• It is supportive care focused on managing the symptoms of chronic diseases and life-limiting conditions (rather than focusing on curative treatment).

• It can be used for added support in conjunction with curative or treatment therapies.

• Or used instead of curative care when that treatment is no longer effective or considered too extreme or harsh.

• Palliative care can be provided for weeks, months, or even years and may eventually transition to hospice care.

• Hospice care is a subset of palliative care designed specifically for animals who are in the last stages of life-limiting diseases.

• It is used to improve quality of life by supporting their physical, social and emotional needs prior to euthanasia.

• Multimodal pain therapies

• Hydration support

• Mobility support

• Nutritional and nausea support

• Acupuncture, therapeutic laser, PEMF

• Environmental modification recommendations

• Social/emotional health support including:

  • assessment of your pet’s sources of enjoyment/preferences

  • brainstorming alternatives to their limitations thereby helping your pet to continue to participate in things they love

• Cancer

• Chronic degenerative diseases such as kidney failure and heart disease

• Inflammatory bowel disease

• Degenerative myelopathy and intervertebral disc disease

• Arthritis and degenerative joint disease

• Neurologic diseases, brain diseases, dementia

• And many, many more

• As your pet ages their ability to participate in activities declines 

  • Due to debilitation from chronic illnesses

  • Pain from arthritis

  • Loss of vision and hearing

  • As well as many others

• However, their social and emotional needs persist.  

• Our goal is to not only provide medical care to help make your pet as comfortable as possible but also to help support all aspects of enhancing their quality of life.

• Quality of Life is the encompassing term including all of the things that makes an animal’s life worthy of living.

• It is a very specific and individualized concept that varies for all pets and their caregivers.  

• The basic foundation is built on:

  • Willingness to eat and drink

  • Ability to easily urinate and defecate

  • Breathe well

  • Ambulate without overwhelming discomfort

• Our treatment goal is to significantly improve upon this basic foundation to provide enjoyment of life.

• We provide multiple pathways to help you assess and define this for your loved ones.

• Quality-of-Life appointment at home (60min) $475

• Follow-up appointment at home (30min) $375

• Follow-up telehealth consult (30min) $150

• Brief phone consult/questions (<10min) free

• All treatment plans are customized. We do not believe in paying for services your pet does not need.
  For a full breakdown of our fees, please visit our Pricing Page.

Yes. All services and follow-up appointments are billed separately, and we provide estimates prior to care so there are no surprises.

Payment is due at the time of service. We accept credit cards and personal checks.

In California, veterinarians must establish a valid Veterinarian–Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR) before providing medical recommendations or treatment.
A VCPR can only be created through an in-person examination, review of medical history, and understanding of your pet’s overall health.
This relationship lasts one year and allows us to make educated, appropriate decisions regarding your pet’s care.
For this reason, the Quality-of-Life appointment is always the first step.

Local travel is free (San Rafael, San Anselmo, Fairfax, Greenbrae, Corte Madera, Larkspur).
Additional fees may apply for other areas of Marin or travel outside the county.
Full details can be found on our Pricing Page.

Please call us with any pricing questions. We are here to support and guide you through every step of the process.