The latest from the blog…
Are online vet consults the answer for elderly pet care?
As a hospice vet at a mobile veterinary practice that sees mainly elderly pets it will come as no surprise that I believe that online vet (video) consults are very valuable to assess a pet and providing guidance and advice...
Dignipets offering support during Covid19
The current situation is stressful for everyone, and it’s important to know that you’re not alone. Our team is working hard to be able to carry on supporting you and your pets for the coming weeks and months. We have put measures in place to be able...
What is hospice care and how can it benefit our pets?
As a vet that has cared for elderly pets at home for more than a decade, I sometimes forget that not everybody knows what hospice care means. Unless we are faced with caring for someone who is elderly (whether two- or four-legged) in the last stage of their life,...
Memorialising a pet
Going through losing a pet is one of the hardest things we have to face; I know anyone who will be reading this will agree with me on that one. It’s important to remember that this experience is different for everyone, and that grief affects us in different ways....
Will I know when it is time?
As I sit here and watch you sleep I am thinking if you are happy with your life? You will be 18 years old in May and I wonder if you will make it until then. I know being old you will need to sleep more and that cats sleep A LOT anyway but is that enough? I’m...
Using quality of life assessments in pets
Difficult questions As hospice vets at Dignipets we are often asked the questions; “When is it time?”. “How will I know if my pet is suffering?” .“I’m not sure whether to put my pet through any more treatment.""How do I know my pet still has sufficient quality of...
Top 10 tips for staying calm around fireworks
It’s very normal for pets to get distressed in different degrees when there are fireworks going off. The loud bangs and sudden flashes of light can affect many types of pets even the ones we wouldn’t necessarily expect to react. There is no iron clad way to ensure...
Osteosarcoma in dogs
Osteosarcoma is a tumour of bone, and it is the most common bone tumour found in dogs. It is more common in large and giant breeds, such as Rottweilers, Greyhounds and Great Danes. In our practice we most often see it in Rottweilers. Sometimes a...
When the grief comes before the loss
Anticipatory Grief described by a hospice vet and pet owner Sometimes we have no time to react or even think before we lose someone we love; it can be an accident or a very sudden illness. We lose them and then we grieve. But other times...
Back at work; what does it mean for your four-legged friend?
Looks familiar? No matter what your routine looked like before the lock down; things changed dramatically in March 2020 and this has an effect on all the members of the household including pets. Most of us are now returning back to work and we would like to share some...
Hospice and end of life care for your pet during the Covid-19 pandemic
Hospice and end of life care for your pet during the Covid-19 pandemic Options and considerations Providing care to a pet at home with a terminal condition can be made more challenging during these difficult times of the Covid-19 crisis. Veterinary practices all over...