HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE FOR COMPANION ANIMALS: PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE

List of Contributors xix
1 Introduction 1
2 What is Animal Hospice and Palliative Care? 5
3 The Interdisciplinary Team 15
4 Quality of Life in the Animal Hospice and Palliative Care Patient 27
5 Bond -Centered Animal Hospice and Palliative Care 41
6 Ethical Decision Making in Animal Hospice and Palliative Care 57
7 Animal Hospice Models of Care 73
8 Prevalence of Diseases, Causes of Death, and Common Disease Trajectories in Hospice and Palliative Care Patients 81
9 Cancers in Dogs and Cats 89
10 Chronic Kidney Disease 101
11 Congestive Heart Failure 109
12 Respiratory Distress 115
13 Gastrointestinal Conditions 123
14 Musculoskeletal Disorders 129
15 Nervous System Disease 137
16 Cognitive Dysfunction 147
17 Recognizing Distress 153
18 Pharmacology Interventions for Symptom Management 165
19 Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation, and Complementary and Integrative Medicine Treatment Modalities
20 Balancing Efficacy of Treatments against Burdens of Care 199
21 Nursing Care for Seriously Ill Animals – Art and Techniques 211
22 Comfort Care During Active Dying 231
23 Euthanasia in Animal Hospice 251
24 Mental Health Considerations in Caring for Animal Hospice and Palliative Caregivers and Providers 263
25 Addressing Spiritual Needs of Caregivers 285
26 Supporting Other Needs 299
27 Aftercare 307

Index 313

Hospice and Palliative Care for Companion Animals: Principles and Practice offers the first comprehensive reference to veterinary hospice and palliative care, with practical guidance and best practices for caring for sick and dying animals.

Features
• Presents the first thorough resource to providing veterinary hospice and palliative care
• Offers practical guidance and best practices for caring for sick and dying animals
• Provides an interdisciplinary team approach, from a variety of different perspectives
• Gives concrete advice for easing pets more gently through their final stage of life
• Includes access to a companion website with client education handouts to use in practice

Authors
• Amir Shanan, DVM, is the Founding President of the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care, www.iaahpc.org, and the owner of Compassionate Veterinary Hospice, a veterinary practice dedicated to providing end-of-life care services, in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
• Jessica Pierce, BA, M.Div., PhD, is a bioethicist and affiliate faculty at the Center for Bioethics and Humanities, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, USA.
• Tamara Shearer, DVM, CCRP, CVPP, CVA, is the owner of Western Carolina Animal Pain Clinic / Shearer Pet Health Hospital in Sylva, North Carolina, USA.