What is In-Home Comfort Care?
Compassion 4 Paws’ goal of in-home comfort care is to improve the quality of life for both you and your pet, for whatever time you have left together. While pain management is an integral part of end-of-life comfort care, there are other conditions and symptoms that may cause discomfort and affect your pet's quality of life. Our focus is keeping your pet comfortable while supporting you and your family and offering guidance on your pet’s continued care as they near the end of their life. This allows you and your pet to remain together at home during this precious time.
Dr. Sara was one of the first veterinarians in the world to receive certification in Animal Hospice and Palliative Care – a rigorous 16-month course through the IAAHPC. A few years later, Dr. Allison followed by completing her certification as well. All of the doctors at Compassion 4 Paws strive to continually improve the care offered to pets and their families, and remain up to date on the latest knowledge in the field so you can feel confident and secure in your decisions.
What is the difference between Comfort Care, Palliative Care, and Hospice Care?
While hospice care typically refers to end-of-life support, and palliative care can be provided at any stage of illness, the term "comfort care" is often used to encompass both approaches, focusing on the primary goal of these services: providing comfort to the patient. We choose the term "comfort care" because it emphasizes the core objective of managing discomfort, improving quality of life, and supporting both the pet and their family through challenging times.
How can In-home Comfort Care help my pet?
Dr. Sara and her team customize comfort care to meet the specific needs of each pet, collaborating closely with the family to create a plan that suits them. Each situation is a bit different, as each pet is unique. The care plan may involve medications to relieve pain and nausea, fluid therapy, and nutritional guidance. Because we are in the home where the pet is most comfortable, we are more likely to observe an accurate representation of their comfort or pain level. A further benefit of in-home visits allows us to offer suggestions to improve the pet’s immediate surroundings. Our visits also include a quality-of-life assessment as we provide the tools to help you further assess your pet's level of discomfort, and help you determine the time to say goodbye.
What about a "Natural Death"?
In certain situations, euthanasia may not be necessary or preferred, allowing the pet to pass naturally at home. This approach is similar to a human hospice model. At Compassion 4 Paws, we firmly believe euthanasia should be considered when it is the most compassionate option to ease a pet’s suffering. However, we will support a natural death if appropriate and preferred by a family.
Initial Comfort Care Consultation
$600*
60-90 Minutes
This in-home consultation includes:
- Review of your comfort care intake form
- A comprehensive review of your pet's medical records
- Thorough physical exam
- Assessment of your pet's environment with recommendations for modifications if applicable
- Quality of life assessment and the tools to help you decide when euthanasia might be considered
- Personalized medical management plan
- A comfort kit in case of emergency, if appropriate
- Pain assessment ("how do I know if my pet is in pain?")
- In-depth discussion of your pet's disease process and expected trajectory
- A discussion surrounding the euthanasia process, and how to prepare for loss
- A discussion regarding your options for aftercare
- 30 days of follow-up email/ phone communications with our care team
*Please note additional visits, medications, and comfort kits are not included in the initial consultation fee. Additional fees for extended travel or after-hours may apply.
In-Home Comfort Care Recheck Consultation
*for established patients only*
$480*
30-60 Minutes
There may come a time when a new issue arises, or conditions change, and you would like the doctor to revisit you and your pet. During this appointment, they will offer guidance based on your pet's recent history and observations. They will perform an exam which will allow them to compare your pet's physical condition from the previous visit. During this visit, the doctor may be able to offer measures or medications to improve your pet's quality of life, or they may gently recommend you reconsider your "lines in the sand" that suggest it is time to say good-bye. There is no limit on the number of recheck consultations that we may provide for you and your pet; that is dependent on your wishes and need for support and guidance.
*Please note additional visits, medications, and comfort kits are not included in this consultation fee. Additional fees for extended travel or after-hours may apply.
Virtual Comfort Care Recheck Consultation
*for established patients only*
$250
30 - 60 Minutes
In certain cases, a family may prefer a direct conversation with the doctor without the need or desire for an in-person recheck visit. This might be to discuss their pet’s response to medication or address ongoing quality of life changes or a decline in the pet’s condition. A virtual consultation may be helpful to reevaluate your goals in your pet’s comfort care plan or seek further guidance on making a decision regarding euthanasia.
Because a professional relationship was established during the initial in-person consultation, the doctor may legally offer specific medical advice tailored to your pet, and prescribe medication if necessary.
Virtual Quality of Life Consultation/ TeleAdvice
*for new patients*
$175
Up to 45 Minutes
COMING IN APRIL 2025
This virtual appointment with one of our veterinarians is an opportunity to discuss your pet’s current quality of life.
This consultation will help you:
- Identify and monitor for symptoms related to pain, specific diseases/ailments affecting your pet, or issues related to aging
- Learn to evaluate and measure your pet’s quality of life
- Understand the expected progression of your pet’s condition or disease
- Make decisions surrounding end-of-life care that align with your beliefs and values
- Understand euthanasia and aftercare/cremation options
This visit will include pain scales, quality of life scales, a daily tracking scale and other resources as appropriate. There will be no ongoing communication following the visit and by law, our doctors are unable to offer specific medical advice or prescribe medications without a current in-person veterinarian-client-patient relationship.
Service Area
Our service area extends North to some parts of Marysville and South to Tukwila. We also service the Eastside including Redmond, Woodinville, and Bellevue. Please review our service area map for details.
* Rates and services will vary based on availability and location within our service area. Please call for more information.