TeleAdvice Appointments
A TeleAdvice Appointment with one of our veterinary hospice and palliative care professionals facilitate in-depth conversations using video conferencing to help you better understand the quality of your pet’s life. We’ll also explain options for comfort and end-of-life care.
*Note: While we are happy to schedule a TeleAdvice appointment with any family for any situation, there are limitations that prevent a thorough physical exam, diagnostic testing, and prescribing abilities due to state law.
How to Schedule a TeleAdvice Appointment
Please use the signup form below to schedule your appointment, or give us a call at (720) 287-2553 and one of our Client Care Team members will help you schedule your TeleAdvice appointment.
Meet the Caring Conversations Team
Michelle Frank, CVT, CHPT
Michelle started her career working in emergency at a clinic in Boulder, and then moved to Los Angeles, where she worked in radiation therapy, medical oncology, and emergency. Working there, she came in contact with an oncologist who asked her to assist her with end-of-life care in patients’ homes. It was there that she fell in love with the beautiful process of helping pets pass peacefully in their homes and the unique stories she got to hear about the human-animal bond.
Michelle returned to Colorado in 2019 where she worked in cardiology before joining Caring Pathways. She is very excited to be back working in end-of-life care.
Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Technicians are specially trained veterinary professionals who provide compassionate care to animals with terminal illnesses or those in need of end-of-life support. With expertise in pain management, symptom relief, and quality-of-life assessments, they work closely with hospice veterinarians and pet families to ensure a dignified, peaceful transition for pets. Their certification reflects a deep understanding of both the medical and emotional aspects of hospice and palliative care, making them vital members of the care team.
McKenzie LeSueur, LVT, TSS
McKenzie is a licensed veterinary technician with a diverse background in veterinary care. With four years of experience in general veterinary practice, followed by 1.5 years specializing in surgical anesthesia for animals, McKenzie’s expertise extends to multimodal approaches to pain management.
During her time running surgeries, McKenzie gained invaluable insights into the complexities of pain management in animals. She developed a deep understanding of multimodal approaches, utilizing various techniques and medications to effectively alleviate pain and ensure the comfort of her patients.
Transitioning to end-of-life care with Hampton Roads Veterinary Hospice, McKenzie has applied her knowledge and expertise in pain management to benefit hospice families and their furry companions. She brings innovative ideas and creative solutions to ensure that pets in their final moments receive compassionate and comprehensive care, including effective pain management strategies.
McKenzie’s dedication to staying abreast of the latest advancements in veterinary medicine and her commitment to enhancing the quality of life for animals reflect her passion for providing exceptional care. Her ability to integrate diverse techniques and approaches into her practice demonstrates her unwavering commitment to ensuring the well-being of her patients and their families.
Deneige Arguin, RVT
Bio coming soon.
Client Testimonial
“We had a virtual TeleAdvice assessment with Gina, and she was very kind, listened, and validated our feelings and concerns. She helped us to come to a difficult decision and helped us determine the timing. The staff was also very kind and compassionate when scheduling the appointment. Excellent experience.”
From Kristen, A TeleAdvice Client
Why Choose TeleAdvice Services?
Navigating a pet’s end-of-life journey is challenging, to say the least.
Many families seek TeleAdvice appointments to discuss:
- How to assess their pet’s quality of life.
- How to recognize signs of pain.
- What the progression of disease can look like.
- What options may exist to incease their pet’s comfort.
- How to make end-of-life decisions for their pet.
We can cover quite a bit in a 30 minute video consultation. Sometimes, just ‘talking it out’ with an experienced and compassionate veterinary professional can be very helpful by providing an objective, outside viewpoint. It is a privilege to help families better understand what can be a tough but very important chapter of their beloved companion’s life.
What Type of End-of-Life Assessment is Best for My Pet?
Please note: If you are located outside of the Colorado Front Range (Castle Rock to Fort Collins), the Charlotte Metro Area in North Carolina, and the Virginia Beach area in Virginia, please visit the In-Home Pet Hospice and Euthanaisa Directory for in-home service options.
TeleAdvice Appointment
A TeleAdvice Appointment is a great opportunity to discuss your pet’s current condition, any diagnoses your pet has been given, for you to learn how to objectively evaluate and measure quality of life, and to develop a palliative care and/or end of life plan for your pet. This option is best for pets that are being monitored and cared for by your family veterinarian as an added resource to your pet’s care team.
While we are happy to schedule a TeleAdvice appointment with any family for any situation, there are limitations that prevent a thorough physical exam, diagnostics, and certain prescribing abilities due to state law, so if you are at the beginning of your pet’s end of life journey, a visit to your family veterinarian may be recommended to be sure your pet has the best quality of life possible during their journey.
In-Home Hospice Assessment
An In-Home Pet Hospice Assessment is also a great opportunity to discuss all of the above as well as have a hands-on exam for your pet. This can help determine underlying concerns that should be addressed and if humane euthanasia is elected, your pet’s peaceful passing can occur at the same appointment. This option is best for pets that may or may not be monitored and cared for by your family veterinarian, pets who cannot safely or easily be transported to your family veterinarian anymore, or your pet that you believe may be at the end of their journey but you’d like an objective hands-on evaluation before making the decision to provide humane euthanasia. Your pet must be tolerant of strangers for this appointment to be successful. The limitations of this type of appointment are that diagnostics (radiographs/bloodwork) cannot be performed so diagnoses cannot be made but some prescriptions can be scripted/refilled at the veterinarian’s discretion.
Veterinary Visit
A Veterinary Visit at your family veterinarian is recommended for any pets that need diagnostics (blood work, radiographs, etc…) to diagnose their ailments or for routine monitoring for certain long term medications or conditions. It is in your pet’s best interest to have a diversified care team as you enter into their end of life journey and we are happy to communicate with your veterinarian to be sure your pet’s care team is on the same page every step of the way.
We look forward to meeting you and your pet in-person and/or virtually; please let us know how we can best support your family during this time.