fbpx

Walking With You Through the End of Life Journey

When you don’t know how the end will happen, or what your pet’s needs will be, we’re here to walk with you. And when that time comes, we will be there to help you and your best friend with a compassionate and peaceful transition.
Serving Northern Colorado

Availability

Our veterinarians are available to serve you and your pet 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Appointments at night from 8pm-7am may be limited, as well as holidays. It is our mission and goal to serve you and your beloved friend with timely care of our services, with same day appointments available to you if needed.

Services and Pricing

In-Home Pet Euthanasia

After a final professional consult and review, our Caring Pathways transitional services allow for a dignified and respectful euthanasia. Our compassionate veterinary team is dedicated to creating a peaceful end and will provide the space to honor the journey of a life shared together.

Our appointment fee starts at $359 with additions for drive-time, nights, weekends, and holidays.

TeleAdvice

A TeleAdvice Appointment with our highly-skilled veterinarians facilitate in-depth conversations using video conferencing to help you better understand the quality of your pet’s life. We’ll also explain options for comfort and end-of-life care.

Our TeleAdvice Appointments are 30 minutes with a fee of $129.

Please complete the detailed intake form below to schedule a TeleAdvice Appointment. Your request will be reviewed by a veterinarian who will follow up with email instructions, scheduling options, and a web link to join the video conference within 1-2 days.

Please check your email daily after submitting your request as this will be our initial follow up in communication, thank you.

Note: You can participate using an Internet-connected smart phone, tablet, or computer, a webcam and microphone are required to engage with the video conference.

Consultation, Palliative and Hospice Care

In-home palliative and hospice care helps alleviate the stress associated with visits to the veterinary clinic, and allows you and your pet to enjoy your special time together in the familiar surroundings of home. The decision to pursue hospice care, though not for everyone, strengthens the bond between you and your pet and helps prepare for the passing of your special companion.

Our Consultation Appointments have a base price of $359.

Aftercare

Every aspect of your pet’s final care and arrangements is of the utmost significance in honoring the life, and the love, you shared. We will walk you through paw print memorial options, cremation services, and custom pet memorial products.

Cremation costs depend on if you would like your pet’s cremains returned to you and the size of your pet. $229 is an average cost of the cremation services.

What Type of Consult is Best for My Pet?
  • A Telehealth Consult is a great opportunity to discuss your pet’s current condition, any diagnoses your pet has been given, for you to learn how to objectively evaluate and measure quality of life, and to develop a palliative care and/or end of life plan for your pet.  This option is best for pets that are being monitored and cared for by your family veterinarian as an added resource to your pet’s care team.While we are happy to schedule a Telehealth consultation with any family for any situation, there are limitations to Telehealth that prevent a thorough physical exam, diagnostics, and certain prescribing abilities due to state law, so if you are at the beginning of your pet’s end of life journey, a visit to your family veterinarian may be recommended to be sure your pet has the best quality of life possible during their journey.
  • An In-Person Consult is also a great opportunity to discuss all of the above as well as have a hands-on exam for your pet.  This can help determine underlying concerns that should be addressed and if humane euthanasia is elected, your pet’s peaceful passing can occur at the same appointment.  This option is best for pets that may or may not be monitored and cared for by your family veterinarian, pets who cannot safely or easily be transported to your family veterinarian anymore, or your pet that you believe may be at the end of their journey but you’d like an objective hands-on evaluation before making the decision to provide humane euthanasia. Your pet must be tolerant of strangers for this appointment to be successful.  The limitations of this type of appointment are that diagnostics (radiographs/bloodwork) cannot be performed so diagnoses cannot be made but some prescriptions can be scripted/refilled at the veterinarian’s discretion.
  • A Veterinary Visit at your family veterinarian is recommended for any pets that need diagnostics (blood work, radiographs, etc…) to diagnose their ailments or for routine monitoring for certain long term medications or conditions.  It is in your pet’s best interest to have a diversified care team as you enter into their end of life journey and we are happy to communicate with your veterinarian to be sure your pet’s care team is on the same page every step of the way.We look forward to meeting you and your pet in-person and/or virtually; please let us know how we can best support your family during this time.

Northern Colorado

Angel Han

Angel Han

Veterinarian

Steve Zachar

Steve Zachar

Veterinarian

Emilea Burton

Emilea Burton

Veterinarian

Kristen Neisler

Kristen Neisler

Veterinarian

Mavi Graves

Mavi Graves

Veterinarian

Gina Singleton

Gina Singleton

Veterinarian

Erin McNerney

Erin McNerney

Inventory Manager & Client Care Team

Josh Lewis

Josh Lewis

Marketing Director

Carissa Lutz

Carissa Lutz

Software Support Specialist

Client Testimonials

“We said good-bye to Rufus, our miniature schnauzer, on July 12 with the caring and professional help of Dr. Kelly. I can’t thank her enough for explaining very throughly what would happen throughout the process and for her very caring manner towards both Rufus and my husband and me. We are so grateful to have been able to keep Rufus at home on his favorite bed where he was as comfortable as he could have been for his gentle and peaceful passing. At no point did we feel rushed, and we appreciate that very much. We are so grateful for the services of Caring Pathways and Dr. Kelly.”

