Veterinary palliative and hospice care - making the transition from ‘cure’ to ‘care’
Abstract
The term ‘palliative care’ has become almost synonymous with human medicine, most notably cancer care, however veterinary practices have a pivotal role to play in palliative and end-of-life care for companion animals. Until recently, very little information was available on how to apply the principles of palliative and hospice care into the veterinary profession despite the fact that patients with chronic and life-limiting disease are seen on a daily basis. Consider the cat with chronic renal failure or the dog with congestive heart failure or osteoarthritis. Dietary and therapeutic management can make a real difference to such patients' quality of life and also their life expectancy, and as such these patients are often treated ‘palliatively’ for months to years without any expectation of a real ‘cure’. Many veterinary personnel do not recognise such treatment as palliative care however it is exactly this. This article aims to introduce the reader to the concepts of veterinary palliative and hospice care and ask them to consciously consider making the difficult transition from the ‘cure’ to ‘care’ approach.
Owners of ageing dogs and cats have a need for and a potential to benefit from many special services. Owners, however, seldom articulate or even recognise this and hence cannot obtain the services to meet such needs from their veterinary practice (Hancock et al, 2004). Puppy parties are now a regular service offered by veterinary practices, however it is essential that the same services are extended to pets at the other end of the age spectrum and that owners are educated about the needs of their senior pets. Many UK veterinary practices are building senior care programmes into their services and realising the professional satisfaction that comes from helping ageing animals live longer, healthier lives. Owners of ageing pets have long-standing bonds with their animals and as such, many of these owners are demanding high quality health care including senior and end of life care (Figure 1).
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