Initial Hospice Evaluation

Service Description

This 75–90 minute in-home visit establishes the foundation for hospice care at Pallium Animal Hospice. We focus on comfort, function, medication safety, and overall quality of life for aging and medically complex pets. During this visit, we review medical history, current treatments, mobility, appetite, behavior, and daily routines in the context of your pet’s home environment. You will receive clear, honest guidance about prognosis, what to monitor, and what the next chapter may look like. If recent diagnostics are available, we review them. If not, we may recommend limited baseline testing to ensure comfort medications are being used safely and responsibly. Diagnostics are selected only when results meaningfully inform comfort-focused care. This visit does not commit you to any specific timeline. Many families begin hospice care while their pet is still enjoying good days. The goal is clarity, steadiness, and informed decision-making before crisis occurs. A written care summary and next-step guidance are provided following the visit. Begin With a Conversation... If you are wondering whether hospice care might help your pet, the first step is a comprehensive in-home evaluation focused on comfort and quality of life. If you are asking whether it is too early, it often isn’t. **Legal / Telehealth Note** Georgia law requires an in-person examination to establish a veterinarian-client-patient relationship before telehealth guidance can be provided. Pallium begins care with a comprehensive in-home hospice evaluation so that follow-up support can be offered safely and legally.