Sunset Vets Palliative and End of Life Care

09/06/2026

🐾🌈 World Pet Memorial Day

Today, we pause to remember the pets who have left pawprints on our hearts.

Whether they were with us for a few short years or a lifetime, our pets become part of our families, our routines, and some of our most treasured memories. They greet us at the door, comfort us through difficult days, and bring joy to ordinary moments in ways that are impossible to forget.

Even after they are gone, the love we shared with them remains.

World Pet Memorial Day is an opportunity to honour those special companions who are no longer by our side, but who continue to live on in our hearts through the memories, lessons, and unconditional love they gave us.

Today, we invite you to take a moment to remember your beloved pet. Share a favourite photo, tell a cherished story, or simply reflect on the bond you shared.

While their time with us is never long enough, their impact lasts a lifetime.

If you would like to honour your pet today, we would love to hear their name in the comments below.

07/06/2026

Saying goodbye to a beloved pet is never easy, and when children are part of that experience, families often carry the additional responsibility of helping them understand and navigate their grief. Creating a calm, supportive environment where everyone can say goodbye in their own way is something we consider a great privilege.

We are so pleased that Dr Ashlee was able to provide the patience, guidance, and compassionate support that Jax and his family needed, ensuring he was surrounded by love and able to receive the peaceful and dignified farewell he deserved.

We are incredibly grateful to Jax’s family for sharing these kind words and for allowing us to be part of such an important moment in Jax’s journey.

05/06/2026

Sharing knowledge, compassion, and connection.

At Sunset Vets, we are passionate about supporting not only pets and families, but also the wider veterinary community through education, collaboration, and shared learning.

Recently, Dr Jackie Campbell and Rosie Overfield had the opportunity to deliver a dedicated Palliative Care Workshop for veterinary professionals across general practice, specialist, and emergency settings.

Together, they explored the importance of compassionate communication, quality-of-life discussions, end-of-life support, and the ways veterinary teams can help families feel more guided and supported through some of life’s most difficult moments.

Palliative care is one of the most meaningful, and often most emotionally complex, areas of veterinary medicine. Creating space for ongoing education and open conversation helps strengthen the support available to both families and the professionals caring for them.

We are incredibly grateful for every opportunity to share knowledge, learn alongside others, and continue building greater awareness around palliative and end-of-life care within the veterinary industry.

02/06/2026

Looking After Our Golden Oldies 💙🐾

As pets grow older, their needs can change in subtle ways. Even if they seem fine on the outside, regular check-ups become more important than ever.

These visits help catch early signs of illness, ease discomfort, and give us the chance to plan ahead, all with the goal of keeping them feeling well and supported through their later years.

It’s one of the kindest and most caring things we can do for them.

28/05/2026

25/05/2026

Sunset Vets is now supporting families in Bundaberg 🐾💙

We are so pleased to officially announce that Sunset Vets is now offering compassionate in-home palliative and end of life care services throughout Bundaberg and the surrounding Wide Bay region.

As pets grow older or begin living with complex or life-limiting conditions, many families are looking for guidance, support, and care that allows their pet to remain comfortable in the place they know best, home.

Leading this care in the region is our lovely Dr Naomi, who has a special interest in geriatric medicine, palliative care, and veterinary behaviour. Dr Naomi is passionate about helping senior pets maintain comfort and quality of life, while supporting families through the changes that can come with ageing and illness.

Through in-home consultations, families can access support with:

• Palliative and end-of-life care

• Quality-of-life discussions

• Comfort-focused treatment plans

• Guidance and support through difficult decisions

We know how important it is for families in regional communities to have access to compassionate veterinary support close to home, and we are incredibly proud to now be able to offer this care within the Bundaberg and Wide Bay community.

You can learn more about Dr Naomi and our Bundaberg services here:
https://sunsetvets.com.au/sunset-blog/senior-pet-care-in-bundaberg-meet-dr-naomi-your-in-home-vet/

23/05/2026

For many families, Quality of Life assessments can help bring gentle structure to what can otherwise feel overwhelming. They are not about reducing a pet’s life to a score, they are about helping families reflect on comfort, mobility, appetite, rest, enjoyment, and the small day-to-day changes that can sometimes be difficult to interpret.

