{"id":36235,"date":"2025-08-14T15:52:35","date_gmt":"2025-08-14T15:52:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/todaysveterinarypractice.com\/?p=36235"},"modified":"2025-08-14T15:57:42","modified_gmt":"2025-08-14T15:57:42","slug":"end-of-life-options","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarypractice.com\/personal-professional-development\/end-of-life-options\/","title":{"rendered":"End-of-Life Options: Understanding Palliative and Hospice Care Services"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cHow do I know when it\u2019s time? Is there anything else we can do? What would you do if this were your pet?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Anyone in the veterinary profession has likely heard some variant of these questions from families with senior or chronically ill pets. Helping clients to navigate end-of-life decision-making is a crucial part of clinical veterinary work, but the conversations leading up to euthanasia are often more stressful for veterinarians than the act itself.1<\/sup> Discussing palliative and hospice care options with clients can help to reduce the stress of end-of-life conversations and care for both veterinarians and clients alike.<\/span><\/p>\n

General practitioners should understand how to maximize palliative and hospice care for patients and clients. This requires understanding what this type of care entails, the limitations of offering this care in general practice, and the advantages of partnering with a certified palliative and hospice care veterinarian.<\/span><\/p>\n

Understanding Palliative and Hospice Care<\/h2>\n

\u201cHospice and palliative care is not<\/i> about prolonging suffering,\u201d says Leigh Ann Collins, DVM, CVA, CPEV, regional director of Lap of Love. \u201cIt\u2019s about helping pets live better, longer.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

While palliative care and hospice are often used interchangeably, the terms describe distinct types of veterinary care.<\/span><\/p>\n

Palliative care<\/i> focuses on relieving or reducing symptoms of disease and can be a part of treating both curable and chronic or terminal diseases.2<\/sup> Palliative care is an evolving area of practice. While many veterinarians have heard the mantra that \u201cnothing should die without prednisone,\u201d palliative care goes beyond this. The goal is to prioritize patient comfort while also supporting the emotional, physical, and spiritual needs of the pet family.2<\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPalliative care should begin early [in an animal\u2019s disease],\u201d says Lynn Hendrix, DVM, CHPV, owner of The Palliative Vet and Beloved Pet Mobile Vet, noting that studies in human medicine have shown that the early introduction of palliative care supports the patient and family and can even extend life.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hospice<\/i> is an extension of palliative care in end-stage disease.2<\/sup> Hospice care may be elected when a patient\u2019s disease is no longer responding to treatment or a pet family decides not to pursue definitive treatment or further diagnostics.3<\/sup> Hospice care includes palliation of the patient\u2019s clinical signs and guiding the family through end-of-life decision-making. This care extends to the point of death by euthanasia or hospice-supported natural death.2,3<\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n

Developing a Treatment Plan<\/h2>\n

Palliative and hospice care plans will look different for each individual patient and pet family. These treatment plans take into account both patient and client factors, including3<\/sup>:<\/span><\/p>\n