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” - 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...

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...

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...

“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...

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...

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...

We all know that there are people who don’t enjoy the holidays.  But did you know that veterinary staff members often dread the holiday season? Why? Well, there’s an odd phenomenon that starts anywhere between Halloween and Thanksgiving and sometimes drags on through...

Originally published on DrAndyRoark.com “Sometimes I really hate you!” I said to the writhing Dachshund in my arms.  He didn’t care. He kept wiggling madly as is his habit when I catch him trying to take off from the yard. Because of his cognitive dysfunction, he...

Originally published on DrAndyRoark.com I hate osteosarcoma. This bone cancer is a cause of major pain for pets and heartbreak for their owners. Many pets with osteosarcoma have a greatly improved prognosis with limb amputation, however, the word “amputation” sends...