When a friend is experiencing grief it can be difficult to know what to say or what to do. Here are some helpful tips to help someone get through this period of time, but first, let’s talk a little about grief. Grief is a very powerful emotion that encompasses many feelings. There is no right or wrong way to…
Arthritis is a progressive deterioration of the cartilage in joints of dogs and cats. Pain and lameness develop secondary to joint dysfunction and muscle atrophy. This condition is progressive and can affect the quality of life of your pet, but there are steps that you can take to help keep your pet comfortable. * Maintain a lean body weight…
When it comes to adding a new member to the family there are a lot of things to consider. What kind of pet am I looking for, what breed(s) are compatible with my lifestyle, how much time can I dedicate to my pet etc…One thing to consider would be adopting an older pet. Older pets usually get passed up…
Rehabilitation can be beneficial for older dogs and for dogs in hospice care, rehabilitation can also help many other conditions. I have put together what a typical day can look like at a rehabilitation center. A day in the life of a rehabilitation veterinarian As a rehabilitation veterinarian, we see many different types of cases every day. This is…
How do we know when it is time? Keep in mind that every situation is different and even if you had to make this decision for another pet in the past, this time may be different: Chronic conditions that are difficult to manage such as chronic cough or difficulty breathing, pain that cannot be controlled with pain medication and…
Osteoarthritis, also known as arthritis or degenerative joint disease, is a progressive and irreversible condition affecting the joints of dogs and cats. Arthritis is non curable and affects dogs of any size, breed, gender and age. Some of the signs you may notice your dog doing include: Lameness, being the most common sign seen, may be progressive, persistent…
Canine cognitive dysfunction, or cognitive disorder, is the most common chronic degenerative neurological disorder affecting senior dogs. A large number of senior dogs will be diagnosed with this progressive disease which is similar to Alzheimer’s disease in people. The exact cause of this disorder is unknown but cognitive dysfunction can occur due to an accumulation of beta amyloid plaques within the…
The term “laser” stands for “light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation”, which is a form of light therapy. Therapeutic laser therapy has been used frequently in the hospice setting for pain management, to promote wound healing, and to reduce swelling and inflammation. Laser therapy is non-invasive and very well tolerated by our patients. Many hospitals now have the ability to…
There are a few things that you can do at home to prepare the environment for your elderly, ill or disabled pet. A few goals to keep in mind: To maintain a safe, secure, and comfortable environment. This can be done by providing good traction for your pet to safely get around without slipping on smooth flooring. Some non-skid…
I want to share with our Nurse Your Pet visitors this story of a patient of mine, Monty, who had bone cancer. Monty had his leg amputated to reduce the painfulness of this type of cancer. Osteosarcoma, known commonly as bone cancer is very aggressive and most animals do not live very long once they are diagnosed. Amputation doesn’t slow…
