Published: April 19, 2008 04:17 pm            

Paw Prints: Veterinarians, counselors attend symposium on hospice care for pets

TERRE HAUTE — Recently, an article in MarketWatch written by Kristen Gerencher revealed the growing movement toward hospice (or “pawspice”) for aging or terminally ill pets. With cats and dogs living longer, pet owners are being faced with the difficult decision of when to end their pet’s suffering through euthanasia.

More pet owners are demanding options for emotional support and care for the end of their pet’s life such as pain management, alternative medicine and radiation treatments for cancer (although animals probably do not have remission rates comparable to humans). Pet owners want more home care and instruction for the pets that are treated like family.

According to Dr. Alice Villalobos, a veterinary oncologist and director of Pawspice in Hermosa Beach, Calif., “Many times hospice is as much about serving humans’ needs as those of the animal. People really want to have an extended farewell just like they did with family members and parents.” It appears that Americans are willing to pay the cost, as $24.5 billion was spent in 2006 for veterinary care.

Often, pet owners want quality time with their pets at home before they go. Pet hospice typically offers pain control and sometimes life-extending hydration.

In March, 135 veterinarians, vet techs, grief counselors, hospice volunteers and human medical experts attended the First International Symposium on Veterinary Hospice Care at the University of California-Davis. Scott Darger, an attending veterinarian said, “The human-animal bond is powerful, sometimes persuading people to put their pet’s health-care needs before their own. If they’re hurting, it’s no big deal, but if their pet’s hurting, it’s unacceptable.”

People are often encouraged to make life decisions as a family before a crisis. In deciding when is the end, for some it’s when a dog cannot get up and walk or refuses to eat.

Hospice-like programs help pet owners deal with their grief. Euthanasia is an option to help prevent suffering, and often making the decision when to do it is the hardest part.

To help pet owners with grief, some vets are making euthanasia less clinical by encouraging pet eulogies, etc. Villalobos said the pet hospice movement encourages veterinarians to develop bedside manners. “There’s more instruction to apologize when a pet is having complications, to acknowledge this is not going well and we’re sorry this is happening. That’s many times what the person needs.” An ASPCA pet loss support group counselor and author of “Grieving the Death of a Pet,” Betty Carmack tells people to honor their timelines. “The people who allow themselves to be pushed into something too soon have regrets later.”



Garbo

Breed: Domestic short hair mix

Sex: Female

Age: Adult

Size: Small

• Hello. My name is Garbo and I was found with a few friends (Gribaldi, Gabe and Gifford). The boys and I are so glad to be inside where it’s warm. None of us have real homes right now and we could really use one! It is way too cold out there to be homeless and it is way too lonely. We all really love to be petted and loved on, so while this place is warmer than outside, it is still not home. Why don’t you come to the shelter and meet all of us? Maybe one or all of us would be “purrfect” for your nice warm home. Hope to see you soon! Our organization offers 24PetWatch microchips, which include free registration into the 24PetWatch pet recovery service. This pet also comes with 30 days of pre-paid pet health insurance. Call about me today at (812) 232-0293.

        

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