Sunset Vets Palliative and End of Life Care (Sunset Vets) has launched in Melbourne this week, bringing pet owners access to its specialised end-stage at home care service.
Launching amid National Palliative Care Week, which runs from 21-27 May, Sunset Vets operates exclusively in the palliative and end-of-life care space and provides expert at-home care to pets during their final stages of life while supporting families through the difficulty of end-of-life decision making.
Sunset Vets was founded in 2014 by Dr Jackie Campbell, Australia’s first Internationally Certified Palliative Care Veterinarian (CHPV), who is passionate about ensuring older and terminally ill pets have access to compassionate at-home palliative and end-of-life care.
It works in partnership with primary health veterinary clinics and services are available seven days a week by appointment only. Many patients are geriatric or face a terminal diagnosis.
Although an established component of the Australian human health care system, palliative care is a relatively new concept in the veterinary industry and one which Sunset Vets Palliative and End of Life Care (Sunset Vets) pioneers.
“Although heartbreaking for pet owners to consider, our aim is to ensure that all families have access to the type of compassionate care and counselling support that Sunset Vets is recognised for,” says Dr Campbell.
Sunset Vets has Veterinarians located across the country and are now expanding into Melbourne in response to the demand from pet owners wanting the very best of care for their four-legged family members.
“Sunset Vets is made up of a team of mobile vets whose mission is to make the final weeks and months of our patient’s life as comfortable as possible regardless of whether the care provided is ongoing palliative support, or a one-time visit to help families with sick pets say a gentle goodbye at home,” said Dr Campbell.
“We are so proud to now be offering our services in Melbourne and are focused on improving and maintaining quality-of-life in the face of age or illness, supporting owners through the difficulties of end-of-life decision making and encouraging families to treasure those final weeks and moments with their pets.
“Palliative Care is a matter of life and death, and for Sunset Vets, National Palliative Care Week is an opportunity to build awareness within the Melbourne pet owner community that care of this nature is available for animal lovers wishing to say a gentle goodbye at home.”
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