Healing Touch - In-Home Euthanasia and Holistic Veterinary Care

29/10/2025

Every single day, I talk to families facing the euthanasia decision for their pet.

And every single day, I hear a similar sentiment: "Everyone keeps saying 'you'll know when it's time'... but I don't know. And I'm terrified of getting it wrong."

But here's what gets me. If I am hearing this from people who actually called, how many more are out there suffering in silence? Sitting with this impossible decision alone? That thought hurts my heart and is a big drive as to why I want to make this information more readily accessible.

So maybe "you'll just know" will be true for you. Maybe your gut will give you clear answers.

But what if it doesn't? What if everyone around you has a different opinion? What if you're waiting for certainty that isn't coming?

What actually helps is shifting how you think about this decision: understanding the window, the spectrum of appropriate timing, and why every family's path is different.

In this presentation, I'll walk through the Euthanasia Window: how to recognize when you're in it, the factors beyond just medical condition that matter, and provide you with tools to better navigate this difficult chapter.

If you can't make it, register and we will send a link to view the recording after the presentation.

You can learn more and sign up at the link below:

https://app.livestorm.co/healingtouchpetcare/the-euthanasia-window

~ Mike

21/10/2025

"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard."

The depth of our grief reflects the depth of our love. When the time comes to say goodbye to a beloved companion, that pain is a testament to all the joy, comfort, and unconditional love they brought into our lives.

And that's what makes us lucky: to have known that kind of love, even when letting go breaks our hearts. The grief is real and it hurts, but it also reminds us of how deeply we were loved in return, and what a gift that is.

If you're facing this difficult decision, know that you're not alone. We're here to support you and your pet in whatever way you need.

17/10/2025

Several pet owners have told me this week, “I feel as though I’m being selfish for not wanting to say goodbye.”

It’s not selfish to want more time. It’s not selfish to wish for one more good day. It’s not selfish to feel torn between holding on and letting go.

It’s human. It's love.

And it speaks to the bond that makes saying goodbye so hard in the first place.

If you find yourself in that space right now, please know you’re not alone. Give yourself some grace and know that you’re doing your best through one of life’s hardest moments.

And if you ever need some additional support, please know that we are here for you in whatever way you need, even if just to talk.

16/10/2025

Please share if you can. We are always looking for ways to help owners better navigate the aging/end-of-life process for their pets as we know how challenging it is. We created Hospet - Pet Quality of Life Tracker to help with this, but we want to do more.

We've been talking through some ideas internally as to how to best help, but I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Some things we've been considering:

Making a workbook that local veterinarians can hand out to owners that goes over measuring and quantifying quality of life and how to navigate that chapter of their pet's life.

Doing a webinar (with a recorded version so you could watch at your convenience) to help cover some of these topics.

Doing free in-person presentations (similar to that of the webinar)

Doing Q&A sessions (maybe via facebook live or some other means)

Doing "short" videos where we drill in on different elements/questions/concerns/etc

What thoughts do you guys have? Are there particular topics you were/are struggling with that could be helpful? We are well aware that talking/thinking about this is a difficult thing to do, but we also know that empowering owners with the information can do a lot to help bring some peace.

13/10/2025

We know how hard it can be to care for an aging or ailing pet.

That’s why we created Hospet, a gentle, guided tool to help you track your pet’s comfort, notice patterns, and plan care with more clarity and peace.

And now, Hospet is completely free for everyone. No ads, no subscriptions, just support for families who love deeply and want to do right by their pets.

You can download Hospet - Pet Quality of Life Tracker for free on the IOS an Android App store.

At Healing Touch, our work is rooted in compassion and in helping families navigate the most tender moments of their pet’s life with care and understanding. We have seen how difficult it can be to recognize when a pet’s quality of life is changing, or to make decisions about comfort and timing. ...

11/10/2025

I want to take a moment to share a big announcement. All of Hospet's features are now completely free for everyone.

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.