PRACTICE MANAGEMENT
derstand that “I am putting your pet to sleep” means
death. Colleran advises veterinarians to use concrete
language: “I am helping your pet to die because she
is suffering and we can’t control her pain any longer.
This is really hard and sad thing for us, but it is a good
and brave thing to do for your pet. It is OK to be sad.”
Plan for the inevitable
Planning ahead also involves making sure that clients
have access to medical records and a plan in place if
something goes wrong or timing is wrong, says Colleran. In addition, it can help the client to decide ahead
of time if children or other pets should be present,
where the euthanasia will occur (at home, at the clinic, outside), body care and more.
We may be the only person in that client’s life that
recognizes the human-animal bond between the client and the pet. We can plan to honour that connection and provide emotional support for the client after
the pet has passed on. Celebration of life ceremonies,
telling funny stories about the pet, a funeral, special
mementos, art work, music or candles can all help
a highly attached client cope with the loss, so don’t
be afraid to ask how the client will be honouring the
passing of his or her pet. If your client doesn’t have
any ideas, don’t be afraid to give some suggestions.
In doing so, you may be giving that client permission
to grieve in a healthy way that he or she may not have
considered. Ritual can bring comfort and closure.
By preparing the client for end-of-life decisions, helping the client plan and providing emotional support
to your client, you have the opportunity to provide
exceptional service and protect the human-animal
bond. The manner in which a veterinarian provides
care for a client whose pet has died has the potential
to alleviate or aggravate grief and influence client and
veterinarian satisfaction—even create or destroy longlasting relationships, says Colleran.
Presenting options gives families control over the
process of inevitable loss by helping them define for
themselves what constitutes the best way to care for
their animal. I believe a sense of control—even if limited—correlates with healthy grieving and emotional
healing. Just as humane euthanasia is a privilege to
end suffering, guiding clients through the process can
be a privilege as well.
Reference
1.
Vespa J, Lewis JM, Kreider RM. America’s family and living
arrangements: 2012. United States Census Bureau. Available at http://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/p20-570.
pdf
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