Healing Touch - In-Home Euthanasia and Holistic Veterinary Care

10/12/2024

While this was written from the perspective of horse ownership, it really applies to all animals as the author, Kelly, so kindly points out.

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What does it really mean to "let them go on a good day?"

It means it will be your hardest day. It won't matter if you've never done it before, or if you're gifted a dozen good days, each good day is always the hardest one.

It means they won't know what the fuss is about, why they're getting so many treats and extra belly scratches and hugs.
It means you will second guess your decision right up to the very last moment, the very last breath. You'll second guess yourself afterwards.

They'll knicker at you when you arrive, just like any other day.
The weather, perfect. They are content. They look sound today. They are breathing well, eating well, they get up easily enough from a nap in the sun....the list goes on. Whatever issue they struggle with, today they aren't.

Today you euthanize them.

This is what going on a good day means: sending them out while they are happy, while they are healthy, while they are eating well, walking well, etc. You make the choice to do it before an emergency takes the choice away from you, before your horse has to experience any more trauma or pain.

Their last memory will be filled with love.

It'll rip your heart out every time.

We can see the patterns and the increasing trends. We can predict it a little. We can obsess over the past and worry about the future.

Fortunately, horses, all animals, live in the moment. They don't worry about those things. They aren't worried about winter. They aren't worried about July, or allergies, or progressive diseases like cushings or dsld. They don't think about the close calls they've had before, and they certainly aren't thinking about the close calls that are destined to come, as their body continues to age and break down. They just are. They are happy and healthy, or fearful and in pain, on that day, in that moment.

It is the most difficult, most loving gift we are blessed to be able to give.

And that first ice storm will come, that first deep snow, that first heat wave....and you will find a little relief, no longer doubting the choice you made.

They were happy, and safe, and loved. That is all that matters.
It is never easy. ~Kelly Meister, author

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26/11/2024

Today is our (2nd) annual clinic appreciation day where we take a moment to thank our veterinary partners for all their support and care that they show to us, and those we serve. Those people who choose a career in the veterinary field do so because of their abundant love for animals and supporting people. Right now the field as a whole is overwhelmed, but the holiday season is even more hectic and demanding. We cannot possibly show enough gratitude for the love and sacrifices our local clinics make every day, but these delicious butterfinger tortes are a place to start. A huge thanks to Red Shorts Cafe for freshly preparing them for today's event.

17/11/2024

We are deeply aware of the profound trust placed in us to care for the remains of the pets in our charge. We do everything we can to care for them the way we would want our own to be treated. As part of that Dr. Kendra is committing hundreds of hours of personal time to hand crochet pillows for the cremains of those pets to rest on while they wait to be reunited with their owners. Here is a picture of one of them.

12/11/2024

Navigating the loss of a beloved family member can be especially challenging when you are trying to guide kids through it. Not only do you have to manage your own feelings, but you have to also help them learn and work through their own very big emotions. Sometimes the hardest part is opening the conversation. This video has some great language and we thought it could be a useful starting point. To all of you entering the holiday season carrying this extra burden, please know we are here to support you however we can. Be kind to yourselves.

24/09/2024

Without a doubt, the decision to free your pet of its pain and discomfort is one of the most challenging, emotionally taxing, and confusing times for us as pet owners.

To help owners we are putting together a few free resources located on our website under the "Resources" section. The first is access to the Quality of Life Assessment that we use for our in-home QOL appointments. The hope is that owners can use this to keep tabs on how their pet is doing in a quantifiable way and track that over time. Of course, we are still happy to do an in-home QOL visit where Dr. Kendra assesses your pet if that would bring you more comfort in the decision-making process.

The second is a page talking about the topic of determining when it is time to say goodbye and the emotional challenge that comes along with that. At the bottom are some commonly asked questions that we hope can, again, bring some measure of peace to the decision and help those that are struggling.

