medication regimens in order to keep arthritis pain well-managed. This in turn helps your dog or cat move more easily and comfortably, which results in slower progression of arthritis and a happier pet overall!
- Obtain records from your regular veterinarian, and have you answer questions about what you are currently seeing with your pet, ahead of the appointment. The doctor will read these all thoroughly, to prepare for the visit.
- Thoroughly examine your pet, and discuss with you important findings from the exam, as well as signs for you to be aware of indicating your pet might be in pain, or that the ailment is worsening.
- Notify your regular veterinarian, with a medical record explaining examination findings, and the plan moving forward.
- Email you a summary of all that was discussed at the appointment, including relevant resources to help understand how your pet is likely to progress.
- Dispense or call in any necessary medications to a pharmacy or your regular veterinarian.
- Provide on-going medical advice to address any changes that occur over time.
Please call us today at (224) 442-4427, Email us, or fill out a Contact Us form to learn more about caring for your senior pet.
What to Expect at a Hospice Visit:
The doctor will focus on different approaches to help maintain comfort and quality of life and give you a good idea of what to expect in the near future. We do not perform any diagnostic tests, such as blood work or x-rays, and instead focus on comfort-oriented measures.
When possible, we will obtain veterinary records for your pet before the appointment, and have you complete a list of questions to think about ahead of time. This will help her focus on what is most important to both you and your pet.
When the doctor arrives at your home, she will examine your pet thoroughly, and will talk through his history and discuss everything that is going on with him, to get a better sense of how he is really doing. The appointment typically lasts about 45 minutes to an hour because there is often a great deal to discuss, and we want to ensure that we are focusing on your pet’s well-being, as well as your quality of life as his family.
After the visit, the doctor will email you a summary of all that you have discussed, and the plan going forward, as well as signs to watch for. It can be overwhelming to try to remember everything, so it can be helpful to have all this information easily accessible in writing. We will also send a summary to your regular veterinarian, to keep everybody in the loop, to ensure we are all doing what we can to make everything easier on you and your beloved pet as well.
FAQs
- The idea behind hospice medicine is that we focus on quality of life, including that of your pet and family alike. The goal is to keep your pet comfortable and happy, even if this has the potential to shorten his or her lifespan.
- You and your A Gentle Goodbye veterinarian should plan a timeframe to follow up in order to discuss your pet’s progress, and any further changes that might need to be made. At this time, you may call or email us, or our office will reach out to you. You can always feel free to contact us at Reception@AGentleGoodbye.com or (224) 442-4427.
- Unless you request that we do not do so, we will email your regular veterinarian (and any specialists) a medical report of all that we have discussed, including any changes in medications or protocols we have recommended. Unless you prefer otherwise, we try to work closely with your regular veterinarian. This can also be useful if it is easier to obtain specific medications from their hospital, so they are aware of all that has been discussed.
- We are typically in the office from 8 AM to 6 PM seven days a week, and you can call us at (224) 442-4427 or email Reception@AGentleGoodbye.com. Some days are busier than others, so we will certainly try to answer calls/emails immediately, but if it is an emergency that requires attention sooner than we are able to answer, please do have a back-up plan in mind, such as your regular veterinarian or local emergency hospital.
- If it is after our typical business hours, we do still make every effort to be available. It is always worth calling us to see if we are available, even in the middle of the night. However, it is unfortunately not always possible for us to be available, so be sure you know the best route to your local emergency hospital if necessary.
- A Gentle Goodbye veterinarian will:
- Write an email to you to summarize all you have discussed, including any findings from the physical examination that are important, changes in medications suggested, plan for going forward, and relevant quality of life issues.
- Call to notify your regular veterinarian, write a medical record explaining the findings and plan, and email this to your regular veterinarian as well.
- Call in any necessary medications to a pharmacy or to your regular veterinarian.
- Your A Gentle Goodbye veterinarian will help determine if your pet will require follow-up examination(s). Often after an initial hospice visit, follow-up care can be addressed via phone or email. Your A Gentle Goodbye veterinarian will be available by email approximately 1-2 times per week to address medical questions and follow-up as needed.
- We strive to provide follow up care and support during this incredibly difficult time. While the veterinarian might not be available due to varying schedules and commitments to help other families, the A Gentle Goodbye support team is readily available to help whenever possible.
- Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can help in any way:
- Phone: (224) 442-4427
- Email: Reception@AGentleGoodbye.com