Welcome to Heart of Vermont Vet!

Heart of Vermont Veterinary Housecalls, PLC offers home visits for compassionate end-of-life care for pets. At-home services in Central Vermont include consultations, euthanasia, and cremation. And you can book a telephone consultation with our vet no matter where you live.

Heart of Vermont Veterinary Acupuncture provides gentle, effective pet acupuncture in Vermont, available for dogs and cats with a veterinarian certified in acupuncture in a small, friendly office in Berlin, Vermont.

Meet Dr. Erika Bruner

I was a primary-care veterinarian for dogs and cats in Central Vermont from 2002-2017, initially in a clinic, and then in a housecall practice I founded in 2013. In 2017 I decided to focus my practice on home visits for end-of-life care. Quality of life and comfort have always been primary for pets (and people!) in my practice, and end-of-life care is a natural extension of that.

 

Home Visits for End-of-Life Care (Home Pet Euthanasia)

Certainly, the end of a pet’s life can be a difficult time, both for pets and their people. As we watch them decline and try to help them in their struggle, we wonder: Is he suffering? Is this a good quality of life for her? Is there something more I can do, or is it time for him to pass on? How do I know when that time should be? With a gentle touch and compassionate understanding, Dr. Bruner has helped hundreds of clients and patients through the challenges of end-of-life care.

Of course, we want the ends of our pets’ lives to be as comfortable and stress-free as possible. With kindness and without pressure, Dr. Bruner can help you decide what is best for you and your pet. Wondering what your options are at this point? Do you need an experienced facilitator for a family discussion? Perhaps you would like palliative care to relieve your pet’s pain and to manage physical and behavioral challenges. Or you may have already decided on euthanasia and want to proceed as peacefully and painlessly as possible. Dr. Bruner can help you at any stage in this process.

End-of-Life Consultations

If you believe your pet is nearing the end-of-life stage in his or her life and you are not sure where to go from here, a consultation can help. Dr. Bruner offers consultations in-person at your home. She will examine your pet, talk with you about his or her health, what to expect as changes progress, and how to assess your pet’s quality of life. She will review your options for end-of-life care and help you gain a clearer understanding of what to expect in the future.

To learn more, please visit the End-of-Life Care area of the website. To schedule an appointment for an end-of-life consultation or home pet euthanasia, or if you have questions about end-of-life care, please call us at 802-323-5200 or use the request-a-visit form below.

For information about acupuncture appointments, please visit the Acupuncture section of our website.