Providing At Home Euthanasia and Palliative Veterinary Care
Not currently accepting new general care or integrative care patients.
Services
At home pet euthanasia and cremation services
At home palliative integrative veterunary medical care.
What are we using to treat the whole pet?
Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM)
TCVM is a medical system that has been used in China to treat animals for thousands of years. It is an adaptation and extension of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) used to treat humans. Speaking broadly, Chinese Medicine is a complete body of thought and practice grounded in Chinese Daoist philosophy. Like any medical system, TCVM continues to evolve today with current research on acupuncture and herbal medicine beginning to shed light on its mechanism of action.
Chinese Medicine Theory
Chinese Medicine is based on the Daoist worldview that the body is a microcosm of the larger, surrounding universe. As such, the cosmic laws and forces that govern the external world also govern the body’s internal environment. Just as life-energy or “Qi” is an innate force of the universe, it too is a fundamental force of the body, driving its every action and transformation. Yin-Yang theory, which is central to Daoist philosophy, also features prominently in Chinese Medicine. This theory describes how opposing forces of the universe - light and dark, hot and cold, etc,- mutually create and transform each other, and play a key role in the characterization of physiological function and disease.
The Ancient Chinese observed yearly cycles through five seasons – spring, summer, late summer, autumn, and winter, which they corresponded to the Wu Xing, or Five Elements, consisting of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. Just as the Earth cycles through these five seasons, the body, too, passes through the five phases in its own life cycle. In this way, a puppy is said to be in its Wood (or spring) phase of life, while an old mare is said to be in its Water (or winter) phase. Moreover, the bodily organs have also been mapped to the five phases, and the Five Element Theory is used to explain the functional relationships between organ systems. For instance, the Kidney, corresponding to the Water element, is the “mother” of the Liver, a Wood element organ, because Water generates Wood in the way that watering a tree makes it grow.
Acupuncture
A treatment that involves the stimulation of points, typically achieved through the insertion of specialized needles into the body. Acupuncture points typically lie along the body’s Meridian Channels along which Qi flows. Most veterinary acupuncture points and Meridian lines are transposed to animals from humans, though knowledge of some “classical points” defined on particular species have been retained and are used to this day.
Herbal Medicine
Utilizing herbal ingredients listed within the Chinese Herbal Materia Medica in particular combinations or formulas to treat particular disease patterns. Herbal formulas are administered orally and are typically given in powder form to horses and other large animals and in pill, granule or liquid form to cats and dogs.
Food Therapy
The use of diet to treat and prevent imbalance within the body. It utilizes knowledge of the energetics (cooling, neutral or warming) of food ingredients to tailor diets for individual animals. Additionally, ingredients may be selected to support specific organ system needs of the patient.
At Home Euthanasia
The decision of when to euthanize a beloved pet is never an easy one. It involves watching for that balance of good vs bad days. When they are no longer happy, cannot be kept comfortable or are not interested in eating the kindest thing to do is let go.
What Is The Process
Dr Stacy will come to your home to meet your pet and, if desired, provide a consultation of whether they may benefit from palliative care or if it is time to euthanize. If it is time and everyone is ready a sedative injection is given under the skin to make them sleepy within 10 to 15 minutes. Once they are completely asleep a final injection of a barbiturate is given to cause a peaceful death. This process is done where ever they are most comfortable - in a favorite bed or lying outside in the sun.
At home euthanasia fee $325
After Care
Following euthanasia, there are a few options for after care. Some people choose to bury their pet on their property (if allowed by local ordinances) or to have their pet cremated. If desired, Dr Stacy will provide transport of the pet and either a communal or private cremation. With a communal cremation the pet is cremated with other animals and the ashes are spread on a property in Washington. If a private cremation is selected, the pet is cremated individually and their ashes are returned in a wood urn. The ashes will be delivered directly to you or by the crematory staff to your veterinarian's office where they can be picked up at your convenience. You also have the option of transporting them yourself to your veterinarian for cremation services.
Communal $125
Private (ashes returned) $275
About Dr Stacy
Born in Seattle, Dr Stacy is a third generation Washingtonian whose family has always included at least one cat. After growing up in Bothell and attending the University of Washington (go Huskies!) for her undergraduate studies, Stacy was still unsure of what direction to go. It took a few years for the idea of becoming a vet to develop but once it did it was clearly the path to take. Dr Stacy returned home to the western side of the state following her graduation from WSU's College of Veterinary Medicine and began practicing.
After several years of working at small animal private practices and non-profit animal shelters, Dr Stacy became increasingly interested in additional modalities to help her patients. It was clear that western medicine alone could not always provide the help and comfort needed to our pets. In 2014 she attended an acupuncture course based on TCVM through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS) and immediately saw results for her patients through it's application. A Chi Institute TCVM Food Therapy course in 2017 has broadened her knowledge and added more tools to help patients. Although not yet officially trained in Chinese herb therapy, Dr Stacy has also been using herbs with some patients and seeing positive results.
2018 brought the excitement of starting a new business focused on bringing together the best of east and west for the benefit of not only our pets but those who love and support them!
LOCATION
at your home wthin Snohomish Co
HOURS
by appointment only
Mondays & Tuesdays 9:00am – 3pm
Other dates/hours as time allows
CONTACT
text (360) 386-5768
Dr.Stacy@peacefulspiritvet.com