Palliative Care / Analgesia and Pain
Palliative care is the continuous care to animals with chronic diseases or end-stage diseases, that meet the needs of the patient and it’s owner associated with maintaining the quality of life at home.
This care recognize death as a normal process with the belief that an animal deserves to live with the greatest comfort possible in the end-stages of it’s life, through adequate treatment, seeing pain control as a primary factor. Palliative care is also focused in the mental preparation of the owner to it’s pet’s end of life, when it comes or when this decision is brought up to evaluation.
In animals the most frequent diseases in palliative care are:
• Cancer/ neoplasias
• Renal, hepatic and cardiac failure/insufficiency
• Osteoarthritis/arthrosis
• Progressive neurological conditions, including dementia
• Geriatric patients in the end of their lives
Palliative care start with the design of an individualized plan, considering the evaluation of every pet and it’s family’s needs, including:
• The diagnosis, prognosis and options of treatment of the patient.
• Family values, beliefs and resources.
• The philosophy of the palliative care team
Excellency at home palliative care include:
1) Medical assistance:
This includes pain and other symptoms ‘control, administrating medication, by anticipating complications and preparing owners to side effects related to medication and treatment.
2) Nursing care
This includes recapitulation of treatments and medications given by owners, revising the patient’s daily life activities and evaluating the patient’s conditions, giving medication and providing treatment and assures that all the measures are being taken to maximize the patient’s comfort.
3) Family support
Listening to owners and giving into account their feelings and past experiences, doubts and fears, providing them with information and resources, helping them to prepare for their animal’s death and supporting them in their mourning time.
