Frequently Asked Questions

The cost of pet hospice care depends on the level of care and the frequency of visits required for your pet’s specific condition. Our services begin with an initial consultation, followed by a customized monthly care plan.

• Our initial Quality of Life Assessment starts at $250 (plus any applicable travel fees).
• Our comprehensive Hospice Care plan starts at $600 per month, covering consultations, pain management protocols, and ongoing support.

We are transparent about the cost of in-home pet euthanasia and all other services. Please Book a Call to receive a detailed breakdown of pricing with no obligation.

Knowing when to consider hospice for my pet can be challenging, but recognizing the subtle changes is key. Hospice care is appropriate any time a terminal condition has been identified (cancer, end stage kidney disease, heart failure, Degenerative myelopathy, GOLPP, and other neurologic conditions, among others).  In addition, look for these signs your pet may need hospice care:

• For Dogs: Significant difficulty walking, refusal to eat favorite foods, increased restlessness, or warning signs that a dog needs hospice care, like isolating themselves from the family.
• For Cats: Hiding more often, neglecting grooming, increased litter box accidents, or a significant lack of interest in interaction (warning signs a cat needs hospice care).

If you are concerned, a quality-of-life assessment for pets is the best way to get an objective, expert evaluation.

What is pet palliative care? It is synonymous with pet hospice care. Palliative care refers to the specialized medical care aimed at relieving symptoms and pain caused by a serious illness. This includes end-of-life dietary support for pets, pain medication, and creating the best way to comfort an aging dog/cat through environmental changes.

The end-of-life care process for pets is focused on three phases: Transition, Comfort, and Euthanasia.

1. Transition Phase: This is where an aging pet has NOT been given a terminal diagnosis but is experiencing degenerative, debilitating conditions (osteoarthritis, canine/feline dementia, incontinence, exercise intolerance, among others)
2. Comfort Phase (Hospice): We institute a strict pain management plan and support the human family through ongoing tele-hospice for pets check-ins. We focus on adapting the environment and nutrition to ensure the pet has maximum comfort and joy.
3. Euthanasia: If selected, we provide gentle in-home pet euthanasia in a calm, private setting. The process is always peaceful, starting with sedation to ensure your animal is asleep and pain-free before the final step.

The best way to comfort my aging dog/cat is to ensure they are free of pain, calm, and surrounded by love. Our veterinarians can provide practical advice on:

• Creating a Comfortable Space: Advice on how to create a comfortable space for a dying pet, including supportive bedding and easy access to food/water.
• Managing Pain: Expert guidance on tips for managing pet pain at home using medication and gentle techniques. Also outside modalities such as acupuncture, cold laser and energy work can be integrated into a total care plan.
• Maintaining Routine: Keeping a familiar schedule as much as possible helps reduce anxiety for both you and your pet.

We understand the intensity of grieving a pet loss. Our commitment to end-of-life care for pets extends to the human family. We provide personalized pet loss support San Diego and Orange County resources, including:

• Referrals to grief counselors and support groups.
• Advice on how to support a dying pet while also preparing my dog/cat for end-of-life care.
• Guidance on memorialization and aftercare options.

Yes, collaboration is key to our success. We view ourselves as specialists who augment the care provided by your primary vet. We will coordinate with their office to review relevant medical records and share our hospice care plan and updates, ensuring your pet receives fully integrated and cohesive care.