What is Palliative Care?

Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of animals with serious illness – whether that illness is curable, chronic, or life-threatening.

Palliative care also provides support for the owner-caregivers.

The goal is to:

– stabilise the symptoms, and the illness where possible
– minimise pain, discomfort and distress
– provide appropriate additional supportive measures
and thereby improve and maintain quality of life.

The relief of pain and suffering is central to palliative care.

Palliative care is suitable for your pet if it has:

– cancer
– organ failure (advanced organ disease) e.g. kidney failure or heart failure
– debilitating arthritis or a neurological condition impairing mobility
– a terminal geriatric status, severe frailty or cognitive dysfunction (dementia)
– an undiagnosed disease for which further diagnostics or treatment options are declined and comfort care is sought

Caregiver and family support, including education on your pet’s condition and care needs, shared-decision making for important decisions and end-of-life care planning, is also fundamental.

What matters to you matters to us, and helps guide how we can best help you care for your pet and meet your goals of care.

We work compassionately with you, respecting your wishes and belief systems, whilst maintaining advocacy for your pet’s wellbeing and welfare, to help decide ‘when is time’ as the time for final goodbyes approaches.

Palliative Care services are tailored according to need. The type of palliation chosen for your pet, be it a simpler comfort-orientated approach or a more involved and sophisticated approach, will depend on your pet – their condition(s), age and temperament, and your wishes, goals and limitations.