RAINBOW BRIDGE VETERINARY SERVICES
Who We Are
The Origin Story of Rainbow Bridge Veterinary Services
Dr. Megan Anderson BA, MVB, CertAVP, CPEV is the founding veterinary surgeon behind Rainbow Bridge Veterinary Services.
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Megan dreamt of becoming a vet from the young age of 5, and started her career as a veterinary assistant back in 2007. She continued working in small animal and exotic practices throughout her undergraduate years until completing her bachelor's degree in biochemistry, and eventually qualifying from UCD as a veterinary surgeon in 2015. She spent the next 4 years in mixed practice before deciding to focus exclusively on companion animal medicine. In 2021 she took on a Clinical Director role, and in 2023 achieved a Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice from the RCVS with a focus on small animal medicine.​
At the end of 2023, she welcomed a canine senior citizen named Pip into her family. At 15 years old with diabetes, cataracts, little hearing, arthritis, dementia, and a tumour over his shoulder, no one expected Pip to survive very long, and the goal was simply to make him feel as comfortable and loved as possible for his last few weeks. But Pip had other plans!
Weeks quickly turned into months, and it was clear Pip intended to stick around a little longer. His tumour continued to grow, and his diabetes required frequent monitoring and insulin dose adjustment, but his dementia and arthritic pain responded really well to medication. Over a year later, Pip still loves a good neck scratch after breakfast, a sniff around the garden, and a cuddle on the sofa in the evenings. And good luck to anyone who dares disturb his naps!
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Pip proved what Megan had always told her clients. Age is just a number, not a disease. And no diagnosis, statistic, or lab report is more important than how a patient feels. When curative treatment is not an option, all hope is not lost. Palliative care can help prolong good quality of life for veterinary patients and give families meaningful time with their beloved pets.
Megan soon came to realize that there was no specific palliative and end of life care service available for pets in Ireland. She decided to change that. And so, Rainbow Bridge Veterinary Services was born - Ireland's first mobile veterinary service dedicated to providing compassionate palliative, hospice, and end of life care for pets and their families in the comfort of home.
Our Mission
There comes a time in many pets' lives when their families are faced with challenging decisions. This is especially true in advancing age, or when a terminal diagnosis is given.
​​Modern veterinary medicine is incredible, and many once fatal illnesses are now treatable. But aggressive or invasive treatments are not necessarily the best option for every pet. Maybe they find vet visits extremely stressful, and don't cope well with hospitalization. Maybe appropriate post-operative care simply isn't possible. Maybe they are already 13 years old with multiple conditions.
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Just because we can, doesn't always mean we should.​​​
But what we can and should always do is provide our beloved pets with as much love and comfort as we can as they approach the end of their lives. That's where we come in.
We work collaboratively with pets and their owners, using a fear free approach, in their own homes, to develop a comprehensive palliative care plan and provide support for both pets and caregivers alike.
Because we provide our services in your home, we are free from the confines of a 15 minute consultation in a busy clinic, and can really take the time to get to know you, your pet, and the special relationship you have. ​​It also means your pet can receive the treatment they need to manage their symptoms and pain without the stressful sights, sounds, and smells of a hospital.​​
We provide virtual and in-home follow up options to make sure that as your pet's condition progresses, their care plan is meeting both their needs, and yours. And when the time comes, will help you prepare to give your pet the final goodbye they deserve, with dignity and compassion, in their favourite place, surrounded by the people they love most.