What do we do?

In recent years companion animals have become an integral part of many families. The emotional bond between a pet-parent and their fur-kid can be very strong, and a terminal diagnosis for a much-loved companion animal may cause the same levels of grief and stress as a terminal diagnosis for a human child.

As a result of this incredible bond, as well as ever increasing client expectations of veterinary care, pet-parents are now seeking a third option for animals with a terminal diagnosis, apart from the commonly offered choice between heroic measures and immediate euthanasia. Veterinary palliative care has often been limited to unsupervised, and often arbitrary,  pain relief (and sometimes with no pain relief) dispensed at the veterinary clinic and a vague instruction to present the animal for euthanasia when “the time comes”. This can lead to incredible stress, sadness and guilt for care-givers of animal companions. Fortunately, we’ve come a long way since then!

True hospice care encompasses the period from diagnosis, through palliative care to a “good death” (whether death occurs naturally or the animal is euthanased) and beyond, to support the pet-parents during the period of grief. The focus of hospice care is quality of life, rather than the planning of death, and includes quality of life for caregivers as well as patients. It encompasses a range of situations, from rehabilitation and mobility care for a senior pet with osteoarthritis, through to palliative sedation and pain management for a cancer patient in the last few hours of life.

Read more about Senior and Geriatric Care.

Our senior animal companions have very special, and very different, needs compared with their younger selves. Mobility, cognition, nutrition, and physical therapy needs become more important, and an unhurried assessment of a senior animal in the comfort their own home environment allows us to make sure your elderly furbaby’s needs are met. Joy and love are the focus of our senior program, for both our patients and their families.

Read more about Hospice Care.

At The Last Gift we offer in-home hospice care by a caring, empathetic veterinary team. Our service is available to pet parents whose animal companions have received a terminal or life-limiting diagnosis. We can help to keep your fur-baby comfortable, peaceful and able to experience joy and love until they pass away. We can guide you and help you to understand the process of dying, and help you to celebrate the precious moments and memories of your lives together. We can also gently facilitate the transition from life to death for our patients, if needed, and when the time is right for the patient and the caregivers.

Read more about our End-of-Life Services.

See our F.A.Q. for any other questions you might have.