Topic: Pet Lighthouse

Former RSPCA Chief Vet Caroline Allen FRCVS has launched Pet Lighthouse, an independent consultancy to support veterinary teams by helping owners with difficult quality-of-life and end-of-life decisions and returning them to their practice with a written report.

Caroline uses the five domains framework — nutrition, physical environment, health, behavioural interactions and mental state — to provide welfare assessments to help owners navigate some of the increasingly difficult choices that modern veterinary medicine now offers. 

In particular, Pet Lighthouse aims to bridge the gap between Dr. Google and clinical reality, to support informed decision-making, and to give clients the long consultations that they may need to process difficult news, which may be difficult to provide in general practice. 

Caroline, who has over 15 years experience in first-opinion work and eight years as the RSPCA's Chief Vet, does not prescribe or treat, and clients are directed back to their local practice for clinical care.

She said: "I am here to ensure that when a family returns to your consulting room, they are informed, calm, and focused."

"My goal is to support the profession by providing the intensive advocacy and client support that a standard consultation window simply cannot accommodate."

Caroline is inviting practices to signpost clients directly to the Pet Lighthouse website or reach out for an initial discussion.

www.petlighthouse.co.uk