Hospice and palliative care for companion animals provides comfort and quality of life during terminal illness. This growing specialty improves welfare during the final phase of animal life.
Companion animal hospice represents the highest expression of commitment to animal welfare at end of life. Rather than either pursuing aggressive curative treatment past the point of benefit or choosing premature euthanasia, hospice provides skilled comfort care that maximizes quality of life while respecting the natural progression of terminal illness. The availability of euthanasia as a final welfare option distinguishes and strengthens animal hospice compared to human models.