Telehealth is a way of connecting a veterinarian from our team with families, that does not require having a visit to your home. We can connect virtually to help you assess your pet’s quality of life, in order to provide general advice on end of life care, and typical clinical signs you might see as your pet’s ailment progresses.

We will:

  • 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.
  • Have a discussion over Zoom about general changes we see with the ailments your pet has, and about their quality of life, as well as what is the expected progression and timeframe with this type of ailment.
  • We will also help you decide which next step is best for you and your pet:
    • A follow-up Hospice Visit with one of our doctors, in order to evaluate more thoroughly, and prescribe medications or suggest specific treatments; or a visit to your veterinarian to follow up on our general thoughts; or a euthanasia appointment, to put your sweet pet to sleep.
  • 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.

Please call us today at (224) 442-4427, Email us, or fill out a Contact Us form to learn more about a quality of life telehealth discussion.

What to Expect at a Telehealth Consultation:

With a Telehealth discussion, we will obtain medical records from your regular veterinarian, as well as have you answer questions about current changes being seen with your pet before the visit. A veterinarian from our team will read over all of this thoroughly prior to the appointment. During the Zoom discussion, the doctor will discuss general signs we typically see with the ailments your pet has, as well as what the likely progression is, as well as a typical timeframe before your pet’s quality of life would become poor.

After the visit, the doctor will email you a summary of all that you discussed, as well as typical 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

What does telehealth mean?

  • Telehealth is a way of connecting our veterinary hospice team members with families that does not require having a doctor come to your home. We can connect virtually to help you assess your pet’s quality of life, in order to provide general advice on end of life care, and typical clinical signs you might see as your pet’s ailment progresses.

What information can I gain from a telehealth consultation?

  • We at A Gentle Goodbye Veterinary Hospice have been practicing end of life care since 2011, and are very knowledgeable about the general progression of diseases, age-related issues, and what signs to look for that indicate your pet is declining.
  • We will:
    • Provide information about your pet’s current quality of life
    • We will also help you decide which next step is best for you and your pet:
      • A Follow-up Hospice Visit with one of our doctors, in order to evaluate more thoroughly, and prescribe medications or suggest specific treatments; or
      • A visit to your veterinarian to follow up on our general thoughts; or
      • A euthanasia appointment, to put your sweet pet to sleep.

What advantage is there to having A Gentle Goodbye telehealth consultation instead of my own veterinarian?

  • Your veterinarian most likely knows you and your pet, from many visits and discussions over the years. We always firmly believe in taking their advice if possible. However, it is sometimes helpful to have a fresh perspective from a team who practices exclusively end of life care. Additionally, a more objective viewpoint can be advantageous.

Can A Gentle Goodbye Veterinary Hospice diagnose and prescribe medications after a telehealth consultation?

  • No. Legally, we must have a valid Veterinarian-Client-Patient-Relationship (VCPR). This means if we have not examined your pet in person within the last year, we cannot diagnose anything, prescribe mediations, or recommend specific treatment.
  • We can provide general advice and guidance to help you make the best decisions for your pet. We can also advise scheduling a follow-up visit with your regular veterinarian, or with a doctor from our team, if more extensive discussion would be best.

What device and platform do I need to participate?

  • Zoom
  • You may use a smartphone or tablet, or webcam and computer to connect.