“I Wish I Knew About You Sooner”: The Importance of Early Palliative Care for Pets
One of the most common things we hear from families after their first consultation with Horizon Palliative Vets is: “I wish I knew about you sooner.” While it’s heartening to know we’ve made a difference, it also highlights a crucial point: early intervention in palliative care can dramatically improve the quality of life for pets living with long-term or chronic conditions.
Why Early Palliative Care Matters
Palliative care isn’t only for the final days of a pet’s life. It’s about providing comfort, managing symptoms, and supporting wellbeing from the moment a chronic or progressive condition is diagnosed. Many conditions – such as kidney disease, arthritis, cancer, or heart disease – can be managed more effectively with early intervention.
By introducing palliative care early, we can:
Manage pain and discomfort proactively, rather than reactively.
Support nutrition, mobility, and daily routines, helping pets enjoy life for as long as possible.
Provide guidance and support for families, preparing them for future changes in their pet’s condition.
Reduce stress and anxiety for both pets and their families, knowing that a caring plan is in place.
Early involvement allows our team to tailor comfort-focused strategies to each pet’s specific needs. This means more joyful moments, fewer crises, and a stronger bond between pets and their families.
Our Interdisciplinary Approach
Our team takes an interdisciplinary approach to palliative care. This means we combine expertise in veterinary medicine, pain management, and behaviour support to ensure each pet receives comprehensive care. We work closely with your regular veterinarian to coordinate care, review diagnostics, and create a plan that complements your pet’s existing treatments.
We are proud that Dr Kaori Takeoka and Dr Ana Carolina Springford are certified Hospice and Palliative Care Veterinarians through the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care (IAAHPC)- they are the first veterinarians to achieve this accreditation in South Australia. This ensures that every consultation, plan, and intervention is informed by internationally recognised standards in hospice and palliative care for pets.
This collaboration ensures that:
Symptom management is integrated with ongoing medical treatments.
Decisions about medication, diet, and therapy are fully informed.
Families feel supported every step of the way.
We believe palliative care is most effective when it’s early, coordinated, and tailored. It’s not about giving up – it's about giving your pet the highest quality of life possible, for as long as possible.
A Gentle Reminder
If your pet has a chronic or long-term condition, consider reaching out to us here at Horizon Palliative Vets sooner rather than later. Early palliative care allows us to focus on comfort, dignity, and joy throughout their journey, rather than only at the very end.
After all, the most common sentiment we hear isn’t just regret – it's gratitude. Families are thankful that their pets could live more comfortably, and that they themselves had support when they needed it most.
If you’d like to learn more about how early palliative care can benefit your beloved pet, contact our team on 0434 468 600 for a consultation. We’re here to help your pet live comfortably, and to support you every step of the way.