End-of-life pet therapy
Euthanasia and palliative care at home in growing demand
Choosing to have my 15-year-old spaniel euthanized at home was a no-brainer. I wanted Pippa to be out of pain, and to die surrounded by her family in a familiar place where she felt safe.
Euthanasia — which translates from its Greek origin as a “good death” — is never great, but in this case I felt it was the best we could make it.
According to Vancouver-based veterinarian Dr. Jeffrey Berkshire, a growing number of pet owners are looking to end the lives of their pets in a similar manner, adding that palliative care and home euthanasia is relatively new and a growing area of veterinary medicine.
Berkshire estimates that 95 per cent of pets that visit their veterinarian routinely are still euthanized at the clinic. However after spending 10 years in general practice, Berkshire has observed a rising number of requests from owners to have their pets euthanized in their own homes.
Three years ago, in response to this growing need, Berkshire established Lifting Stars Pet Homecare, a mobile veterinary service specializing in palliative care and home euthanasia for cats and dogs. Berkshire’s practice aims to help pets suffering with chronic and/or life-limiting diseases to be as physically and psychologically comfortable as possible.
The International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care, founded in 2009 and widely recognized as the leader of the movement in North America, describes pets living with cancer, organ failure, osteoarthritis, cognitive dysfunction, and other conditions that might be placing an excessive burden on their owners as suitable candidates for these services.
“Veterinarians will always try their best to accommodate their clients, but unfortunately it can be difficult for many to either leave their hospitals to go to the client’s home, or to accommodate the short notice that often comes with the decision to euthanize one’s pet,” says Berkshire.
About 80 per cent of his clients are referred from local veterinary clinics.
“Pet owners are learning that palliative care and home euthanasia is an up-and-coming area of veterinary medicine, and look at it as a final gift for their beloved companion to make this transition as gentle and peaceful as possible,” says Berkshire.
There are many benefits for pets and their families who decide to have their animals euthanized this way.
“Home-based euthanasia provides the pet and pet owners with the most comfortable, familiar and stress-free setting possible. This is especially the case for pets with high anxiety that do not like going to the veterinary hospital, and also pets whose anxiety of transport to the hospital may exacerbate underlying health conditions, such as heart or respiratory disease.”
Similarly, large pets that cannot walk or be easily transported to the veterinary hospital, or where movement of the pet may give them additional pain and anxiety may also benefit from being spared the potentially arduous process of getting them to the clinic.
At-home euthanasia also facilitates a personal ceremony with family, friends and other household pets that cannot be duplicated in the veterinary hospital.
While the prospect of such a peaceful transition is what most pet owners would want for their pets, Berkshire adds that it is not right for every animal.
“In many cases, pets have been brought to the veterinary hospital to have health concerns addressed, only to find that severe and lifelimiting illness exists and may be incurable. The pet could be in such severe distress, or be compromised by the return home, that waiting to have a home euthanasia or the travel time required would not be considered humane. The most appropriate option may indeed be to proceed with the euthanasia at the veterinary hospital.”
Likewise, the thought of a pet passing in the owner’s home also has the potential to give the owner long-standing painful memories, which can be avoided by taking the pet to the clinic.
Berkshire believes that while bringing a new pet home is the most important day that a pet owner will share with their pet, saying goodbye to them is the second most important, and he is glad for his career choice.
“Despite the sadness of what’s going on, this is a rewarding part of veterinary medicine — it makes a real difference in people and pets’ lives, it’s important work.”
Rebecca Ledger is an animal behaviour scientist, and sees cats and dogs with behaviour problems on veterinary referral across the Lower Mainland.