Meet Senior Dog With 2 Teeth Looking for Hospice Home to Live Out Remaining Years
Most of us wish our cherished canine friends could stay young and high-spirited forever. Unfortunately, growing old is part of life, and there comes a time when an aging dog’s greatest desire is to live out their twilight years in a warm, loving home.
One such dog is Grumpelstiltskin, a senior terrier pup with just two teeth. Yes, you read that right; his dental formula is as unique as his name. Grumpelstiltskin is currently at the Best Friends Animal Society in Houston, waiting to be scooped up into the arms of a loving family that will commit to offering him hospice care until his time comes.
He is the biggest love bug and never shies away from rocking his two-teeth smile like a badge of honor when surrounded by people he trusts. This 60-pound gray-muzzled sweetheart of a dog loves going on slow strolls as he sniffs around, and he does great on the leash. Did we mention he wouldn’t trade his nap sessions for anything? Catching some zzz’s is among his top pastimes.
Grumpelstiltskin is house-trained and loves nothing more than pampering his loved ones with unlimited cuddles. This lovely senior is best suited for an easy-going household with no young kids because relaxation and “no disturbance” are his middle name.
Even better news? The shelter has already waived his adoption fees. If you’d love to offer sweet Grumpelstiltskin a warm, loving home for the remaining time he has left, kindly visit the Best Friend Animal Society’s website for details on his adoption process.
Hospice for Dogs: Here’s Everything You Need to Know
Hospice care for dogs pretty much mirrors human hospice care. It involves offering compassionate medical and non-medical care to dogs approaching the end of life, whether due to advanced aging, a chronic condition, or a terminal disease.
The primary goal of veterinary hospice is to ensure a dog lives as comfortably and pain-free as possible for the days they have left. This type of care recognizes that pups nearing the end of life can still enjoy a good quality of life until death comes naturally or until euthanasia becomes the most appropriate alternative.
“Pet hospice care provides the framework to ensure that pets with life-limiting diseases achieve the highest level of comfort and quality of life,” explains Dr. Julia Spade of BluePearl Pet Hospice.
The key to the success of dog hospice care is for the dog’s family and veterinary hospice care team to work together to meet the pup’s emotional and physical needs.
One commonly asked question about dog hospice is, “Is there hospice care for dogs at home?”
The short answer is yes. Dog hospice care doesn’t have to be delivered within the confines of an animal hospice facility. A pup can still receive this type of care from the comfort of their home, which is, in fact, a great thing because they’ll have a chance to spend their remaining time in a familiar environment that they love.
In this case, the hospice veterinary team will create an individualized at-home care plan for your dog based on a quality-of-life assessment. A dog hospice care plan typically entails nutritional and hydration support, movement support, pain management, hygiene & grooming, frequent assessments, and comforting care, among other services.
There’s no standard price for this type of care. The cost of dog hospice care varies from one hospice provider to another and is determined by different factors, including the level of care the hospice pup needs.
Another essential aspect of hospice care includes providing the dog’s family with guidance, counseling, and emotional support as they process their pup’s end-of-life journey. More often than not, families that opt for at-home hospice care also choose home euthanasia when they feel it’s time to give their ailing pup a peaceful death.
Hospice and Palliative Care in Dogs: What’s the Difference?
The key difference between hospice and palliative care in dogs lies in the end goal.
Similar to hospice care, palliative care aims to improve a hospice dog’s quality of life by addressing their physical and emotional needs.
However, palliative care is centered on prolonging a dog’s life following the diagnosis of a terminal or chronic disease. In this case, the focus is primarily on ensuring the dog not only receives comforting care but also treatment that can treat or control the progression of the underlying disease. The end goal of palliative care is to try and extend the dog’s life using various medications and treatment approaches.
Hospice care, on the other hand, is usually initiated when the treatment interventions used in palliative care are no longer effective.
Unlike palliative care, the main goal of hospice care is to make the pet comfortable for the remaining days they have left. Dog hospice care doesn’t involve any attempts to prolong life. Medications administered to hospice dogs simply seek to ease any discomfort or pain so that the pup’s final days, weeks, or months are filled with comfort and less pain.
How Will I Know My Dog Requires Hospice Care?
Knowing whether or not your furry friend is a candidate for hospice care is a decision that largely lies with your vet, as they are in the best position to provide insight into your dog’s condition and prognosis. Generally, though, some of the common signs that it may be time to transition your dog to hospice care include:
- Your dog is no longer responding to palliative treatment and is, therefore, worsening in health.
- Their quality of life has significantly declined due to advanced aging (they’re having more bad days than good days)
“When I entered the hospice stage with my senior girl earlier this year, I basically followed the quality of life scales from Google as a general guideline. Her first sign of being almost ready was when she lost interest in her food. She still enjoyed treats etc, and still loved her walks and showed joy. When she refused her favorite treat (cheese), that was when I knew it was time. I booked the appointment for a week later…and gave her the best last week I possibly could….” shared user ieBaringa in a Reddit discussion on hospice care in dogs.
All in all, dog hospice care presents an opportunity to make the most of the little time one has left with their beloved pet. Not to mention, this type of care can help an owner come to terms with the impending loss of their furry friend, which may make a difference in how they handle the grief process.
