Dog & Cat HospitalCalabasas

Patient Education

Hospice & End-of-Life Care

Compassionate comfort care and honest guidance for pets in their final stage of life — centered on dignity, peace, and quality of time together.

When a pet reaches the end of their life — whether from advanced age, terminal illness, or a condition that has progressed beyond what treatment can meaningfully address — the goal of care shifts from curing disease to ensuring that every remaining day is as comfortable, peaceful, and dignified as possible. Hospice care for dogs and cats is a philosophy of medicine centered on quality of life: managing pain, controlling nausea, supporting appetite and mobility, and helping the family recognize when their pet is still experiencing good days versus when suffering has become the predominant experience. At Dog & Cat Hospital Calabasas, the team approaches end-of-life care with honesty, compassion, and deep respect for the bond between pets and the families who love them — and for the difficulty of the decisions that this stage of life requires.

How It Works

Hospice and palliative care for pets involves a set of interventions designed to maximize comfort without the burden of aggressive treatment:

  • Pain management — identifying and addressing pain from arthritis, cancer, organ disease, or other sources is the most important intervention; medications are selected for safety and effectiveness at the patient's current health status, and the goal is always comfort, not longevity
  • Nausea and appetite support — anti-nausea medications (maropitant, ondansetron), appetite stimulants (mirtazapine, capromorelin for dogs), and dietary strategies help pets remain interested in food and maintain quality of life longer
  • Quality of life assessment — the team uses structured QoL frameworks (such as the HHHHHMM scale developed by Dr. Alice Villalobos: Hurt, Hunger, Hydration, Hygiene, Happiness, Mobility, More good days than bad) to help owners see their pet's experience more clearly and make decisions grounded in the pet's reality rather than anticipatory grief alone
  • Family support and guidance — honest conversations about what the pet's disease trajectory looks like, what to watch for as a signal that things are changing, and what the process of euthanasia involves are central to end-of-life care; no question is too difficult to ask
  • Euthanasia — when the time comes, humane euthanasia is performed with gentleness and dignity; the team explains the procedure beforehand and accommodates whatever the family needs — who is present, what the setting looks like, whether they hold their pet

We're here for you and your pet through every stage

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What to Expect

End-of-life care does not look the same for every pet or every family. Some pets move through their final weeks with a stable, comfortable period before a clear decline; others have a more unpredictable course. Regular check-ins — by phone or in person — allow the team to adjust comfort medications, troubleshoot new symptoms, and give the family a realistic picture of where things stand. Owners are encouraged to document good moments and watch for the signs that indicate the balance has shifted: more bad days than good, inability to enjoy things that used to bring pleasure, inability to maintain hygiene, or progressive loss of the ability to interact with the family. The veterinarian will share an honest view when asked "Is it time?" — that conversation is never avoided, because supporting the family through it is as important as caring for the patient.

Good Candidates

  • Pets with a terminal diagnosis — advanced cancer, end-stage organ disease, or a condition that has been declared untreatable — whose owners want to focus on comfort and quality of remaining time
  • Elderly pets with multiple comorbidities where aggressive treatment would cause more suffering than benefit
  • Pets whose owners have decided to stop curative treatment and transition to comfort-focused care at any point in the disease course
  • Families who want help understanding what their pet's disease progression will likely look like so they can be prepared
  • Owners who are struggling with the timing of euthanasia and want a veterinarian's honest, compassionate perspective
  • Pets who are currently in pain, not eating, or unable to do the things that gave them joy — in whom comfort care is the most humane path forward regardless of how long remains

Frequently Asked Questions

1How do I know when it is time to put my dog or cat to sleep?
There is no single moment that announces itself clearly — but a helpful framework is asking whether there are more bad days than good, whether the pet can still experience things they enjoy, and whether they are suffering more than they are at peace. The veterinarian can offer an honest clinical perspective, and many families find that articulating the question aloud — to a veterinarian who will answer it honestly — brings more clarity than they expected.
2What is quality of life assessment for a pet?
Quality of life assessment uses structured criteria to help owners evaluate their pet's experience more objectively: pain control, ability to eat and drink, hydration status, basic hygiene, emotional state, mobility, and whether good days outnumber bad. The HHHHHMM scale is one commonly used tool. It gives owners a repeatable framework to track changes over time rather than relying on a single snapshot impression.
3Is it selfish to euthanize my pet to end their suffering?
Choosing euthanasia to end a pet's suffering is one of the most selfless decisions a pet owner can make — it places the animal's comfort above the owner's grief and longing. Providing a peaceful, painless death when quality of life cannot be maintained is considered an act of profound kindness in veterinary medicine.
4What happens during euthanasia for a pet?
A sedative is typically given first so the pet is relaxed and sleepy; then an overdose of pentobarbital is administered intravenously, causing the heart and brain to stop within seconds — the pet feels nothing and experiences a peaceful, painless loss of consciousness. The team explains each step and the family is welcome to be present and hold their pet throughout.
5Can I do hospice care for my pet at home?
Many elements of hospice care — comfortable bedding, quiet environment, gentle handling, hand-feeding, and oral medications — are provided at home by dedicated owners. The veterinary team supports this by prescribing appropriate comfort medications, providing guidance on what to watch for, and being available to adjust the plan. Home euthanasia may also be available through a referral to a mobile veterinary service.
6How long can a pet be on hospice care?
Duration varies enormously — from days to several months, depending on the condition. Some pets with terminal cancer or end-stage organ disease have a comfortable period of weeks after transitioning to comfort care; others decline more rapidly. The goal is not to extend time at any cost but to ensure the time that remains is peaceful.
7Will my pet be in pain during their final days?
Pain management is the centerpiece of end-of-life care — ensuring the pet is not suffering is the primary responsibility of the veterinary team during this phase. If pain cannot be adequately controlled, that itself becomes one of the most important factors in the timing of euthanasia.
8What do I do after my pet passes away?
The veterinary team can provide information about aftercare options — private cremation (ashes returned to the family), communal cremation, and burial — and many practices have relationships with pet cremation services. Grief is a real and valid experience after losing a pet; pet loss support resources, including hotlines staffed by veterinary students and pet grief counselors, are available.

We're here for you and your pet through every stage

If your pet is facing a terminal diagnosis or you are navigating end-of-life decisions, please reach out. This conversation is one we take seriously and approach with care.

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