House Calls for Pets is a veterinary practice dedicated to enriching end of life care for pets.

I am sad to report that house calls are just not possible at this time and may not be for some time to come.

Veterinarians in Ontario have been directed to restrict their business to handle only urgent essential services. In-home veterinary aid-in-dying is often urgent but not essential, since veterinary clinics can provide euthanasia, and veterinary clinics are best equipped to mitigate the risk of virus transmission. As this situation evolves, and we all learn what is necessary to keep our community safe, I am hopeful for a day when I can once again offer this meaningful service.

For those who are currently struggling with weighing options and making the best decisions they can for their pet I can suggest an excellent website – pethospice.com.

This rich resource is available at no cost and it can help you think about quality of life and which choices make the most sense for your pet and your family.

The end of life is a special stage in a pet’s life and it deserves special attention. Time feels even more precious with the dawning realization that time together is drawing to a close. There may be signs that a pet’s body is winding down, that they are less able to engage in their world, be who they used to be, or even be who they wish to be now. And it is natural to worry about their quality of life and what the future holds for them. I have been down this road many times, both personally and professionally, and I am here to offer help.
“Sometimes we can offer a cure, sometimes only a salve, sometimes not even that. But whatever we can offer, our interventions, and the risks and sacrifices they entail, are justified only if they serve the larger aims of a… life. When we forget that, the suffering we inflict can be barbaric. When we remember it the good we do can be breathtaking.” (Atul Gawande, Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End)
Arlo