Helpful Articles for Your Pet’s End-of-Life Journey
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...
Animal Pain Awareness Month: Recognizing the Signs of Pain in Pets
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...
A Playlist to Help Say Goodbye to a Beloved Pet
We know saying goodbye to your beloved furry family member is the hardest decision you will make. Our team at Caring Pathways created this playlist to help provide a calming and reflective atmosphere when that time comes 💜.A Pet Loss Grief Support PlaylistWe...
Offering a “Fear Free” Experience for Your Pet’s End-of-Life Journey
Do you know that all of the Caring Pathways veterinarians and nursing team members are Fear Free-certified? We believe that offering the most compassionate at-home end-of-life care must include a “fear free” experience.Prioritizing a Fear Free ExperienceWhen your pet...
Feel Good Fridays
We understand that the nature of our work as an in-home end-of-life pet care practice can come with quite a bit of grief and sadness. It is a privilege for us to be able to help pet families during this difficult time and to honor a pet's life through Pet Tributes on...
Caring for Your Senior Cat
Do you have a beloved feline friend who is entering their senior years? At Caring Pathways, it is our goal to help you take steps to make the final chapter of your cat's life as comfortable and memorable as possible. In this article, we will discuss healthcare,...
Monitoring Your Senior Pet’s Dental and Heart Health
February is a time often associated with the emotion of love, but did you know it also happens to be National Heart and Dental Health month? What better time to share an article to help support families who love a senior or ill pet and what to monitor for with regards...
Meet Our Field Service Team: What Happens When My Pet Passes Away At Home?
A few months ago I visited a couple’s home in the heart of Denver. I was welcomed into the home by a woman with tears in her eyes. She brought me to where her husband was seated on the floor in the other room, as he held his sweet Basset Hound in his arms dearly. This...
How to Approach the End-of-Life Decision for Your Pet After A Cancer Diagnosis
Pet cancer visited our home for the first time the summer between my second and third years of vet school. Tuna, my beloved 5-year-old cat, was diagnosed with high grade, B cell intestinal lymphoma. As a veterinary student, I knew it was “the bad one.” We were swiftly...
Pet Cancer Awareness Month: A Veterinarian’s Story with Their Beloved Pet
Pet cancer visited our home for the first time the summer between my second and third years of vet school. My husband and I had just gotten back from dinner and our 5-year-old cat, Tuna, who normally greeted us at the door, was nowhere to be seen. We checked her usual...
What to Expect at an In-Home Euthanasia Appointment
The following article is intended to give pet families a general idea of what to expect when scheduling in-home euthanasia appointment for your loved one. Please give our team a call or send us an email if you have any questions about this process. Before Your...
Recommended Walking Trails for Senior Dogs in Northern Colorado
Do you have a senior dog at home who loves fresh air and sunshine? Even as dogs age, it is still beneficial for them to get out for walks. Controlled exercise (leash walks) tailored to the ability and needs of your dog are a great way to provide enrichment. Providing...
The Journey to Goodbye: Saying Goodbye to Mabel
Well this is not the story I was ready to tell. Mabel has been slowing down for quite some time. If you have been following along for this blog series, I have been documenting moments of Mabel's end of life journey. To hear the background of Mabel's journey, click...
Early Care and Planning for your Aging Pet
As an end-of-life mobile veterinarian who is also of a certain age (forty one...derful to be precise,) I can tell you that I'm definitely beginning to appreciate wear and tear on my body. I need to take my vitamin I (ibuprofen) more frequently for aches and pains and...
Heart Disease in Dogs and Cats
Heart Disease in Dogs What are some of the common heart diseases in dogs? Mitral valve disease- This is when the mitral valve becomes thickened and cannot close correctly. This causes an improper flow of the blood through the heart, making the heart work harder and...
Last Moments: Capturing the Final Goodbye with Our Beloved Pets
From Ross Taylor, "I'm an assistant professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, and have been a photojournalist for more than 20 years. My website is: www.rosstaylor.net and Instagram is: @rosstaylorphoto. "Last Moments," is a photo essay that explores the...
Holiday Craft Keepsakes for Pets
As a gentle reminder, particularly if attempting a DIY paw print, remember that many pets are sensitive about their paws and may be wary if you're asking them to dip their paws in paint, salt dough or other medium. Be sure to give lots of treats, take breaks, or forgo...
Tips for Keeping Your Senior Pets Healthy and Happy
Did you know that November is National Senior Pet Month? It is also Pet Cancer Awareness month. With this in mind, here are some tips for keeping your senior pets healthy and happy. Tip #1: Be proactive in your senior pet's health In our senior pets, the "wait and...
The Journey to Goodbye: December 2020 Update from Mandi
Written by: Mandi Browning Mabel has been doing well since her last vet appointment in the Spring. Her kidney levels had decreased again and she looks good overall. She has a bit of a heart murmur now but that is to be expected of an almost 18 year old cat. Mabel now...
Helping Animals Impacted by the Colorado Fires
As I look out of my window today at the beautiful Rocky Mountains and the crisp Colorado blue sky, it brings me great appreciation for all of the hard work that firefighters and first responders have done this year to protect our state. Unfortunately, a lot of these...
Help Make Darla’s Day!
Today is National Make A Dog's Day! We have a special opportunity today to rally around a dog who could have their day made. One of our amazing veterinarians, Dr. Steve Zachar, and his girlfriend Dr. Kelsey, are fostering a dog named Darla and share her full story...
Cherishing the Final Goodbye
At the conclusion of a euthanasia appointment, as I gently tuck in the beloved pet, pet owners often say to me, “I don’t know how you do this job.” As a veterinarian who works exclusively in end-of-life care, I can honestly say that I love my job. That is not to say...
Black Cat Appreciation Day!
August 17th, 2022 Black cat appreciation day is here! Time to celebrate all things black cat and learn a little more about the wonderful world of "house panthers". Dr. Kerry's black cat, Snowball Black cats are among the most common color of cats seen in the U.S....
Social Distancing with Senior Pets
It is no doubt that the cancelled concerts, travel plans, and other summer adventures are a disappointment from this pandemic. There has also been quite a bit of generalized stress and anxiety in this time. However, I find myself grateful for all of the time I have to...