End-of-Life Care

Compassionate support where they feel safe.

Sometimes referred to as comfort care, hospice and palliative care means more than managing symptoms — it’s about preserving dignity, comfort, and the pet’s bond with their family.

At Iris Veterinary Care, there are many ways we can support your pet and improve their quality of life during the time they have left with you. There are often no black and white answers, no right or wrong choices. Our role as your veterinarian is to walk beside you in this difficult time, helping you understand your options and creating a plan that feels right for your pet, your family, and your heart. Hospice and palliative care are appropriate for any pet nearing the end of their life, especially when aggressive treatments may not improve their quality of life or may cause emotional or financial hardship for their family. Honoring your pet Hospice & Palliative Care

Palliative care is a multi-faceted, highly individualized, type of care for your pet that can begin well before the very end. Because each pet’s end-of-life journey is unique, our  mobile model allows us to observe your pet in their familiar environment, so we can work closely with you to create a personalized care plan that addresses pain management, mobility support, nutritional needs, hygiene, and emotional well-being to maximize quality of life for everyone involved. Sometimes the simple things like adding floor runners to avoid slippery floors lets your pet join the family in more rooms of the house like they used to when they were younger. Being able to see not only your pet, but the environment they live in and how they interact with the home, can help us put all the pieces of the puzzle together in a more comprehensive way.

By providing hospice care in your home, we allow your pet to remain comfortable in their familiar environment, surrounded by love and security.

Personalized Care Plan

 A person gently scratches a fluffy gray cat behind the ear. The cat is lying down, enjoying the affection and comfort of a mobile vet visit in the familiar surroundings of home.

Although the end of the life of our pets is devastating to us, it is the last and often the greatest gift we can give them.

Pets are the ones in our lives that love us unconditionally and without judgement. They love us regardless of our income, physical appearance, education, politics, religion, interests, or position in life. They are always happy to see us and are loyal and dependable. They rely on us to make decisions for their welfare — including life and death. Sometimes the final decision is obvious to everyone. Other times it can be a balancing act of managing quality of life, good days vs bad days. Every pet, every family, every situation is different with unique considerations for those involved. Together, we’ll focus on comfort, presence, and peace — ensuring that every day, and every goodbye, is guided by love and compassion. End of Life Care
 A close-up of a human hand gently holding a ginger cat's paw, both resting on a white surface—reflecting the caring touch of a mobile veterinarian. A close-up of an orange tabby cat sleeping peacefully with its head resting on a brown surface and one paw stretched out, conveying the gentle care offered by a compassionate veterinarian.

How do I know when the time is right?

Here are some resources to help you determine your pet’s quality of life. Each of these quality-of-life scales are slightly different and highlight different aspects of the pet and caregiver’s life. Even if you don’t assign specific numbers to each of the factors on the scales, the topics they bring up are important to consider and be aware of as you continue your day-to-day life.

  • Quality of Life Scale for Pets: We like this scale because one of the questions asks about you as the caregiver, which is important because it can be stressful to care for a sick pet and this stress can, unfortunately, impact the human/animal bond. One of the most important factors in the quality of life for pets is their relationship with their owners (and their owner’s relationship with them).
  • Vet Social Work Quality of Life Scale: This scale has similar measures but also brings up good vs. bad days. It’s okay if a pet has a bad day, but when the good days are few and far between, this could be an indication that the pet has a decreased quality of life.
  • Quality of Life Assessment from Ohio State University: This downloadable pdf has an assessment from The Ohio State University Veterinary School and focuses on specific behaviors/abilities of your pet. There are a lot of different factors to include when considering quality of life and determining the severity of your pet’s illness.

When it is time to say goodbye our hope is to make this transition peaceful for your entire family. End of life care can take place anywhere in or around your home; where you and your pet are the most comfortable — whether that’s on the couch, in your bed, or out on the patio. Your entire family can be present if you would like them to be. Again, there are no right or wrong choices.

What is the process?

Euthanasia means “good death,” and we do everything in our power to ensure your pet’s passing is as peaceful as possible for everyone involved. Dr. M or Dr. Green will be with you every step of the way. We will provide a heavy sedative to ease any pain or stress your pet may be feeling. They will relax and often fall asleep during this time. After they are very relaxed and sleepy will we use a very small butterfly catheter to administer a second medication, into the vein, that will cause your pet to fall fully asleep and slow their heart until it stops. There is no pain or fear for your pet during this process.

