Healing Touch - In-Home Euthanasia and Holistic Veterinary Care

04/09/2025

An update on Whisper.

Her splints came off a few weeks back and she is ready to integrate with the family.

We are very, very, happy with how she has healed. Her legs appears to have healed better than we hoped. She will likely have arthritis issues when she is older, but her mobility is great for what she went through. She can run and play and even sometimes does a great kangaroo impression (hop, hop, hop)

It is hard to believe that a cat that fell out of an engine well, got road rash and two VERY broken back legs can heal so well. There is a joke, "If you put all the pieces of a cat in the same room, the cat will find a way to reassemble itself."

There must be some truth in that.

28/08/2025

August 28th is a day to pause and honor the beloved pets who are no longer with us. Their paw prints may have left this earth, but their love lives on in our hearts and memories.

Today, we remember the joy, comfort, and unconditional love our faithful companions brought into our lives. May we carry their spirit forward with gratitude and tenderness.

If you feel moved, share a photo or memory of a pet you are remembering today.

20/08/2025

The decision to euthanize isn’t "giving up" on your pet. It’s actually one of the deepest acts of love you can offer.

When we face this choice, it’s important to remember: you are not deciding *if* your beloved pet will pass. Illness, age, or simply the passage of time has already put that in motion. What you are deciding is *how* their final moments will unfold. You are choosing for them to pass gently, free from unnecessary pain and fear, surrounded by those who love them the most (and may we all be so lucky).

That is not surrender. That is courage.

Choosing euthanasia means choosing to take some of the pain onto yourself. The heartache, the grief, the heavy weight of letting go now belong to you, so your companion doesn’t have to carry them any longer. It is an act of selflessness, a final gift of comfort and love.

If you are facing this decision, please know that you are not giving up on your pet. And for what it’s worth, I’m confident that if they could come back and talk to you, they would thank you... thank you for a life of love, happiness, and memories, and for the gift of a gentle, peaceful goodbye. ~Mike

We provide a variety of in-home veterinary end-of-life care services for residents of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and surrounding areas.

19/08/2025

An update on Whisper. She got her splints taken off both legs today! The bones are healed. The one leg has pretty decent alignment but the other leg doesn't.

The next step is to hopefully help her rebuild the muscle she lost and to increase the range of motion in her legs (which right now is zero).

So while we are optimistic that she will get to keep both legs, she still has a long road to recovery with ample amounts of physical therapy.

13/08/2025

One of the most difficult things to deal with when you lose a pet is the concept of "disenfranchised grief". Disenfranchised grief is grief that is not openly acknowledged or accepted by society. I heard an analogy once that really stuck with me.

"How often do people bring their neighbors a casserole when they lose a pet?"

The loss of a beloved pet can be every bit as devastating as the loss of a human family member, yet when facing the loss of a pet, we are often greeted with silence or quick platitudes. This makes the grief even heavier because what you are very genuinely feeling is juxtaposed against this societal pressure that seems to want to diminish and devalue how it is that you feel.

So I am here to tell you that if you have lost a pet, your grief is valid. Your love was real, your bond was profound, and your loss deserves to be acknowledged.

And if you know someone going through the loss of a pet, please say their pet’s name, share a memory, send a card, or yes… even bring them a casserole.

12/08/2025

Making the decision to say goodbye to your pet is one of the hardest moments you will face as a pet owner. While there is no way to remove the sadness, there are ways to shape the experience so that it feels a little calmer, more intentional, and more like a gift of love rather than a moment of loss. The purpose of this guide is to offer gentle suggestions and considerations you may not have thought of so that you feel as prepared as possible to create a loving, meaningful farewell.

If you find this article helpful, we'd ask that you do us a favor and share it with your friends and family.

As always, we are here to support you in any way you need. Never hesitate to reach out if we can support you in any way, even if just to talk.

Learn how to prepare for in-home pet euthanasia with compassion and intention. This guide offers practical tips and heartfelt ideas to create a peaceful, loving farewell for your pet.

30/07/2025

We have some exciting news to share! For a year or so, we have been looking to bring on another veterinarian, but we wanted to make sure we found someone who shares our values and has a passion for client communication and the support that you've come to expect from us. Well, we found her (ok, she found us). Please allow us to introduce you to Dr. Jordan. She is absolutely wonderful and we couldn't be luckier to have her join our team.

About Dr. Jordan

Dr. Jordan is a compassionate veterinarian who graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Veterinary Medicine in 2022. With over a decade of experience in the veterinary field, Dr. Jordan brings a deep understanding of animal care. Her passion for veterinary medicine is rooted in the powerful bond between humans and their animals, a connection that continues to inspire her work every day.

Outside of work, Dr. Jordan enjoys spending time outdoors hiking with her dog, swimming, caring for a growing collection of plants, and skiing during the winter months.

15/07/2025

An update on the kitty Dr. Kendra helped save last week.

The kitty now has a name, Whisper. After consulting with a few of our colleagues, we decided to have the left rear leg splint. There is a decent chance it will heal, the question is a matter of how well it will heal. The break on the other leg (femur) is broken so high on the hip that a splint wasn't possible. The prognosis of this leg is more guarded. Its unlikely it will heal in a usable state, and there is a wound on the leg that is concerning. The prevailing thought is that we will do what we can to manage that leg the best we can, however, it may end up needing to be amputated depending on how it heals.

Despite the tough prognosis, she is acting as though everything is business as usual. We are actively trying to convince her that maybe trying to run/play with two broken legs is not a good plan but she doesn't seem to get it.

She really is the sweetest little kitten though and we are excited to welcome her into our family. ~Mike & Dr. Kendra

10/07/2025

Dr. Kendra was on her way to her first appointment today when she saw this kitten who had just been hit by a car on 23 west of Plymouth. She stopped and, with the assistance of some kind construction workers and bystanders, she was able to get the kitten off the road and into her car. I called Kettle Moraine Veterinary Clinic, and they were able to get the kitten in right away and get it stabilized and do some X-Rays. Both of the kittens' back legs are broken, and it has some road rash, but it is in surprisingly good spirits. The kitten is now resting comfortably at our home, where Dr. Kendra and I will be keeping a close eye on it over the next few weeks to see how the recovery process goes.

We can not thank Kettle Moraine enough for their ability to help on such short notice and for their kindness and compassion.

We know firsthand the demands of general practice and the sacrifices that staff have to make when taking on extra cases and are so appreciative that so many people were willing to come together to help ease this little kitties pain. ~Mike

02/05/2025

Congratulations Dr. Kendra on being selected as Sheboygan County's 2025 Entrepreneur of the Year. Your commitment to leading with kindness and compassion is an inspiration and we are so incredibly proud of you.

28/04/2025

Congratulations on the nomination, Dr. Kendra!

07/04/2025

This is great news indeed!

Yay for humanity! Someone dumped the chicken alongside the building. He’s dirty and dusty but he’s safe 🐓