Helpful Articles for Your Senior Pet’s Journey
Honoring Dr. Kelly Knoll’s Retirement and Lasting Legacy at Caring Pathways
Celebrating more than a decade of compassionate service to pets, families, and the Caring Pathways team. After more than a decade of compassionate service, one of Caring Pathways’ earliest veterinarians is retiring and becoming the inaugural recipient of our...
What Comfort Care Really Looks Like for Pets and the Families Who Love Them
If you are reading this, chances are you love your pet deeply, and you may be wondering what the road ahead looks like. Maybe your veterinarian has mentioned comfort care, sometimes called pet hospice, or perhaps you have noticed changes in your pet that have left you...
Lucy’s Story: A Peaceful Goodbye at Home
A personal reflection from Margaret Spalletta, BA, RVT, Practice Consultant Manager at the American Animal Hospital AssociationAt Caring Pathways, we are honored to walk alongside families during some of the most tender moments they will ever share with their beloved...
Coping With Pet Loss: Four Simple Phrases That Can Bring Comfort
By Dr. Alex Schaeffer, Lead Veterinarian for Caring Pathways - Charlotte The loss of a beloved pet is one of the deepest forms of grief many people will ever experience. Pet loss can trigger a complex range of emotions: sadness, guilt, anger, anxiety, numbness. These...
Helping Senior Pets Stay Comfortable During the Summer Months
As our beloved dogs and cats age, even simple weather changes can have a greater impact on their comfort and quality of life. Summer can be especially challenging for senior pets. Changes in mobility, heat tolerance, breathing, appetite, and anxiety may become more...
What Compassion Looks Like on the Other End of the Line: Voices from Our Client Care Team
Reaching out for end-of-life care for a beloved pet is never easy. For many families, the first phone call comes during a time of uncertainty, grief, guilt, fear, or heartbreak. In those moments, what families need is not just information. They need someone who will...
5 Years at Caring Pathways: A Reflection on Purpose, People, and Compassion
By Dr. Chelsea McGivney, Executive Director of Operations At Caring Pathways, we are grateful for team members whose longevity reflects deep commitment to our mission. As Dr. Chelsea McGivney marks five years with Caring Pathways, she shares this personal reflection...
Senior Cat Care: Subtle Signs Your Geriatric Cat May Need More Support
Written by Dr. Nicole Masterson, Veterinarian, Caring Pathways Senior cats often communicate changes very quietly. As someone who has spent many years caring for cats, I know how easy it can be to miss the subtle signs that a cat’s quality of life may be changing....
Considerations Around Outdoor Pet Euthanasia
What Families Should Know About Public or Outdoor Pet Euthanasia Settings Written by the Caring Pathways Medical Advisory Board Some families consider having their pet’s euthanasia take place outdoors or in a meaningful public location, such as a park, trail, or other...
How to Know If You’re Doing Enough for Your Senior Dog or Cat
Written by Dr. Lauren Barrow, Caring Pathways veterinarian in Virginia Beach Maggie, Bill, and the Question So Many Families Ask A few months ago, I had a senior hospice patient, a chocolate Lab we’ll call Maggie, who was diagnosed with several common older dog...
Caring Pathways Featured in dvm360 Cover Story on Veterinary End-of-Life Care Training
The January/February 2026 issue of DVM360 features a compelling cover story on the evolving role of clinical rotations in veterinary hospice and palliative care. In “Clinical Rotations for End-of-Life Care,” author and Caring Pathways Director of Hospice and...
Signs of Pain in Dogs and Cats
And When It’s Time to Consider In-Home Comfort Care Reviewed for medical accuracy by the Caring Pathways Medical Advisory Board When a beloved pet starts slowing down or acting differently, most families share the same concerns: I don’t want them to be in pain. I...
Pet Loss During the Holidays: Grieving & Self-Care
The holiday season is often painted as a time of universal happiness and celebration. However, for those who have recently experienced the loss of a beloved pet, this time of year can feel like the opposite. Whether you are currently in the process of saying goodbye...
Finding Healing Through Senior Pet Adoption: Ben’s Story
November is National Adopt a Senior Pet Month, a time dedicated to celebrating older pets and the families who welcome them into their lives. For me, this month carries personal meaning. After losing my heart dog this summer, the grief was overwhelming. That loss led...
How Caring Pathways Supports Harley’s Dream Rescue & Rehabilitation
Here at Caring Pathways, we believe deeply in honoring the bond between pets and families, especially in those final chapters of life when compassion and comfort matter most. That’s why we’re honored to be partnering with our neighbors in Berthoud, Colorado: Harley’s...
How to Support a Friend or Neighbor After the Loss of a Beloved Pet
Losing a pet is an incredibly tender and deeply personal experience. For many, pets are not “just animals,” but beloved companions who share in the rhythms of daily life, from morning routines to evening walks, quiet snuggles, and everything in between. In fact, a...
Understanding Dog Dementia: Behavioral Changes in Senior Dogs
Written by: Dr. Mavi Graves, Caring Pathways VeterinarianI was recently at a euthanasia appointment for a beautiful, tiny Shiba Inu named Timmy. The family had rescued Timmy about five years ago after learning he had been a sire in a puppy mill and had spent most of...
Signs Your Pet Might Benefit from In-Home Comfort Care
Watching a beloved pet grow older or cope with serious illness can be heartbreaking. You may find yourself wondering: Are they comfortable? Am I doing enough for them? These are natural, loving questions, and you don’t have to face them alone. In-home comfort care for...
Caring Pathways’ Ongoing Support of the Morris Animal Foundation
Advancing Veterinary Science Through CompassionAt Caring Pathways, our mission is rooted in compassionate end-of-life care for beloved pets and their families. But our commitment to improving the lives of animals extends beyond the homes we visit. Since our founding,...
A Comfort Care Approach for Your Senior Dog: Pain Management & Aging Support
As your beloved dog enters their golden years, you may begin to notice subtle changes: slower walks, more naps, or moments of confusion. Are these signs of normal aging, or is your companion in discomfort? This guide to comfort care for senior dogs will help you...
Enhancing Quality of Life: Benefits of Integrative Comfort Care for Cats
As cats age, they may experience discomfort from arthritis, cognitive decline, or other chronic conditions. Because cats instinctively hide pain, it can be difficult to recognize when they need help. Veterinary comfort care assessments focus on comfort and quality of...
Spring Safety Advice for Senior Pets
Spring brings thoughts of blooming gardens, walks in the rain, and evenings on the patio. As springtime approaches and you do a spring cleaning of your home and garden, it's also a great time to get your pet springtime-ready. While most younger pets bounce into the...
10 Proven Ways Pets Improve Mental Health: Science-Backed Benefits
In a world where stress, anxiety, and depression have become common issues, pet ownership has emerged as a beacon of hope for many. Pets, particularly dogs and cats, have been shown to provide significant mental health benefits. This blog explores 10 evidence-based...
Understanding and Preventing Heartworm Disease in Pets
What is Heartworm Disease?Heartworm disease is a serious, potentially fatal condition affecting pets of all ages, especially dogs and cats. April is National Heartworm Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to learn about and take action against this disease. It...