Hospice and Palliative Care

“When in grief, we have a huge need to be understood, but very little capacity to understand.”
– Colleen Ellis

When we lose a human family member, there’s often a built-in support system. When we lose a beloved pet, we often have to find a support system. The Helpful Heeler is your support system as your beloved pet is approaching their final days. As animal lovers and owners ourselves, having lost many precious companions along the way, The Helpful Heeler understands how difficult this time is. Dr. Stellato specializes in hospice and palliative care. With kindness and gentleness, she will help ensure your pet is comfortable and leaves this world with dignity.

For the first consult, we come out to your home to examine your beloved pet and to discuss goals for you, your pet, and your family. This may include what is important to you and what you would like to achieve. We’ll be happy to look around the environment and share with you any suggestions that may make your pet a little more comfortable. We provide expert management of pain and other symptoms combined with compassionate listening in an effort to promote the highest quality of life for your pet and you, their family. Hospice and palliative care is about making sure that, when there’s a terminal diagnosis, the final journey is as easy and as beautiful as it can possibly be for both you and your pet by providing comfort care. The goal is for your pet to have this final journey and ultimate transition take place on your and your pet’s terms, whether that’s in the very comfort and safety of your home or outside beneath a tree. The transition may include humane euthanasia or hospice-assisted natural death. We understand how confusing this roller coaster ride is. Your pet may have good days followed by unpredictable bad days, and this often occurs when their vet is closed. In hospice, your pet’s needs may change frequently. Therefore, care changes frequently, even daily, so we’re here to guide and support you and your pet throughout this complicated time.

Euthanasia

Your pet’s experience includes a sedative so that everything that follows is very peaceful and pain-free. Some transitions are very quick and some take a little more time. We proceed at whatever pace your pet dictates. We encourage including whomever you would prefer to be present for you and your pet. This could include children, other family members or friends, even other pets. Please also include music, candles/scents, photos, etc. as it suits you. We notify your veterinarian so you can focus on memorializing your pet as you wish. If you desire, a clay paw print, ink prints of your pet’s paw and nose, and a fur clipping are included. If you or other family members prefer to help create these, we would love their assistance! There are many options for aftercare including home burial, cremation, pet cemetery plots, and freeze-dry pet taxidermy. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions at any time. We understand that it can be a challenging road. We are here to provide resources to help guide you through your grief journey as you need.

Acupuncture

What is medical acupuncture?

Acupuncture is the process of stimulating specific points on the body with small, sterile, metal needles. Acupuncture works mainly by stimulating the nervous system to help the body repair itself. This treatment option creates an optimal environment for healing by limiting inflammation and reducing pain without causing any additional pain from the needles themselves. Effective application relies on current knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathology.

How is it performed?

Dr. Stellato assesses the overall health of the patient. She will read through the full medical history of the patient, noting any past and current diagnoses. Dr. Stellato will then perform a comprehensive physical exam, followed by a myofascial exam. A myofascial exam assesses the muscles and their enveloping connective tissue called fascia. The myofascial exam will help to identify sore areas, or trigger points, that radiate pain into surrounding structures. Acupuncture needles are then inserted to exert their beneficial effects!

How do we know it works?

There is a large and growing body of studies that document the effectiveness of acupuncture based on scientific evidence.

• Common problems treated by acupuncture are:
• Post-surgical pain and anesthesia-related ileus (the slowing of the gastrointestinal tract)
• Orthopedic injuries or soft tissue trauma
• Arthritis
• Muscle tension
• Chronic back and neck pain, including intervertebral disc disease•Cancer pain or treatment associated side-effects such as nausea
• Immune dysfunction
• Skin disease
• Gastrointestinal disorders
• Ocular and sinus problems
• Cardiac and respiratory conditions
• Urogenital disorders

Geriatric/Senior Care

The best way to help protect your pet as he or she ages is to understand the aging process in pets. We understand that process and can help you help your pet. Even if your senior pet is already being treated for a medical condition, treatment recommendations can change as a condition progresses. Sometimes medication dosages need to be adjusted, or medication may need to be changed. Routine wellness blood work and other routine diagnostic testing are important for senior pets because these tests allow us to evaluate how your pet’s health is either responding to current management strategies or changing with age.

Behavioral Assessment

“Your dog is not being a problem. Your dog is having a problem.” – Chad Mackin

Is your pet displaying a problem behavior such as aggression, anxiety, spinning in circles, digging, inappropriate urination/defecation, trembling, or excessively vocalizing? Dr. Stellato’s unique combination of expertise in both medicine and behavior helps to clear the fog surrounding problematic behaviors. Oftentimes, these problems are quite extreme and lead to behaviors such as aggression, severe anxiety, and destruction. Causes can be quite complicated and multi-factorial. Investigating the underlying causes may require lab work to help us fully assess your pet. The Helpful Heeler is on the case!

Training is simply learning how best to communicate with your pet. By using fair techniques proven to help, we stress improving the human-animal bond. Every pet is unique, and with this uniqueness comes the joy of motivating each pet so it can be the best pet for you.

Sick Exams

If your pet is ill or is just not acting like themselves, The Helpful Heeler is happy to help. Dr. Stellato patiently listens to all of your concerns and asks pertinent questions about the current problem. Following a thorough exam, we’ll discuss options for diagnostic testing and recommend a treatment plan that works best for you and your pet.

Wellness Care

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” – Benjamin Franklin

We strive to help your pet stay as healthy as possible at any age. Regular examinations are important to maintain health. Dr. Stellato tailors each appointment to your lifestyle and to the needs of your pet, for your pet is an important individual to us. Dr. Stellato sits down with you to discuss your pet’s history, completes a full examination, and recommends a plan to optimize your pet’s health. We provide a wide range of diagnostic testing through IDEXX Reference Laboratories, as well as numerous tests that can be performed right in your living room. This helps us detect health problems so we can support you and your pet appropriately. We will also ensure your pet receives appropriate vaccinations for their age and way of life.

We here at The Helpful Heeler love to help! Please reach out to schedule your pet’s annual examination.

Pet Travel

Are you traveling with your pet? Dr. Stellato is USDA APHIS accredited. If you are going on vacation or moving, we are happy to provide domestic or international travel certificates for your pets.

Please click here for more information regarding your specific destination and its requirements.

To best help you prepare for traveling with your pet, please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions prior to your trip.