Mobile Vet Services
We bring palliative end-of-life care to your pet in your home, serving Petaluma, Santa Rosa, Southern Sonoma County & Marin, with compassionate care. We offer in-home euthanasia, palliative & hospice care, telehealth visits, and cold laser therapy for pain relief. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide general veterinarian care such as vaccinations at this time.
In-Home Euthanasia
The word euthanasia is derived from the Greek words "eu" (meaning good) and "thanatos" (meaning death) and thus literally means a good death. We know how much your pet means to you and when it comes time, we strive to make their passing as pain free and serene as possible. Being able to say goodbye in the place they feel most at ease is truly a final act of love.
This is typically achieved with an initial injection of a sedative mixed with a pain medication which will allow your pet to drift off to sleep usually within 5 to 10 minutes after administering. The final injection to stop their heart is given only after their sedation is assessed and they are determined to be completely and serenely asleep. Some choose to be present for both injections, and some choose to be present for only the first one knowing that their pet is no longer aware of their surroundings. Either option is reasonable and supported. We understand grief is difficult and different for everyone and will do our utmost to honor and respect your process.
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Aftercare Services
We partner with Bubbling Well, located in the hills just outside Napa. They are a pet cremation service that has been run for generations by the same family and they pride themselves on caring for the remains of each pet with dignity and care. They offer private and communal cremation and we are prepared to transport your pet after they have passed and ensure their ashes are returned to you if you choose.
If instead you elect a home burial, be sure to check local regulations associated with your address and also to determine that you are not digging near gas or water lines. We will not be able to assist with this aspect of aftercare but recommend burial at least five feet down to ensure wildlife can't disturb your pet's resting place, as the euthanasia solution remains in your pet's body and can act as a poison to wildlife if ingested.
If you are looking for something beyond these options, please don't hesitate to ask and we can discuss further.
Palliative & Hospice Care
Veterinary Hospice is modeled after human hospice and our mission is to help maintain quality of life and comfort for terminally ill dogs and cats and their families until euthanasia is elected or a natural death occurs. Rather than focusing on curative treatments, our family focused approach considers palliative symptom management with the goal of maintaining comfort and dignity for as long as possible.
We can't make these difficult decisions for you, but it is an honor to share our understanding and experience of their medical condition(s) to help you prepare a plan that meets the needs of your pet and you, their family.
Terminal illness is progressive and death is inevitable, but often these patients don't know they're dying and with the right support, can live happy full lives for months before deteriorating. And when you need help determining when it's time or if euthanasia is appropriate, we won't shy away from this discussion either.
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Telehealth Visits
If you've been given a devastating diagnosis for your pet and feel unsure of what comes next, this conversation can be a good beginning. These visits can be arranged as an initial intake to help with deciding what the next step might be.
If a hospice care plan is elected and an initial physical exam has occurred, we can utilize these visits on a weekly or as-needed (scheduled) basis.
Disclaimer: without an in-person physical exam, we cannot diagnose, treat, or offer a specific prognosis. However, we can provide general information and guidance on the typical illness trajectory of your pet's disease and help you process this information as you consider appropriate palliative care options.
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Cold Laser Therapy
Older animals suffer from pain, inflammation, and chronic discomfort related to osteoarthritis.
Gone West Vet employs cold laser therapy for older animals in the comfort of their own home. Cold laser therapy provides pain relief by passing through the skin and increasing blood flow to injured or inflamed tissues, reducing the inflammation and associated pain. It also raises the production of ATP, a cellular fuel source, allowing tissues to repair themselves faster.
Dr. Musman may prescribe this therapy for arthritis, muscle strain, nerve damage, back pain, hot spots, pressure sores, and other common problems in older pets.
We will be happy to answer any of your questions about cold laser therapy for your elder dog or cat.
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