Business Details
8 Years
experience
Emergency
services
Senior Pet End-of-Life Care Experts
Senior Pet Vet was founded by Dr. Shelagh McCaffrey, a Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Veterinarian, with a vision to revolutionize end-of-life care for senior pets. Recognizing a critical gap in care for pets with chronic or terminal diagnoses, we developed an integrative home health model that combines traditional medicine with alternative therapies. Our interdisciplinary team provides in-home diagnostics, pain management, and acupuncture while emphasizing emotional support for families. We work closely with regular veterinarians and specialists to create personalized care plans that prioritize comfort, dignity, and quality of life.Our social workers offer grief counseling during terminal cases, and we provide in-home euthanasia services that allow pets to pass peacefully surrounded by loved ones. With over 15 years of combined experience in veterinary medicine, our doctors bring specialized expertise in hospice care, small animal acupuncture, and emergency medicine to create a compassionate, client-centered approach to senior pet care.
Services
Hospice and Palliative Care
In-Home Diagnostics
Veterinary Acupuncture
End-of-Life Consultations
Pain Management
Details
- Year established: 2018
Highlights and features
- We offer a unique integrative home health model for senior pets
- Our team includes specialists in veterinary hospice and acupuncture
- We develop personalized care plans tailored to each pet's needs
- We provide 24/7 emergency euthanasia services when needed
- Our social workers offer grief counseling during terminal cases
Associations and certifications
- Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Veterinarian
What people say
Kindness and compassion
Peaceful final moments
Thorough explanations
Timely and prepared
Gentle approach
Services
Hospice and Palliative Care
Our hospice and palliative care services provide compassionate support for pets with life-limiting conditions. We offer personalized pain management, emotional support for caregivers, and guidance through the end-of-life journey. Our team maintains quality of life while helping families create meaningful final moments in the comfort of home.
In-Home Diagnostics
We bring comprehensive diagnostic capabilities directly to your home for minimal stress. Our mobile diagnostics include blood testing, disease monitoring, and fine-needle aspirations. This enables accurate assessment of kidney disease, diabetes, and other chronic conditions while keeping pets comfortable in familiar surroundings.
Veterinary Acupuncture
Acupuncture treatments offer pain relief and improved mobility for aging pets. We employ dry needle, aquapuncture, and electroacupuncture techniques to address arthritis, cancer support, and geriatric weakness. Combined with Chinese herbal medicine, these therapies enhance quality of life and support whole-body balance in senior animals.
End-of-Life Consultations
We develop customized care plans that coordinate with your regular veterinarians and specialists. Our consultations assess home environments, family goals, and pet needs to create comprehensive treatment strategies. We help navigate difficult decisions while maintaining dignity and comfort throughout the senior pet's journey.
In-Home Euthanasia
Our in-home euthanasia service allows pets to pass peacefully surrounded by loved ones. We explain the gentle process beforehand and administer a sedative followed by a final injection. This stress-free approach lets families say goodbye in their pet's favorite location with compassionate support throughout the experience.
People
Dr. Shelagh McCaffrey
Founder / Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Veterinarian
A graduate of Oklahoma State University (2011) with advanced training in small animal acupuncture, Dr. McCaffrey founded Senior Pet Vet in 2018 to revolutionize end-of-life pet care through compassionate home-based services.
Dr. Christine Asgar
Veterinarian
Cornell University graduate (2007) with a rotating internship at Oradell Animal Hospital. Dr. Asgar joined Senior Pet Vet in 2023, bringing over 15 years of small animal veterinary experience to provide compassionate end-of-life care.
Dr. Tracy Cohen-Grady
Veterinarian
Louisiana State University graduate (2000) with over 20 years in small animal and emergency veterinary practice. Dr. Cohen-Grady joined the team in 2023 to provide dignified end-of-life care while comforting grieving families.
Questions
When should I consider hospice care for my senior pet?
Consider hospice care when your pet has a terminal diagnosis, experiences declining quality of life, or shows signs of pain and discomfort that impact their daily enjoyment.
What happens during an in-home euthanasia appointment?
After discussing your needs and pet's condition, we administer a gentle sedative followed by a final injection. You can stay with your pet throughout the peaceful process.
Do you provide aftercare services?
Yes, we offer both private and communal cremation services through our partner Abbey Glen. Private cremation returns ashes to you within 10-14 days with compassionate handling throughout.
How do you handle emergency euthanasia requests?
We offer urgent appointments when needed. Contact us at 201-870-3867 to discuss immediate care options for pets experiencing distress or sudden health decline.
Are payment plans available?
While we don't offer direct financing, many pet insurance policies cover our services including euthanasia and cremation. We can assist with documentation for reimbursement claims.