Finally, we are working on a free ebook designed to help owners navigate the process from terminal diagnosis all the way through end-of-life preparation and aftercare. It is our hope that pet owners, regardless of where they are located, are able to use this resource to ensure that they are empowered with the information to better help navigate the final stage of their pet's life. We will update you here when we have more information to share.

If in the meantime there is anything we can do to better help support you in any way please let us know. You are not in this alone. ~Mike

Knowing when to say goodbye to your beloved pet is one of the most gut-wrenching and challenging tasks we face as pet owners.

07/08/2024

🌟 Join Our Team! 🌟 Healing Touch is looking for a compassionate Part/Full-Time In-Home Euthanasia Veterinarian in the Appleton/Sheboygan area. If you’re a dedicated DVM who values work-life balance and wants to make a meaningful difference, apply today at [email protected]. 🐾💙

https://www.healingtouchpetcare.com/job/part-time-in-home-euthanasia-veterinarian/

06/08/2024

Most of us are familiar with the concept of creating an Advanced Care Directive for ourselves, but did you know that you can also create an Advanced Care plan for your pet as well?

I know that thinking about these things can bring up intense emotions and so it's only natural to want to postpone that for as long as possible. However, by creating a plan you are taking back some control over the process and ensuring that the end-of-life experience for your pet is what you, your family, and your pet want it to be.

You can find the advanced care directive workbook at the link below (free), or on our website, https://www.healingtouchpetcare.com, under the "Resources" tab.

A big thanks to Kathy Wolff and Angela Shook for the creation of such a wonderful resource.

If there is anything we can do to help you in this process, please do not hesitate to reach out.

~Mike

https://www.healingtouchpetcare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Companion-Advanced-Care-Directive.pdf

15/07/2024

The next book we'd like to showcase is "It's OK That You're Not OK" by Megan Devine.

This book really emphasizes the importance of you navigating the grief you feel at a pace, and in a way, that works for you. We live in a very "death phobic" society, and so when we do experience a loss, there is often pressure to return back to normal as quickly as possible. That pressure is antithetical to the normal healing process we must go through.

Additionally, when it comes to pet loss there is often a disenfranchisement of our grief that occurs. It's not uncommon to hear people say things like, "It's just a pet" or otherwise try to diminish the grief you may be feeling. It's unfortunate, but society places different "values" on different types of grief and that can leave you feeling alone, misunderstood, and having your feelings invalidated.

There is no need to gatekeep the grieving process. Grief is grief.

11/07/2024

We decided to move the bookshelf to the hallway to make it more accessible. Truly, our goal is to bring any sense of ease to this process as we can and remove any barriers possible to the healing journey. The office is located at 435 East Mill Street, Suite 100 in Plymouth and the main doors are unlocked Mon-Fri 8AM-6:30PM. Feel free to stop by take what you need.

11/07/2024

We are building a collection of some of our favorite grief themed books and we plan to highlight some of them over the next few weeks. These books are open to borrow for as long as you need. Send us a PM and we can coordinate a time to meet at our office in Plymouth.

Today's "collection" is centered around grief and loss in children.

"When a Pet Dies" by Fred Rogers describes the process of losing a pet, explores the emotions children may feel and helps open a dialogue around grief.

"I'll always love you" by Hans Wilhelm emphasizes the importance of expressing your love while your pet is still physically with you and how that can help after the loss.

"The Invisible Leash" by Patrice Karst helps encourage children to honor their pets by keeping their memory alive in their hearts.

Talking to your children about the loss of your pet isn't any easy thing to do, but it's so incredibly important. These books can help encourage a dialogue around grief and sometimes figuring out how to start that conversation is the hardest part.

02/07/2024

We all expect a certain level of sadness when we are grieving. However, grief isn't limited to just sadness. In fact, ALL emotions are valid emotions when it comes to our grief.