A few important reminders:

• Looking at patterns over time is often more helpful than focusing on a single day

• Moments of happiness can still exist alongside discomfort or decline

• Emotional wellbeing matters just as much as physical health

• Caring for a much-loved pet can be emotionally exhausting, and your wellbeing matters too

• You do not have to navigate these thoughts and decisions alone

Sometimes, simply having a compassionate conversation with your veterinary team can help families feel more supported and more confident in understanding what their pet may be experiencing.

We also offer a free Quality of Life assessment worksheet that families can download and use at home to help guide these reflections and conversations: https://sunsetvets.com.au/resources/faqs/quality-of-life-assessment-worksheet/

Paying close attention to your pet’s comfort and wellbeing is an act of love, even when the questions feel difficult.

21/05/2026

Following National Palliative Care Week, we wanted to continue the important conversations and awareness this week brings around access to compassionate end-of-life care for pets and their families.

For the Sunset Vets team, National Palliative Care Week is an opportunity to celebrate and bring focus to the crucial work we do every day. It also allows us to highlight something we are passionate about, ensuring that all pet owners can access end-of-life care when their pet needs it most.

The Sunset Benevolence Fund was created to help provide support for families who may otherwise struggle to access palliative and end-of-life care for their beloved pets.

For many families, reaching out for help can already feel emotional and overwhelming. Financial pressure can add another layer of stress during an already difficult time. The Benevolence Fund exists to help ease some of that burden, ensuring more pets can receive comfort-focused care and more families feel supported through the journey ahead.

This support may help families access:

• Palliative care consultations

• End-of-life planning and guidance

• In-home euthanasia services

• Comfort-focused support during a pet’s final stage of life

At the heart of the fund is a simple belief, that every pet deserves dignity, comfort, and compassionate care, and that no family should feel alone in navigating these moments.

Following National Palliative Care Week, we encourage you to learn more about the Sunset Benevolence Fund and the ways community support can help make a meaningful difference for pets and families in need.

You can read more here:

https://sunsetvets.com.au/sunset-blog/how-you-can-make-a-difference-during-national-palliative-care-week/

16/05/2026

Understanding anxiety in senior dogs

As dogs grow older, changes in behaviour can sometimes become more noticeable. What may appear as restlessness, clinginess, or unsettled behaviour can, in some cases, be linked to anxiety.

In senior dogs, anxiety can be influenced by a number of factors, including changes in hearing or vision, cognitive decline, discomfort, or simply feeling less secure as their world begins to change. These shifts are often gradual, and can be easy to attribute to “just getting older.”

You may notice:

• Increased pacing or restlessness, especially at night

• Changes in sleep patterns

• Becoming more withdrawn or, conversely, more dependent

• Vocalising more than usual

• Sensitivity to noise or changes in routine

These behaviours are your dog’s way of communicating that something may not feel quite right.

With the right support, many dogs can feel more settled and comfortable. Gentle adjustments at home, consistent routines, and guidance from your veterinary team can help address both the emotional and physical factors contributing to anxiety.

If you notice changes in your dog’s behaviour, a conversation can help you better understand what they may be experiencing and what support may be appropriate.

Behavioural changes in senior pets are always worth paying attention to, and early support can make a meaningful difference to their comfort and wellbeing.

14/05/2026

Palliative care is about supporting comfort, dignity, and quality of life for pets living with serious, life-limiting illness or age-related decline. It focuses on what matters most, helping pets feel as settled and comfortable as possible, while supporting families with clear, compassionate guidance.

Importantly, palliative care is not only for the final days. It can begin much earlier, providing ongoing support as a pet’s needs change over time. This may include managing pain, supporting mobility and appetite, and helping families understand how their pet is coping day to day.

For many families, this means creating more good days, maintaining familiar routines, spending meaningful time together, and ensuring their pet feels safe in the place they know best: home.

It also creates space for important conversations. With the right support, families can feel more prepared to navigate decisions, with a clearer understanding of their pet’s comfort and wellbeing.

This year’s National Palliative Care Week theme, “Getting to the heart of it: Big Questions. Real Answers,” reflects the importance of these conversations, asking what matters most, understanding what our pets may be experiencing, and feeling supported in the decisions that follow.

If you would like to learn more about what palliative care can look like for pets, we encourage you to read more here:
https://sunsetvets.com.au/sunset-blog/national-palliative-care-week-shines-a-light-on-end-of-life-care-for-pets/

This National Palliative Care Week is a reminder that end-of-life care is about more than medical support, it is about comfort, dignity, and ensuring no family has to navigate this stage alone.