Helping Hands Pet Hospice is still assisting families during this crisis. We are reducing the number of appointments per day to allow for sanitizing/changing out everything between appointments. We are limiting our services to video quality of life consultations and house call euthanasia at this time. In-home hospice appointments will resume once restrictions are lifted in the Tampa Bay area. Thank you.
The Quality of Life Question We All Should Be Asking
By Cherie T. Buisson, DVM, CHPV Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Veterinarian In 2016, I lost my dachshund, Muggle, to Cognitive Dysfunction. This brain disease of “doggy Alzheimer’s” is one that steals not only our pets but our own peace of mind. Just like in...
Carolina’s Story
Cherie T. Buisson, DVM, CHPVCertified Hospice and Palliative Care VeterinarianLow Stress Handling™ Silver Certified I first met Carolina’s Mom when I made a house call to help her say goodbye to her kitty, Cokie. I learned she worked at a local shelter, and I told her...
5 End-of-Life Myths About Pets – BUSTED
By Cherie T. Buisson, DVM, CHPV Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Veterinarian Originally published on DrAndyRoark.com June 3, 2018 Veterinary hospice and palliative care is my calling. That isn’t something I ever thought I would say, but there it is. I’ve devoted...
Explaining A Pet’s Bucket List
By Cherie T. Buisson, DVM, CHPV Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Veterinarian We all agonize over the question: “How do I know when it’s time?”. It’s the question most frequently asked in my hospice practice. It’s the question I most frequently ask when my own...
Friskies Roulette – When Your Cat Won’t Eat
“Friskies Roulette” - that game you play with your cat (especially elderly cats with kidney disease) where they like a food once and then never want to see it again. It’s frustrating for both vets and owners. The likely culprit is nausea. If they smell or eat...
10 Essentials of Self-Care
No matter how much I lecture on the subject, I have trouble convincing people (myself included!) to practice good self-care. When you are a caretaker, self-care is even more important than usual. You can’t help others if you are exhausted and miserable. So, my dogs...
Why You Should Learn To Forgive
Originally published on DrAndyRoark.com Whether you’re giving it, receiving it or bestowing it upon yourself, forgiveness is one of the most beautiful things in our lives. Forgiveness is a universal healer. It doesn’t really matter if the person you’re forgiving knows...
Why This Seminole Veterinarian Doesn’t Cry At Euthanasias
“I don’t know how you do this. It must be so hard.” Inevitably, a client will say this to me when I come to their home to euthanize their pet. My stock answer (which is completely true) is that I’m a basket case when it comes to losing my own pets, so if I can make...
Why I Support Pet Owners Who Drop Their Pets Off for Euthanasia
Originally published on DrAndyRoark.com If there’s one thing I’ve learned being in hospice practice it’s that every grief journey is different. That’s why it pains me when I hear people pass judgment on a person who can’t or won’t stay with their pet during...
After Pets Pass: 10 Tips for Those Left Behind
Originally published on DrAndyRoark.com Being a caretaker is difficult. Managing a pet with multiple illnesses and multiple medications or treatments is difficult. If you have been doing this, there’s something you should know: once your pet is gone, it will be...