My Pet has been given a terminal diagnosis, What do I do Now?

The process that a family goes through to reach the decision of euthanasia for a beloved family pet can be one of the toughest things they ever have to go through. What can make the decision even harder is knowing your pet has a terminal diagnosis and seeing that he or she seems fine today. Depending on the terminal diagnosis, many pets can quickly end up in an emergency situation that may be painful or extremely stressful on the pet and pet parent. Having your veterinarian provide you with as much information as possible about the diagnosis and what to expect in a timeline format can help families prepare for the ultimate loving decision of euthanasia.

So how do my families decide what to do? This decision is personal and every individual approaches and deals with death differently. I always recommend to pet parents to envision how they want to say goodbye. I’ve come to people’s homes where the pet is still doing fairly well and the family was able to take the pet on a final walk, take some pictures, and feed a special meal. In these situations the families saw the appointment as a celebration of life and they wanted saying goodbye to be on a very uplifting experience. Other families that I have helped wait until their is a downward change in the quality of life of their pet such as the pet not eating or walking. There is not a wrong answer, just what feels right in your heart. I would encourage you to call me if you are having trouble with this decision as I always offer free phone consultations and will spend as much time as necessary talking with you about your pet’s situation. I am honored to help pets and families with these difficult choices. My mobile practice covers the triangle and I am here to assist families and pets in Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Durham, Cary and surrounding areas. In my experience as a veterinarian, home euthanasia offers a very loving alternative to brining your pet into a hospital. It also offers a more private and stress free environment for the pet and pet parent.

Azure

Dr. Holland to be a featured Speaker at International Conference

We are excited to announce that Dr. Holland will be a featured speaker at the 7th International Conference on Pet Loss and Bereavement in Newark, NJ May 16th – 18th, 2014.

Dr. Holland will be presenting on Saturday morning about at home euthanasia for pets.   Azure will share about her experiences helping families in Raleigh and surrounding areas with her specialized house call service to other Veterinarians and counselors from around the United States and abroad.

The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement was founded in 1997 by Dr. Wallace Sife, the nation’s expert on pet loss and bereavement and the author of the book, “The Loss of a Pet,” now in the 4th edition.  The Association is a nonprofit organization of volunteers who have come together to offer support and comfort to those who have loss their beloved pet.

Dr. Holland is a proud member of this organization and offers Dr. Sife’s book to all of her clients as part of her services.  In addition, Dr. Holland was trained in bereavement guidance by Dr. Sife and his colleagues at the Association.  For more information on the Association and the upcoming conference please visit: www.aplb.org

When Comfort Counts…

Dr. Holland believes in the compassion that home euthanasia offers because she can relate to her own experiences. Offering personalized home euthanasia services to Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, and surrounding areas is important to her as a veterinarian and pet owner.  No stress for your pet, no cold office – just warmth and familiarity of your own your home.

A Difficult Decision

Dr. Holland’s most important goal is to provide comfort, both in terms of ending the suffering of a beloved pet without physical discomfort or fear, and also your family’s comfort in knowing you are making the best decision possible. From the time Dr. Holland enters your home, the experience will be calm and comforting.

Dr. Anna Plowman joins the practice

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Anna Plowman to the practice.  I have known Anna for a long time, we first met while I was in grad school at NCSU.  I am very pleased that Anna has joined me in offering the highest level of care possible for pets and families in our area.  I know she will capture the hearts of our families. She has the compassion and skill to serve families in the Triangle during the difficult time of loosing a pet.

Originally from England, Dr. Anna Plowman moved to the United States in 1993.  She graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a Bachelor’s degree and went on to obtain her Masters in Animal Science from North Carolina State University.  She obtained her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University, the Nation’s leading Veterinary program.

Having Anna as a part of our team means that more families in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill will be able to say goodbye to their pet with peace, dignity and love through home euthanasia and pet hospice.

Please read more about her own personal experiences with loosing a pet on her bio page here.

Azure