Karen Winfield

“I wanted to find a way to thank Dr. Megan for offering the most compassionate and kind care I could have imagined during our time of need. The entire Caring Pathways team was intentional and informative from start to finish but Dr. Megan was truly incredible. She allowed us to take our time, explained everything with the level of detail (or not) that we needed, and just held the space for us to support sweet Loki in his passing. I am so grateful for her presence. She always knew when to say the right thing and made sure our baby transitioned in the most comfortable, loving way possible. I feel indebted to her for this gift. Thank you thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.”

Elise Matatall

“My entire experience with Caring Pathways has been incredible. From the gal who answered the phone and helped get us an appointment as soon as possible and explained everything in detail with tremendous patience and compassion to Dr. Emilea, who treated our sweet girl with so much compassion, tenderness, and love in her final moments. Thank you for providing us with as much time as we needed and your kind words helping us through a difficult time. We cannot thank the Caring Pathways team enough for their compassion and support.”

Stephanie Sears

We are so grateful for Dr. Eddie Desko and the entire Caring Pathways team. From my initial call and virtual appointment/health assessment with Dr. Emily to the final goodbye with Dr. Desko, we would have been lost without their guidance and compassion. We could not have asked for a more peaceful experience as our Charlie crossed the rainbow bridge, and I am so grateful to the doctors for the confidence they instilled in the decisions we had to make.

Jennifer Moses

“It took me awhile to get into the right headspace to write this. Dr. Kim was amazing with me and Stanley as we said our goodbyes. I’m grateful, especially during this time of COVID, that Caring Pathways offers a way to say goodbye in the comfort of the home. After almost 17 years together, I couldn’t imagine Stanley being alone at the end. I miss him dearly but can’t say good things about Dr. Kim and the team. Thank you for everything you did for us.”

Stacey Metcalfe

Service Area

Northern Colorado Service Area Highlighted in Blue

Our Story

Dr. Larry Magnuson earned his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Colorado State University in 1967. In 1986, Dr. Magnuson founded Raintree Animal Hospital in Fort Collins and owned the practice for 22 years. After spending more than 47 years as a veterinarian, he realized he wanted to provide pets with an in-home, end-of-life care that was compassionate and peaceful for the pet and it’s family. In 2010, he began his journey with Caring Pathways servicing the Denver Metro Area. In June of 2020, Caring Pathways of Northern Colorado opened to service Fort Collins and it’s surrounding areas. 

Boulder pet euthanasia

Chronic Kidney Disease in Dogs and Cats

Puddles of Pee, Roast Chicken and Pound Cake: My First Experience with Chronic Kidney Disease.Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is something we most often associate with elderly cats, but it can affect dogs too, and sometimes in a younger pet. It is a progressive,...

Common Misconceptions about Hospice and Palliative Care for Pets 

Our beloved pets are important parts of our families. Witnessing our pets age, or having to face a terminal illness can be one of the most challenging aspects of being pet owners. In such situations, hospice and palliative care can provide comfort, support, and peace...

Is a natural death or euthanasia better for your pet?

As a home hospice and euthanasia veterinarian, something I frequently hear from grieving pet parents is, “I was hoping she’d just die peacefully in her sleep”. We all hope for that. I think that’s the way any of us - dog, cat, human, or otherwise - would like to go,...

Navigating Pet Care’s Impact on Your Quality of Life

Written by Dr. Gina Singleton, Caring Pathways Veterinarian in Fort Collins, COIn this article, we'll explore the importance of considering your own quality of life when making end-of-life care decisions for your pet. At Caring Pathways, we understand the profound...

What to Expect with In-Home End-of-Life Veterinary Care

Being the caregiver of a geriatric pet, or one who has received a life-limiting diagnosis can be difficult and scary. Challenges associated with caring for your special family member, adapting schedules to meet their needs, and fear of the unknown can all lead to...

New Year’s Resolutions and Your Pet: Starting the Year on the Right Paw

As New Year's Day approaches, our thoughts turn to making the upcoming year even better than the last. While our pets are perfect just as they are, here are some ideas to ensure they start the new year with their best paw forward.ID CheckTake a moment to check your...

Senior Cat Gift Ideas for 2023

As the holiday season approaches, it’s time to celebrate our beloved senior cats with thoughtful and comforting gifts. Aging cats deserve extra love and care, and choosing the right gifts can make a world of difference in their comfort and happiness. We’ve compiled a...

Senior Dog Gift Ideas for 2023

As the holiday season approaches, it’s time to celebrate our beloved senior dogs with thoughtful and comforting gifts. Aging pups deserve extra love and care, and choosing the right gifts can make a world of difference in their comfort and happiness. We’ve compiled a...

When to Euthanize a Pet: Understanding the Right Time

The decision to schedule a beloved pet's peaceful transition involves a myriad of considerations, primarily centered around their quality of life. While evaluating quality of life warrants its own discussion, this article aims to explore additional factors pivotal in...

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...
Call Now Button