Our Blog
Adopting a Senior Pet – Thoughts and Considerations
Adopting a pet is a life-changing decision, offering numerous joys and challenges. While puppies and kittens often steal the spotlight in adoption centers, senior pets–those typically classified as seven years or older–offer a unique set of benefits and considerations...
Why is Losing a Pet so Painful?
Navigating the Inevitable: Reflecting on the Unspoken Truth of Pet OwnershipWe all know that someday, the beloved animals we welcome into our families will leave us. While this inevitability may not be at the forefront of our minds, it becomes painfully apparent as we...
Preparing for Fall with Older Pets
Autumn has returned, and with it, the perfect opportunity to assess how your pet's needs have evolved since last fall. Depending on your pet's size and breed, they have aged between 4 and 8 years since the previous autumn. It's astonishing how this passage of time can...
How Often Should I Take My Senior Pet to the Veterinarian?
I love seniors. Dogs, cats, ferrets, humans... love ‘em. While they are not all like this, they often give me a sense of calm wisdom when I am around them. Dogs are especially emotive in this way. Of course, I love puppies and kittens too, but I find that our senior...
Sending Your Kid to College with a Senior Pet: Easing the Transition
Going back to school can bring significant changes for our pets when the kids in the home head off to college. Discover ways to ease this transition for everyone involved.Before Your Scholar Leaves for CollegeBefore your scholar heads off to college, have an open...
It’s Not Weird: Unconventional Ways of Honoring Your Pet’s Body at Life’s End
I recently helped a cat named Rorschach in Fort Collins, CO make his peaceful transition. He was a beautiful black and white cat that had a heart-shaped spot on his right forearm. That spot was very special to his owner, Tiffany, who was saying goodbye that day. The...
Pet Hospice Care: Helping to ease suffering for dogs and cats with cancer & other terminal illnesses.
As told through the story of sweet Rylie, a Caring Pathways hospice patient. Rylie was always a happy dog — arguably one of the happiest dogs that ever lived. She always had a smile on her face and such a wiggly nubbin of a tail that her whole bottom swayed back and...
Making Peaceful Goodbyes: The Benefits of In-Home Pet Euthanasia
Your older dog has been your buddy for a long time. Maybe since they were a pup or perhaps you were lucky enough to find your friend later in their life. You have been able to tell when they were ready for dinner or for their walk. You know when they are tired,...
Summer Pet Care Tips: Keeping Your Furry Friends Safe and Cool
As the summer season arrives, it's time to make the most of the longer and brighter evenings with our beloved pets. At Caring Pathways, we understand the importance of exercising our furry friends safely during this time of year. Regular exercise not only contributes...
Scheduling a Pet Euthanasia Appointment: The Importance of Planning Ahead
Saying goodbye to a beloved pet is never easy, and as pet owners, we want to ensure their final moments are filled with love, compassion, and dignity. At Caring Pathways, we understand the emotional and challenging decision-making process that comes with scheduling a...
How Do I Know When It’s Time to Say Goodbye? A Guide for Pet Owners
Saying goodbye to our beloved furry friends is one of the most difficult decisions we may ever face as pet owners. As our pets age, it's natural to wonder when it's the right time to say goodbye and provide them with the peace and comfort they deserve. In this blog,...
Tips for Senior Pet Care During Your Vacation
Summer is approaching, and as you plan your vacation, you may be concerned about who will take care of your senior pet. Leaving an older pet, especially one with special needs, can be challenging and cause anxiety. At Caring Pathways, we understand these concerns and...
What if my pet is in need of end-of-life care in the middle of the night?
It is always difficult seeing our pets in need. It can be particularly difficult when its late at night and sound advice is hard to find. We have put together some ideas to help you reduce the chances of a late night emergency and stay calm if one does happen.Stay...
What will my other pets do without my pet who passed?
Our compassionate team of veterinarians are asked this question many times each week. The short answer is, it varies. While pet's reactions to loss do vary, there are some common experiences which are good to know when helping your own pets.Recognizing the LossIt...
How do I overcome the grief of losing my pet?
The death of an animal companion is often an extremely difficult loss. There are no words to describe the relationship we have with them; they are our child, companion, adventure partner, therapist and family member. It is no wonder we have such a hard time when they...
Do pets feel pain when euthanized?
As a veterinarian working in end-of-life care I often hear the phrase, “I wish my pet would just pass in their sleep.” While we all hope for a quick, peaceful, painless death for our beloved dogs and cats, it is not always the case when it comes to natural death. This...
How do I know when My Senior Dog is Suffering?
Your older dog has been your buddy for a long time. Maybe since they were a pup or perhaps you were lucky enough to find your friend later in their life. You have been able to tell when they were ready for dinner or for their walk. You know when they are tired,...
A Day in the Life of an End-of-Life Care Veterinarian
My name is Chas Dickens, DVM. I am a veterinarian and I specialize in at-home end-of-life care, to include hospice care for pets along Colorado’s front range. Working out of my black Subaru, I travel all over the front range from Golden to Loveland, Lyons to Parker,...
Supporting Children through the Loss of a Pet
Losing a pet is a difficult journey for anyone. Although there are some well-accepted stages of the grief process, each person is unique in how they will journey through that process. Parenting our children through that process compounds the complexity of the...
My Geriatric Cat’s Response to Solensia
Bobby's StoryOur cat Bobby was considered elderly the day we adopted him, 9 years ago. “Thank you for adopting a senior!” the Denver Dumb Friends League (DDFL) cashier said when we checked out with our newest family member. This was December of 2013. DDFL was...
The Caring Pathways 2022 Memorial Tribute Video
As we head into 2023, we want to take moment to honor and reflect on those watching from the Rainbow Bridge. We hope this memorial tribute lets you share in this reflection and smile at the memories. Your beloved furry family members are alphabetically ordered in the...
What Should I Do if My Pet Dies at Home?
If you are reading this, you are likely in a position that no pet owner wants to be in... Your beloved fur child has either passed away on their own in your home, or you are facing the thought that this may be a reality for you in the near future. If this is you, we...
When You Know It’s Time: Preparing for the Loss of a Pet
From the moment you take your new furry family member home with you, there is one reality that nobody can escape: in the best of circumstances and if everything goes as planned, one day you will say goodbye to your beloved pet. Preparing for the loss of a pet can help...
They Don’t Deserve to Hurt: Animal Pain Awareness Month
September is Animal Pain Awareness month. What a special opportunity to talk about signs of pain in our pets. The biggest question pet owners want to know…. “Is my pet in pain?” Just asking this question shows how much you love your pet and want to support them. Pain...