Comfort Mobile Vet End-of-life and palliative care

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to common questions about end-of-life and palliative care in pets, our services and limitations, and additional resources.

Definitions

Commonly used words and phrases

End-of-life

This describes the period of time between onset of debilitating disease and death of the pet. Depending on individual circumstances “end-of-life” may refer to days or weeks, up to months or years.

Euthanasia

Derived from Greek, meaning “good death”. Pet euthanasia is intentional hastening of death by a veterinarian in order to relieve suffering. You may have heard terms such as “put down” or “put to sleep”, which generally refer to euthanasia.

Palliative care

Comfort-focused care that aims to manage pain and discomfort with acceptance of underlying disease. Palliative care applies to all pets as they approach end-of-life, but can also apply to pets with stable chronic conditions. Sometimes referred to as “pet hospice”.

Aftercare

This refers to any services for pets who have passed away, as well as services for owners who have lost their pet. This may include burial, cremation, and grief counseling.

Common questions

How do I know when it’s time?

This is a very difficult question, and one which rarely has a straight answer. We have online resources which are designed to help you evaluate your pet’s quality of life. If you would like additional guidance, please reach out to us.

What if I don’t believe in euthanasia?

Comfort Mobile Vet aims to support your relationship with your pet without judgment, and euthanasia will never be insisted upon. It is important to note that palliative care will not extend your pet’s life, only manage pain and comfort leading up to death.

What if my pet is anxious or aggressive?

This is very common, especially for pets who aren’t feeling well. We will always do our best to use low-stress, cooperative-care techniques to keep your pet as calm and comfortable as possible, and will always go at their pace. Please let us know if you have any behavior concerns about your pet.

What if it’s an emergency?

Comfort Mobile Vet is not equipped for medical emergencies or rapid response. If you believe your pet is suffering, please take your pet to the nearest emergency vet clinic.

Virtual Consults

Virtual Consults are intended to give you a scheduled 1-on-1 with Dr. Alexander to address questions or concerns that warrant in-depth answers, such as whether palliative care is the right choice for your pet.

It is important to note that virtual consults have strict limitations due to New Mexico law. Unless your pet has received an in-person physical examination by Dr. Alexander, virtual consults will be limited to general educational and informational discussion regarding end-of-life and palliative care. Virtual consults can not be used to receive a diagnosis for your pet, estimate your pet’s prognosis, make any health recommendations for your pet, or prescribe any medications for your pet.

If any of your questions or concerns require a physical exam to address, the cost of the virtual consult will be deducted from the initial visit invoice.

Aftercare

Options for honoring your pet after they pass, handled with kindness and respect.

There are several options for respectful handling of your pet after death. Below is an incomplete list of available options. If you would like assistance in arranging aftercare for your pet that has already passed, please reach out to us.

Cremation is the most common choice for pet owners. Comfort Mobile Vet is partnered with Best Friends Pet Cremation. Please visit their website to view available options including keepsakes such as pawprints, fur clippings, and jewelry.

Alternatives to cremation include:

Resources

24/7/365 Emergency clinics

Albuquerque

Santa Fe

Quality-of-life guides and worksheets

It is important to consider which aspects of daily living are most important to your pet, and to continue to evaluate your pet regularly. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you would like guidance in assessing your pet.

  • A simple tool is a “Good Days” vs “Bad Days” calendar to track trends in your pet’s wellbeing.
  • A more detailed tool is the Ohio State University’s “Honoring the Bond” worksheet, which can be found here on page 7.
  • Lap of Love also provides their own quality of life guide, which can be found here.

Grief and pet-loss support

Albuquerque-area counselor

Online resources

Still have questions?

Reach out any time. I’m happy to talk through where your pet is and how I can help.

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