In-home Hospice in Winchester, VA

In-home Hospice

While hospice care primarily focuses on the well-being of our pets, Honor Veterinary Hospice also wants to help families and caregivers navigate this life chapter. With an in-home hospice consultation, Dr. Girard will review your pet’s previous medical history, current medications, diet, activities, disease processes, behaviors, home environment, and relationships to obtain a wholistic view of your pet’s quality of life and needs. From that overview, an in-home physical examination, and observation of your pet in their natural environment, she will work with your family and your other pet care providers to create a personalized hospice care plan for your pet to address their physical, mental, and social needs.

The purpose and goal of pet hospice and palliative care are to focus on the quality of life rather than a cure for those pets who have chronic and/or terminal diseases or age-related changes that affect their daily life. Quality of life looks different for every pet, and that is why the hospice care plan will be unique for every pet. The beauty of this care plan is that it is fluid, and adjustments can be made at any time to meet a pet’s changing needs. Intermittent quality-of-life evaluations will be performed as a part of this plan, and when it is determined that the pet’s quality of life is no longer adequate, we (as a team) may shift our focus to providing humane euthanasia. It is important to note that the intention of pet hospice is not to unnecessarily extend the life of a dying pet. If the significant quality of life concerns are noted at the time of initial consultation with little chance of improvement with palliative care, Dr. Girard will express her concerns and may recommend considering humane euthanasia sooner. She will guide you every step of the way to ensure your pet receives the best care and that decisions are made as a team.