Resources & Links
Medication & Observation Form
(download pdf)
Tracking changes in your animal’s behaviors, especially related to providing medications, may provide valuable information for yourself and your veterinarian for keeping your animal as comfortable as possible. Please talk with your veterinarian about this form - your doctor may want to customize the observations or provide the clinic's own form.
Record the time when the medication is given, and the dosage. Note any changes in dosage, as this can be especially valuable information for your veterinarian in prescribing treatment. Also note if doses were missed.
When you can, it is helpful to make some observations while you’re spending time with the animal. Note changes you perceive in comfort level (you may find using a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being no discomfort to 10 being extremely uncomfortable), along with observable changes in appetite, body function, or any changes in behavior unique to what you know of your animal.
Providing the form to your vet during visits, or having it handy if you have a phone consultation with your vet, may be a useful tool to helping your veterinarian provide optimum care for you and your animal during this sometimes disorienting time.
BitterSweet would appreciate your comments regarding whether this form was helpful, and anything found useful to add or to modify. Download M & O Form (pdf)
www.mmilani.com
Myrna Milani, a veterinarian practicing in New Hampshire, also is interested in the human-animal bond. She’s the author of several books, including Preparing for Pet Loss, which influenced the development of BitterSweet.
www.specialneedspets.org
This site offers information and resources related to terminal or chronic illnesses, physical disabilities and links to many other sites.
www.felinecrf.com
This site is specifically created to disseminate information about Feline Chronic Renal Failure (kidney failure); Covers care, offers information on interpreting laboratory reports, suggestions for providing subcutaneous fluids.
www.brighthaven.org
BrightHaven is a magical place, offering sanctuary, natural healing and hospice care to senior animals. Consultations and referrals are offered on Hospice care and transition, natural healing, and also the the natural diet for carnivores.
www.viim.org
The Veterinary Institute of Integrative Medicine
Locate an alternative/integrative vet by state.
www.csuanimalcancercenter.org
Animal Cancer Care Center
Information on cancer in animals.
www.handicappedpets.com
Products for caring for elderly and disabled pets.
www.kateconnick.com/library/cushingsdisease.html
Information on canine Cushings disease.
www.catsinternational.org
Information on feline behavioral problems, such as litter box problems and aggressive behavior.
www.srdogs.com
The Senior Dogs Project is a national listing of organizations placing older dogs.
Although there are a few books specific to the loss of a relationship with an animal, most of the reading resources included in our list are centered around relationships with mates, children and friends. Relationships, whether with humans or animals, have some similarities, and you may find some useful information in these books.
Death without Denial, Grief without Apology This is a very thoughtful and honest book. Ms. Roberts writes with candor about her experience as a caregiver experiencing the rigors of providing care to someone she loved who was dying, including the exhaustion and exasperation as well as the gifts of caregiving. She writes of the natural death experience, the sounds and smells and rituals, and of the depths of grief of loss of a mate. Written for both the patient facing death and those he or she leaves behind, Death Without Denial, Grief Without Apology shows readers how to abandon the silence that too often accompanies these natural processes and find peace within them. Chapter titles include "A Culture in Denial," "Hospice," "Permission to Be Weird," "The Long Slow Climb Back," and "Reaching Out to Others." |
||
Companion Through the Darkness Cuts straight to the heart of the emotions felt when experiencing loss of any kind. In the author’s case, the loss was her spouse. Denial, anger, humility, acceptance, a willingness to find humor and peace and the effort to try to live again is put to the page in a format simple to read and easily understood. Each chapter begins with a quote, then a short essay, followed by a personalized journal entry. |
||
My Grandfather’s Blessing and Healing stories, told with compassion and humor. |
||
Kindred Spirits Dr. Schoen relays his experiences with animals as healers of other animals and people, discussions and examples of integrated veterinary medicine. I found this book to be warm and informative, great to read before bed. |
||
 | | |
BitterSweet appreciates donations of books on animals, loss and the grieving process. Reading stories about others who have had similar experiences may ease the feelings of isolation and loneliness. We hope that you will include a copy of a photo of yourself and the animal(s) you love, any expression of words you’d like to include, and your names. We will insert them in a pouch in the front covers of donated books for others to read.
BITTERSWEET Animal Hospice & Grief Recovery ~ 707) 965-9304 ~ © 2008