ElderPaws Palliative Veterinary Care

10/08/2026

Although our name is ElderPaws we see pets of any age who need supportive care!

Case in point: meet Bianca💖

She’s a five year old super sweet and feisty Frenchie who had an acute onset of intense neck pain with muscle spasms. We worked closely with her to tailor her medications and do acupuncture. She is a fireball of energy who had a million evasive maneuvers to avoid having her acupuncture needles placed. She kept us on our toes to find new ways of distraction to get the first few needles in, but 10 minutes later she would get really sleepy and easily allow the rest of the needles to be placed (minus a few shakes which send some flying).

While we don’t know what caused this, her breed is predisposed to intervertebral disc disease so if she didn’t respond to medical treatments the next step would be to see a neurologist and MRI.

BUT she did fantastic and several weeks later she was pain free!

Please reach out and see if we can help your pet regardless of age!

07/02/2026

Really lovely article about our world of pet palliative and hospice care by Dr. Sunita Puri, a human palliative-care physician.
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-weekend-essay/when-should-you-say-goodbye-to-a-pet

07/01/2026

Another great resource in our area to help with grief from pet loss.

The grief we experience when we lose an animal companion is unique. It can be hard to get the support you need in order to heal.

By The Bay Health hosts a FREE virtual Pet Loss Support Group every month to connect people who have experienced the loss of a loved animal. Every session is facilitated by a professional grief counselor. It's a supportive place to share your grief and learn skills to help you on your journey toward healing.

💜 The next session is coming up on Monday, July 6, 6-7pm. 💜

To sign up, call the Bereavement Department at By the Bay Health at 415-526-5699. Once you're enrolled, you'll receive the direct Zoom link to attend.

04/27/2026

The quality of life pyramid- one of many ways to make sure we are doing what we can for our pets.

03/15/2026

Jack and his mom joking around after his PEMF loop treatment- he is such an absolute sweetheart!

We’ve been helping Jack with supportive care for dental issues prior to his dental procedure including Assisi Dental Loop treatments at home.

The scientific basis and indications of PEMF therapy is promising but still being defined as seen in this review. Given the minimal risks it was worth using with Jack who loved his sessions, relaxing and purring during his treatments.

Flatscher J, Pavez Loriè E, Mittermayr R, Meznik P, Slezak P, Redl H, Slezak C. Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields (PEMF)-Physiological Response and Its Potential in Trauma Treatment. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Jul 8;24(14):11239. doi: 10.3390/ijms241411239. PMID: 37510998; PMCID: PMC10379303.

03/06/2026

Pain in our pets can be so hard to detect!

Chronic pain can be very difficult to recognize as many animals compensate by slowly adapting instead of letting us know.

As a great first step acute pain scoring systems like these can be used to help us look for signs of pain that are pets are trying to hide.

If you are worried reach out for veterinary assessment and help understanding and managing pain in your loved ones.🐾

02/23/2026

When I first became a veterinarian even the thought of euthanasia seemed hugely daunting. There is the medical side where we are working with very unstable patients, handling them so gingerly as to not cause any added pain or discomfort. There is the undeniable force of nature that we are challenging as we take this life ourselves. And there is the emotional side with families whose unbound grief presents in so many different ways that I felt completely unprepared to witness.

But it turns out that while it is all of those things it is also filled with humor. The first time it happened I was truly surprised, and very unsure if I should join in laughing with the family. I have since been so grateful to participate in so many belly laugh moments during the process that I could have never imagined during vet school.

I know this emotional rollercoaster has deeply researched scientific explanations better understood and described by experts. But as it often does, art can just hit and Taylor Jewel from 𝘛ℎ𝘦 𝘚𝑢𝘮𝑚𝘦𝑟 𝐼 𝑇𝘶𝑟𝘯𝑒𝘥 𝘗𝑟𝘦𝑡𝘵𝑦 (TSITP) explained it in a way that I can’t get out of my head: “Everyone processes things differently… happiness and grief can coexist”.

And that's exactly it- we are feeling the celebration of this life with love, joy, humor, alongside the grief and loss and so these moments contain it all. Just as they should.

Leigh Salge DVM

02/18/2026

We offer palliative and hospice supportive care - providing gentle, individualized plans to support both pets and the families who love them in Marin County.

What we do:
-Quality-of-life evaluations with thoughtful navigation of pathways and coordinated ongoing support
-Supportive care for acute and chronic medical conditions
-Pain management
-Acupuncture, therapeutic laser, PEMF
-Hydration options
-Mobility support
-Nutritional and nausea alternatives
-Environmental modifications/recommendations including rescue oxygen
-End-of-life navigation and euthanasia

02/11/2026

Our New Website is Live.

At ElderPaws we provide specialized palliative care, hospice support, and in-home euthanasia with compassion, clarity, and respect. We walk alongside families navigating complex medical decisions, shifting quality of life, and the quiet in-between moments that matter most.

Visit the link in bio to learn more. 🤍