National Palliative Care Week, running from 19-25 May, is an annual event aimed at fostering open and curious conversations around end-of-life care.
Sunset Vets Palliative and End of Life Care (Sunset Vets) is a home-based national veterinary service that delivers palliative care to senior and terminally ill pets. Despite palliative care being a key component of human healthcare, many pet owners are unaware they can access these kinds of services for their pets.
For Dr Jackie Campbell, Australia’s first Internationally Certified Palliative Care Veterinarian (CHPV) and the Founder of Sunset Vets, National Palliative Care Week serves as an opportunity to educate and promote conversation on the importance of end-of-life care for our four-legged family members.
“Despite National Palliative Care Week being primarily an event for human healthcare, the significance of the event is felt across the veterinary industry,” said Dr Jackie.
“Sunset Vets work in partnership with primary health care veterinary clinics to deliver expert palliative care, and we are passionate about educating industry and the public alike on the importance of it.
“Our mission is to have all pet owners know about palliative care and be able to access it when in need. Pets deserve the same level of care and compassion in their final days and weeks that they received in the peak of their life.”
Palliative care is not a replacement of regular veterinary care, but rather an extension to it. Instead of focusing on curative outcomes of care, palliative care aims to deliver comfort care.
This type of care was crucial to Hazel Overfield and her beautiful Groodle Buddy, who suffered from a number of age-related conditions including osteoarthritis and canine dementia, also known as canine cognitive dysfunction.
“Dr Jackie was one of Buddy’s best friends in the final 15 months of his life,” said Hazel.
“I will always be so thankful that Dr Jackie was able to make Buddy’s last months some of his best and was able to monitor and recognise when he was in pain and treat the symptoms accordingly.
“When it was finally time to say goodbye to Buddy, he slipped away almost smiling, head on Dr Jackie’s lap, totally trusting and relaxed in his home environment.”
“Palliative care can make a huge difference to an animal’s quality of life, as well as pet owner,” said Dr Jackie.
“We want to help educate owners on care options for their pets, as well as support those wanting to say a gentle goodbye at home.”
National Palliative Care Week is an annual event hosted by Palliative Care Australia. Palliative Care Australia is the peak national organisation representing the interests and aspirations of all who share the ideal of quality care at the end of life.
Sunset Vets services are available in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast.
