Animal Hospice and End-of-Life Care

This SPIRITS in Transition™ online session series is designed to give tools to those who are interested in learning how it is possible to care for an animal family member so it can live out it’s life fully. It specifically demonstrates how hospice care can be provided at a level similar to what is available for our human loved ones.

The precious knowledge imparted in these sessions can prove to be just as crucial also for those aiming to provide comfort care preceding planned euthanasia, another type of end-of-life care.

Course Information:

The instructor of this class, veterinarian Ella Bittel, is recognized by her peers as a leader in animal hospice and has presented on the topic at numerous veterinary conferences. As at this time animals are commonly euthanized long before end-of-life care would begin, this series of sessions builds on the class “Approaching Animal Hospice: Geriatric & Special Needs Care for our Animal Companions”. However the “Animal Hospice and End-of-Life Care” sessions can be taken independently from that class, as well as be taken one by one.

It is tempting to not think ahead to the time when our animal gets closer to the end of its life. Yet it can be very rewarding to consciously turn our attention toward it and the associated fears, well before we find ourselves unprepared at the mercy of situational pressure. We may be surprised by what we discover.

Being there for our animal as it completes this life cycle can certainly be one of the most challenging, however at the same time one of the most transformational and fulfilling undertakings we may ever experience. It poses an exceptional opportunity for everyone whose animals are members of the family.

Providing hospice care is a great final gift we can give to the ones who have brought much joy to our lives. Often it is also experienced as lessening grief, fostering a sense of gratitude and completion. However, not preparing ourselves ahead of time frequently means we have no other option but premature euthanasia.

The SPIRITS in Transition™ online classes give you tools to empower you to provide end-of-life care for your animal friend. This holds true even when people around you may show little understanding. The best time to prepare for this is truly well in advance. In this program we explore ways that allow us to be the greatest possible support to our animal loved ones when they come closer to their departure. While euthanasia remains an option as an indeed last resort if comfort cannot be sufficiently maintained, more often the aim can be reached to have the animal pass peacefully in it’s own time.

This series introduces the foundations of hospice care and also allows you to gently familiarize yourself with the stages of dying. While each individual’s process is unique, understanding existing commonalities of the phases of dying gives us knowledge about how to best provide an environment supportive to the animal in transition. Options are discussed also for those scenarios when euthanasia is elected to end an animal’s life. Special attention is given to how to ease the grieving process for a surviving animal buddy of the one that has passed.

Supporting a dying animal is an art that can be learned. Preparing ahead of time will allow you to be aware of your choices whenever the time comes.

FREE link to published article, written by Ella Bittel, DVM – Embracing Death’s Journey with Our Animals 

Session 1 – released – “Applying Foundational Principles of human hospice in animal care” (130 min)

The first of the two sessions on this topic is now available. It covers 5 of 10 foundational principles that will be explored in total. Ella found that if any one of these principles is not observed, euthanasia is the inevitable outcome. Yet these pillars of hospice are widely unknown amongst animal care providers.

Illuminating the real-life application of these principles in animal patients, Ella shares in this session also about her and her husband’s hospice journey with their Golden Retriever “Samson”.

These foundational principles mark what hospice care truly is, but also offer invaluable guidance to those choosing other types of end-of-life care for their beloved animal, including those when euthanasia is the expected outcome.

Instructor: Ella Bittel, DVM

Course Length: One sessions

This webinar complement the class “Approaching Animal Hospice: Geriatric & Special Needs Care for our Animal Companions” though they can be taken separately.

Course Fee:
For Audit OnDemand: $39.00 per session

Session 1  $39.00

Student Information:

Audit is “for your information only.” No Certificate of completion or CEUs will be awarded on completion. Credit does result in a Certificate of completion, and CEUs if requested.

NOTE: You will have unlimited access for 1 month. Extensions are available on request with a minimal charge.

You must also read and agree to the E-Training for Dogs, Inc. Standard Terms and Conditions prior to taking a course: Click HERE to read these. You will be asked when you register if you have read them and will not be allowed to take the course if you do not agree to the terms.