End of Life Care
Palliative Care
Caring for a beloved pet during their final months, weeks or days is one of the hardest parts of the journey we share with them. Our team understands how deeply connected you are to your companion, and we’re here to support both you and your pet with compassion, honesty and dignity.
What is Palliative Care?
Palliative care focuses on maintaining your pets comfort and quality of life when a cure is no longer possible. The goal is to ease pain, manage symptoms and provide emotional support for your family throughout this stage.
This may include:
- Pain management and symptom control (eg. medication for pain, nausea, or anxiety)
- Nutritional and hydration support to maintain strength and comfort
- Environmental adaptations to help mobility and rest
- Regular assessments to adjust care as your pet’s needs change
- Emotional guidance for families coping with anticipatory grief
Quality of Life Assessments
Deciding when to move from active treatment to palliative care can be complex. We used quality of life assessment scales and open discussion to help families evaluate factors such as:
- Appetite and enjoyment of food
- Pain-free movement
- Interaction and engagement with family
- Frequency of distress and discomfort
- Interest in usual activities or rest.
- Weight changes
Our team can guide you through these evaluations and help determine when your pet’s comfort or happiness is declining.
Making End-of-Life Decisions
Saying goodbye is one of the most compassionate choices an owner can make when quality of life becomes poor. Our vets will:
- Discuss what to expect in the final stages of illness
- Explain humane euthanasia options and the process gently
- Provide support before, during and after your pet’s passing.
We believe this decision should always be made with empathy, informed understanding and without judgement.
During the consultation a catheter will be placed, allowing access to the vein. Sedation will then be administered allowing your beloved pet to be free from anxiety and stress during their last moments. Following this, an overdose of an anaesthetic medication will be administered, causing the heart to stop. During this process we are guided by you, and if more time is needed during any part of this procedure we will support this.
Aftercare and Memorial Options
Most people aren’t prepared to say goodbye and haven’t thought about what comes after – this is completely understandable. At Huntingdale Vets we offer 3 aftercare options:
Our Huntingdale Veterinary Centre team offers complimentary keepsakes such as paw prints/ nose prints/ fur clipping/ whiskers/ additional items at request, so please don’t hesitate to let one of our friendly team what keepsake/s you would like from your beloved pet.
You Are Not Alone.
Grief is a natural part of losing a pet- it’s ok to feel heartbroken, lost or even guilty. Our team has walked this path with countess families and we’re right here holding space for your grief without judgement or rush.
We encourage you to reach out if you need emotional support or counselling resources, or even just a quiet chat, tears or questions.
Your love for your furry friend shines brightest in these moments. We’re grateful to share the load.
Questions? We’re Here to Help!
At Huntingdale Veterinary Center, you’ll find friendly faces, expert care, and a welcoming space for every family. Reach out today to chat or book your next visit!
Over 20 Years of Experience
Highly Trained
Team
State-of-the-Art Equipment