The challenge arises when we feel "unexpected" emotions during the grieving process. For instance, relief. Someone who may not know that they could feel relieved after their pet's passing may start to question their commitment to their pet or if they made the right decision and that can make an already difficult process all the more so.

The reality is that each of our journeys through the grieving process will be as unique and varied as the bond that we share with our pets. The emotions we feel as we navigate that process can run the entire range of the emotional spectrum and it's important that we 1) acknowledge those emotions for what they are (a part of the grieving process) and 2) allow ourselves to feel what we need to feel as we work through them.

The knowledge of this fact doesn't make it better. The pain will still hurt and the emotions can still be incredibly raw at times. However, what that knowledge does provide is context and a reminder that what you are feeling is perfectly normal, perfectly valid, and 100% OK to feel. You are not a bad owner for feeling relief, you are simply grieving.

01/07/2024

We have some exciting plans in the works, and as part of that we are hoping to commission a mural dedicated to the peace and comfort our pets feel when resting. We could use some help with brainstorming if you wouldn't mind sharing where your pet loves to take a good nap! Also, if you are or know of any local artists please contact us!

28/05/2024

One of the things we are most passionate about is educating our clients, whether that means helping them walk through the often emotionally difficult topics of end-of-life care for their pet, or the nuances of applying Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine techniques.

With so much misinformation out there we would like to help combat that by providing content that can help you make more informed decisions regarding your pet's care.

So our question to you is this: What type of content would you like to see? Are there particular topics you wish you knew more about? What type(s) of format would you find most useful? (i.e photos, short videos, Q&A etc).

Send a message to learn more

28/05/2024

Hi everyone! We appreciate your understanding over the last few months as Dr. Kendra and I have been out on maternity/paternity leave. We will be back to taking appointments on Monday, June 3rd. If you'd like to schedule an appointment after that time frame, please fill out the request an appointment form on our website. - https://www.healingtouchpetcare.com ~Mike

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24/03/2024

One of the important components of Traditional Chinese Medicine is Qi Gong, which focuses on mental and physical flexibility and fluidity of movement. One of the best ways to avoid suffering is to allow for that flexibility in your life. Due to some unforeseen circumstances, Dr. Kendra is starting her maternity leave on 3/26 and still plans to return on 6/3. We do apologize for any inconvenience this causes anyone.

04/03/2024

Hi everyone, Mike here. Dr. Kendra (and I) are expecting the birth of our third child in early April. Due to this, Dr. Kendra will be on maternity leave from April 1st until June 2nd. We will be unable to take any appointments during this time.

We appreciate your understanding and support! We are looking forward to returning full steam back in June and have some exciting plans for things once we return!

30/12/2023

When we started Healing Touch in March, we couldn't have anticipated just how amazing this support from the community would be.

For our TCVM clients - We appreciate you allowing us the opportunity to showcase to you the benefits and techniques that Eastern veterinary medicine brings to the table. We believe strongly in leveraging all of the tools and approaches available to us to help make your pet as comfortable as possible.

For our In-Home Euthanasia clients - We consider it an honor to witness the love that exists between an owner and their pet, especially at such a difficult, and vulnerable, time. We are deeply reverent of the trust that you place in us to help support you during those moments and hope that we have been able to bring some measure of peace, even if small by comparison.

To all of you, know that we are here for you in whatever way you may need. We couldn't do what we do without your support. It means the world to us.

- Dr. Kendra & Mike Hodge

21/12/2023

As the holiday season approaches, we at Healing Touch wanted to take a moment to extend warm wishes to you and your families. We understand that this time of year can be both joyous and challenging, especially for those of you who have recently had to say goodbye. We are wishing all of you moments of peace, comfort, and the company of those who understand and appreciate the unique bond we share with our beloved pets.

To allow our staff to celebrate the holidays with their families, in addition to our normal office hours, our offices are closed 12/25, 12/26, 1/1, and 1/2 for the holidays. If you need anything, please do not hesitate to reach out.