1. All About Animal Hospice

2. What led me to the field of animal hospice? My 30 second elevator speech Website: Email: Phone: Add Your Logo here

3. What is Animal Hospice? Animal hospice is palliative veterinary care, focused on the needs of the patient and family; on living life as fully and comfortably as possible until the time of death; and on attaining a degree of preparation for death. Animal Hospice is when the focus moves from CURING to CARING.

4. Animal Hospice for Pet Owners Offers support in these areas: Anticipatory Grief Home medical support (palliative care) Preparation for the final days Education on options for the pet’s final arrangements (Burial, Cremation) Guidance on how to honour the pet’s life “The patient is the family”

5. Add a case study or personal story from your practice here.

6. Benefits of In Home Hospice Care It may become difficult to get older, anxious, mobility impaired pets to the vet Nervousness at the vet can increase adrenaline and mask pain Pet owner may also be more calm in their own home Allows for better assessment of home environment Offers a comfortable, peaceful setting for final moments (in their own home)

7. What is Palliative Care? Palliative care is an area of healthcare that focuses on relieving and preventing the suffering of patients. Palliative medicine Is appropriate for patients in all disease stages Offers a multidisciplinary approach Relieves suffering in all areas of patient's life - physical, emotional, spiritual, social

8. The Animal Hospice Team May Include the Following: Veterinarians Veterinary technicians/nurses Veterinary assistants Rehabilitation practitioners Animal massage therapists Acupuncturists After care providers Telephone support volunteers Social workers Psychologists Pet loss support groups Dog rescue groups (donations of unused pet supplies)

9. Services Offered by a Mobile Hospice Team Add your business promotional photo here

10. Environmental Assessment Mobilizing in and outside the home Feeding area and dishes Litter box (es) Bedding, sleeping areas Environmental enrichment (toys, food puzzles, scratching posts) Don’t forget to ask where the family is sleeping too!

11. Pain Management Better assessed in the pet’s natural home setting Providing prescription pain management Reviewing and adjusting current pain protocols Multi-modal approach to pain control

12. Mobility Support non-slip mats carpeted stairs ramps slings harnesses wheel carts

13. Nutrition It may be difficult, but it is important to get a sick pet to eat. Superior diets Nutrition specific to pet’s illness Proper home-made diets Prescription recovery diets Liquid supplements Appetite stimulants

14. Toileting Very important! Toileting can be a deciding factor for euthanasia. Dignity and comfort are vital. Stool softeners Incontinence pads, diapers Hind-end support apparatuses Manual stimulation and bladder expression Urinary catheterization Behaviour modification for inappropriate elimination

15. Supportive Care Subcutaneous Fluids Wound Care Infection Control Prescription Medications Complementary therapies (rehab, massage, acupuncture)

16. Behaviour Modification Managing anxiety Restlessness Vocalization Sleep disturbance Cognitive dysfunction

17. How to Assess Quality of Life Pain vs. Suffering Good Days vs. Bad Days Activities of Daily Living Quality of Life of the patient and the whole family Help in Decision Making When is it time to say good bye?

18. Quality of Life Questionnaire HURT HUNGER HYDRATION HYGIENE HAPPINESS MOBILITY MORE GOOD DAYS THAN BAD

19. Psychological Well Being We also need to consider the emotional health of our patients Suffering can be considered anything that denies us our true self Pets still need to enjoy their activities of daily living in an enriched and stimulating environment and receive attention and affection every day

20. Client Care Don’t forget to ask the owners how they are doing! Offer self care tips Telephone/email support Pet loss support group Professional bereavement counsellors Your veterinary-client relationship doesn’t end the moment their pet dies

21. At Home Euthanasia DignityComfortCompassion RespectPainlessPeace “Making a very difficult day just a little bit easier”

22. Insert case study or personal story here

23. Follow Up Support E-mail or phone call the day following euthanasia Inform primary care veterinarian of animal’s death Sympathy card, also on the 1-year death anniversary Online memorial or memorial photo book Donation to animal related charity such as the Humane Society Pet loss support group or counselling services

24. The Importance of After Care

25. Paying Tribute

26. Memorialization

27. Add an after-care story here

28. Respect for the pet after death

29. Add an after-care photo here

30. “Swim into the sunset sweet girl” (add client tribute here)

31. The Future of Hospice Care IAAHPC (International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care) In-home Pet Euthanasia Techniques, by Dr. Kathleen Cooney (e-book) Goals Every animal to live well until they die Provide a stress-free, gentle passage Relieve owners of fear and regret Focus on love, honour, and respect and letting go in peace