Should children be present for end-of-life care?

This, as with so many things during this time, is a very personal choice. For children old enough to choose, we recommend letting them do so. Children often understand, and accept death, far better than we expect. Many children will choose to come and go during the process, others stay away the whole time, and some are very involved and have a lot of questions. Experts recommend avoiding euphemisms when discussing euthanasia, to avoid confusion and potential trauma. 

Should my other pets be present for end-of-life care?

We find that allowing pets to be present during the end of their housemate’s life helps them in their own grieving processes.

They know what is happening. We recommend allowing other pets to be present with the choice to leave the room. If you have a very energetic pet that you feel will be disruptive to your family we recommend allowing them to come in after your pet has passed to see and smell them. 

Here are some resources to help you determine your pet’s quality of life. Each of these quality-of-life scales are slightly different and highlight different aspects of the pet and caregiver’s life. Even if you don’t assign specific numbers to each of the factors on the scales, the topics they bring up are important to consider and be aware of as you continue your day-to-day life.

  • Quality of Life Scale for Pets: We like this scale because one of the questions asks about you as the caregiver, which is important because it can be stressful to care for a sick pet and this stress can, unfortunately, impact the human/animal bond. One of the most important factors in the quality of life for pets is their relationship with their owners (and their owner’s relationship with them).
  • Vet Social Work Quality of Life Scale: This scale has similar measures but also brings up good vs. bad days. It’s okay if a pet has a bad day, but when the good days are few and far between, this could be an indication that the pet has a decreased quality of life.
  • Quality of Life Assessment from Ohio State University: This downloadable pdf has an assessment from The Ohio State University Veterinary School and focuses on specific behaviors/abilities of your pet. There are a lot of different factors to include when considering quality of life and determining the severity of your pet’s illness.
When it is time to say goodbye our hope is to make this transition peaceful for your entire family. End of life care can take place anywhere in or around your home; where you and your pet are the most comfortable — whether that’s on the couch, in your bed, or out on the patio. Your entire family can be present if you would like them to be. Again, there are no right or wrong choices.

Euthanasia means “good death,” and we do everything in our power to ensure your pet’s passing is as peaceful as possible for everyone involved. Dr. M or Dr. Green will be with you every step of the way. We will provide a heavy sedative to ease any pain or stress your pet may be feeling. They will relax and often fall asleep during this time. After they are very relaxed and sleepy will we use a very small butterfly catheter to administer a second medication, into the vein, that will cause your pet to fall fully asleep and slow their heart until it stops. There is no pain or fear for your pet during this process.

This, as with so many things during this time, is a very personal choice. For children old enough to choose, we recommend letting them do so. Children often understand, and accept death, far better than we expect. Many children will choose to come and go during the process, others stay away the whole time, and some are very involved and have a lot of questions. Experts recommend avoiding euphemisms when discussing euthanasia, to avoid confusion and potential trauma.

We find that allowing pets to be present during the end of their housemate’s life helps them in their own grieving processes.

They know what is happening. We recommend allowing other pets to be present with the choice to leave the room. If you have a very energetic pet that you feel will be disruptive to your family we recommend allowing them to come in after your pet has passed to see and smell them.

Aftercare

You have the choice to bury your pet at home or have them cremated. We work with a local cremation service to care for your pets’ remains if you choose cremation. You may choose to have your pet’s ashes returned to you or not depending on your wishes.

Always feel free to call us to discuss your pet’s condition. We are here for your questions, concerns, and to just listen.

A brown and white dog with soulful eyes rests its head on a soft, light-colored blanket, looking thoughtful and calm. A shaved patch on its body suggests recent care from a compassionate veterinarian.

Aftercare

You have the choice to bury your pet at home or have them cremated. We work with a local cremation service to care for your pets’ remains if you choose cremation. You may choose to have your pet’s ashes returned to you or not depending on your wishes.

Always feel free to call us to discuss your pet’s condition. We are here for your questions, concerns, and to just listen.