Hickey Home Veterinary Care provides in-home pet hospice care for dogs and cats with terminal illness or significant age-related decline in the Phoenix and Scottsdale metro area. Dr. Kyle Hickey, DVM, delivers palliative veterinary care in your home, focused on managing pain, maintaining comfort, and supporting quality of life.
What Pet Hospice Care Includes
Pet hospice care from Hickey Home Veterinary Care includes regular home visits from Dr. Hickey, ongoing pain management with medication adjustments as needed, comfort assessments to track your pet's quality of life over time, guidance on daily care routines that support comfort, and honest conversations about what to expect as your pet's condition progresses.
Hospice care is not a replacement for curative treatment — it is comfort-focused care for pets whose illness or age-related decline cannot be reversed. The goal is to maximize your pet's good days and minimize suffering.
Who Pet Hospice Care Is For
Pet hospice is appropriate for animals diagnosed with terminal cancer, advanced kidney disease, severe heart disease, degenerative neurological conditions, or other conditions where curative treatment is no longer effective or appropriate. It is also for elderly pets experiencing significant decline in mobility, appetite, or awareness.
Families choose hospice care when they want to provide the best possible quality of life for their pet's remaining time, when they're not ready for euthanasia but need professional support managing their pet's comfort, or when they want expert guidance on recognizing when the time has come.
How It Works
Initial Assessment — Dr. Hickey visits your home to evaluate your pet's condition, pain levels, mobility, and overall comfort. He reviews any existing medical records and creates a personalized comfort care plan.
Ongoing Visits — Regular home visits (frequency based on your pet's needs) to monitor comfort, adjust medications, and assess quality of life trends.
Family Support — Dr. Hickey provides guidance on what to watch for, how to keep your pet comfortable between visits, and how to recognize changes that signal it may be time to discuss euthanasia.
Transition — When the time comes, Dr. Hickey can provide in-home euthanasia as a natural extension of the hospice relationship. Your pet and family already know and trust Dr. Hickey, making the transition as peaceful as possible.
Service Area
Pet hospice care is available throughout the greater Phoenix metro area, including Phoenix, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, and Peoria.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How often will Dr. Hickey visit during hospice care? Visit frequency depends on your pet's condition. Some pets need weekly visits; others may need visits every two weeks. Dr. Hickey adjusts the schedule as your pet's condition changes.
Q: How long does pet hospice care last? Hospice care duration varies widely — from days to months, depending on the condition. Dr. Hickey provides honest assessments of what to expect for your pet's specific situation.
Q: Can hospice care transition to euthanasia when the time comes? Yes. This is one of the greatest benefits of hospice care with Hickey Home Veterinary Care. Dr. Hickey already knows your pet and your family, so when the time comes for euthanasia, it happens with a veterinarian your pet trusts, in the home they know.
Q: Is pet hospice care the same as giving up? No. Pet hospice is an active, professional approach to comfort care. It means choosing to focus your pet's remaining time on quality of life rather than curative treatments that may cause additional stress or discomfort.