Communicating With Clients About Euthanasia
Death is a daily part of life for a veterinarian.Our profession is in the unique position of being able to “play God” a bit by ending the suffering of our patients. It is a part of the job, regardless of how we feel about it. In a lot of ways, I actually enjoy doing euthanasias. I am not a morbid person who loves death, but someone who takes pride in being able to ease suffering at the end of a life, for both the animal and the owner.
Have you ever noticed that you get the most thank you notes from clients whose animal you euthanized? That final event is the one that remains imprinted on a client’s memory. Their experience, good or bad, often determines if they will continue to use your practice for their other animals or their future animals. The human-animal bond is so strong and as pets become an integral part of families, that bond needs to be recognized and honored through the end.
In vet school I received training for grief counseling and volunteered with the school’s pet-loss hotline. These were invaluable experiences that now help me to feel very confident and in control of the situation when I am in the exam room, preparing the client and the animal for euthanasia. By explaining the procedure to the client, making sure that they don’t have any questions, and letting them tell me when they are ready for each step, I have not had any “wrecks” in the last year.
It is also helpful that our clinic gives an IM injection of a sedative first to any animal that does not have an IV catheter in place. I think it helps ease clients into the process of death because the sedation is an intermediate step where they can be with their animal while it is losing consciousness and then decide if they want to be there for the final injection. I always explain that if we do have a problem finding a vein for the final injection on the first try, the animal is not aware of it and is not in any pain. In this way, we do not need to separate the animal from the client in order to place an IV catheter.
A successful euthanasia depends on taking the time to listen to the client and recognizing their cues for what kind of support they need. Some people need to talk about their animal’s life while some people just want to get through it quickly and leave. Some clients need a hug while others need thoughtful silence. There are busy days when it seems like there isn’t enough time to devote to a meaningful euthanasia, but I would argue that you can’t afford to not take the time.
What kinds of protocols do other practices have for approaching euthanasia and the grieving client? Do you dread every euthanasia? Why?? Have you had any bad euthanasia experiences that could have been avoided? How many other veterinarians have received pet loss counseling training? Do you think it makes you more marketable to prospective employers? This very important part of our job is something that doesn’t seem to be addressed very well in vet schools.
