- Mon - Fri 8AM - 6PM (Closed for Lunch 12:45 - 1:45PM) | Sat 8AM - 12PM
Saying goodbye is, by far, the most difficult part of having pets in your life. When we start to see signs of decline, our doctors and patient care team are here to help you navigate these very difficult waters and end of life care. We have extensive experience helping clients through the aging process, from offering in-home care suggestions to keep your pet comfortable and working with you when it is time to say goodbye. Our services extend beyond that time by helping to connect you with the resources to assist you in the grieving and healing process.
At Shamrock Animal Hospital, our goal is to restore your pet’s health quickly and gently.
While used in the hospital for things at every stage of a pet’s life, laser therapy can be an integral part of a treatment plan as your pet ages. In addition to helping with arthritis and other conditions related to aging, it can also be included in treating skin conditions, ear infections, sprains & strains and unexpected tendon or ligament injuries.
We help you understand your pet’s comfort, mobility, and happiness with a compassionate quality of life assessment—so you can make informed, loving decisions.
When your pet is aging and you are noticing age-related symptoms, our love and passion for our pets often makes it difficult to be objective in evaluating their daily function. Dr. Fagan has developed a Quality of Life Survey and Diary that you can use at home to help us better understand what is happening when they are not in our hospital.
Senior Pets require special attention as mobility and other common issues arise as part of the aging process. We will commonly recommend advanced diagnostic bloodwork, cardiac x-rays & evaluation and overall mobility assessments.
As our pets grow older, their care needs change too. At Shamrock, we expand our wellness exams to include thyroid and kidney checks and recommend semi-annual visits to catch any changes early.
We’ll talk about mobility, joint, heart, and dental health—since staying active and pain-free makes all the difference. Keeping your pet at a healthy weight and supporting their mind as they age are just as important.
Our senior pets can be great at hiding discomfort, but Dr. Fagan and the Shamrock Team know what to look for to help them stay happy, healthy, and comfortable through every stage of life.
A quote that often comes to mind for us at Shamrock as our patients grow older is:
“Pets may only be with us for part of our lives, but to them, you are their whole life.”
As we start to see changes in our pets’ health, it can be hard to know what’s best. Dr. Fagan and Dr. Fox are specially trained to help you understand your pet’s quality of life and give you the tools to have those important conversations with your family and our team.
Even though our pets show us so much love, they can’t tell us when it’s time to let go. The Shamrock Team is here to guide you through that decision with care and compassion. We’ll talk with you about whether you’d like to be with your pet in their final moments, and help you make choices about cremation or memorial options that feel right for you.
And when it’s time to say goodbye, please know you’re not alone. We can connect you with online and phone support to help you through your loss.
Need a speedy appointment for your furry friend? Call us to try and get an appointment as soon as possible and let us know it is an emergency appointment.
