Palliative and hospice care for companion animals focuses on maximizing quality of life in terminally ill animals, with a growing profession of veterinary palliative care specialists.
Palliative care philosophy recognizes that the goal of care for terminally ill animals shifts from cure to comfort. Pain management, nausea control, maintaining social relationships, and preserving enjoyable activities become the primary welfare objectives. Home-based palliative care allows animals to remain in their most comfortable environment with familiar people during the final phase of life, reducing the stress of repeated veterinary visits. The growing availability of veterinary pain specialists and palliative care practitioners gives owners better support for complex end-of-life decisions. A good death - peaceful, pain-free, and surrounded by loved ones - is achievable with appropriate palliative support.