Having been
a veterinary surgeon for 15 years, the question of when is the right time to
say goodbye to a pet is one of the most difficult questions to answer and perhaps the reason why it's the question I hear the most. But one
thing I am certain of: a good life deserves a respectful and gentle departure at
the end which paves the way for everlasting happy memories. And this is what I, as a 24/7 on-call hospice vet, want to help pet parents have...
After treating pets at home since 2005, we have become experts in this field and my practice, Vets2Home, now specialises in helping families have time for a peaceful ending with their much loved pet - in the comfort of their own home.
Although we often hear pet owners express the
secret wish that their pet will go quietly in his or her sleep this almost
never happens, or usually not without some degree of suffering first -
something we allow to happen to humans but which we luckily can spare our animals.
Having visited and helped thousands of pets
at home, I strongly believe “the right time” is when your pet and you lose the
joy in your life together, whether this is due to old age or unmanageable
illnesses. The reasons can be many - from not eating, or eating excessively but
with severe weight loss, poor mobility, hidden or subtle pain, vocalising,
hiding, not interacting, soiling inappropriately, grumpiness or even aggression
to sleeping a lot - or not at all. Some of which could be indications of severe
illness or of what I call “petzheimers” which makes your elderly pet a
completely different “person”.
I strongly believe the one last gesture of
love we can show our pets is giving a calm, respectful end - without stress,
pain or suffering, when it is most needed and not before. And that goodbye
should ideally be at home, surrounded by loved ones, familiar smells and
sounds, pain-free and in that favourite spot.
As a hospice vet and life-long animal lover, I want to
leave pet owners with only happy memories of their special furry friend and I feel
honoured to be able to give my patients a dignified, pain-free end - without any worry or pain of travel, stress or strange places - that one last time.
I am grateful and humbled to receive so many kind words from our clients afterwards as you can view on our website www.vets2home.co.uk or please come meet us on Facebook to ask us any questions or concerns you may have about being a senior pet parent or just to hear what some of our many lovely clients said about us over the years.
