Mobile vet service allows pet owners to say goodbye in the comfort of home – TheRecord.com

SEBRINGVILLE Its the hardest decision a pet owner can make saying goodbye to a beloved companion who is part of the family.

End-of-life care and euthanasia can be extremely stressful for both humans and animals; grief, and even guilt, wash into the void left behind.

I think its about the bond, really, that unique human-animal bond that you just want to maintain all the way through the end of a pets life and beyond, and to recognize that the loss of a pet is significant, said Dr. Erica Dickie.

The Sebringville-based veterinarian runs Black Creek Mobile Veterinary Services, which focuses solely on compassionate end-of-life care for pets, including hospice and palliative care and in-home euthanasia. While she primarily deals with cats and dogs, she will see smaller companion animals like rabbits and guinea pigs as well.

Theres no brick-and-mortar clinic; instead, Dickie travels to clients throughout Perth County and western Waterloo Region in a primary radius of 40 kilometres from her home base. She frequently ventures further afield with an additional mileage fee. I go where the need is if Im available.

Dickie and her small team do their best to accommodate same-day or next-day appointments. She also works with families for several weeks or months in keeping pets comfortable through pain and symptom relief.

Animal hospice care is very similar to the philosophy in human hospice settings. Theres a huge mental shift in the physician and in the family, she said. The care is geared toward comfort, and not cure.

A relationship with Black Creek often begins with a telemedicine quality of life consultation, which touches on topics like pet comfort, medicine and nutrition, holistic supports, environmental changes, decisions around euthanasia, and whats best, ultimately, for both the pet and its owners.

Part of my job as a palliative care veterinarian is preparing them for what to expect, what to look for, and that continuing communication is ongoing with me to know when things are starting to take a turn, Dickie said.

Originally from Kitchener, Dickie completed undergraduate studies at the University of Guelph and graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2011.

Her work initially took her from Southampton to Stratford. She also was a locum veterinarian, working in a relief capacity at different practices.

When it came to euthanasia, Dickie adopted the practice of pre-sedation. I believe that it creates a more gentle transition, she said. Without it, that sudden loss of consciousness, that stays with the witness.

The journey with her cat Smokey in his final months, ultimately providing palliative home care and pain management, inspired Dickie to launch Black Creek in March 2020.

Losing him really reminded me about the deep impact when you have those bonds, and how much the loss affects you, she said. I felt more could be done in veterinary medicine and this is what was calling me.

Dickie earned a certification in animal hospice and palliative care through the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care.

Black Creeks inception as the pandemic began reinforced the benefits of the in-home service, as vet appointments became hard to find and people werent allowed to accompany their pets into clinics.

Familiar surroundings reduce stress for both animals and people. Many pet owners know the pain of a long drive home after taking their companion to the vets for the final time.

Being present for a pets final moments can be incredibly important for a family; while the decision is up to parents, Dickie encourages children and even other pets to be there.

Aftercare includes resources for grief support and assistance with cremation or burial arrangements and memorial or keepsake options.

To be able to be at your home, and after everything is said and done, to just grieve, cry Its more authentic. Its really just honouring that bond.

Read more:

Mobile vet service allows pet owners to say goodbye in the comfort of home - TheRecord.com