Tag: mobile veterinarian

Tucker’s Story

The Smith family contacted me recently because they needed some help with their pet, Tucker, who was showing signs of advanced aging. Tucker was having issues with arthritis and it was starting to affect his quality of life. He was having trouble getting around, including going out to use the bathroom, and he was seemingly more restless at night.

I visited the family for a palliative care consultation. During this appointment, I spent a great deal of time with the family listening to their concerns as well as watching Tucker move around the home and yard. We even took him on a leash walk to see how he was walking on asphalt surfaces. These home visits are invaluable for identifying the pet’s main problem areas and addressing small things that can make a huge difference for the pet. In Tucker’s case, pain control and improvement with mobility were my priority.

I was able to leave Tucker’s family with a clear treatment plan and some goals that they could work on with Tucker. The family is still using their referring veterinarian for medication refills, lab work and additional wellness and preventative medicine that are needed. Tucker was doing great on his recheck last week and had even built some additional muscle mass with the walking he has been doing.

I thought I would share Tucker’s story with you to show some of the other services we offer other than home euthanasia.  If I can help you, please call, we offer no charge initial consultations.

Please don’t hesitate to call if you have questions or would like to schedule a time for me to meet with you.  I perform at home evaluations and euthanasias in Durham, Raleigh and Chapel Hill.

A Peaceful Goodbye for Bella

I wanted to share with you a case that really touched my heart a couple of winters ago. Bella was a sweet, older German Shepherd who had been having trouble getting around for a while. Her mom Karen reached out to me when she felt that Bella’s suffering had become too great. The morning of the phone call Bella was unable to rise off of her favorite spot on the living room floor. Karen called me because she didn’t want to have to move Bella from her favorite spot and really preferred to say goodbye at home.

When I arrived at the home Bella was sitting in her favorite spot on the living room floor, basking in the sunlight. She was able to sit up and greet me and seemed at ease with me being in the home. I sat down on the floor next to Bella and spoke to her family about the euthanasia until everyone felt comfortable and all their questions were answered. When it came time to give Bella her sedation she remained sitting up and looking out the window into the yard that she had protected and played in for so many years. It was as if she knew that these would be her last memories and that she wanted to look out her window until the very last.

I think of this case often when I get asked why I do at-home end-of-life care. To me, I gave Bella the greatest gift I could give her. She was able to pass away at home, in her favorite place, surrounded by love.

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