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How I approach… A meaningful euthanasia appointment
Cooney K.
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Euthanasia is one of the most common and important procedures undertaken in veterinary medicine; here Dr. Cooney shares her thoughts on how to provide a compassionate and highly skilled end-of-life experience for both the pet patient and the caregiver.
Kathleen Cooney
DVM, CHPV, Companion Animal Euthanasia Training Academy, Colorado State University, Loveland, CO, USA
A graduate of Colorado State University in 2004, Dr. Cooney is the former owner of a large home euthanasia service and water-based pet crematory, and the author of two books on animal euthanasia. She is the Founder and current Director of Education for the Companion Animal Euthanasia Training Academy (CAETA) where she teaches, researches and writes on euthanasia-related topics. She is working towards a specialty degree with the American College of Animal Welfare.
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Key points
- A gentle euthanasia is a blend of art and science that benefits the patient, the client and the veterinary team.
- Modern approaches are focused on reducing fear and distress by keeping owner and patient together throughout the appointment.
- Providing sleep for the patient before euthanasia has become the gold standard around the world.
- Euthanasia can have its challenges, but proper preparation should help prevent them.
Introduction – A quality euthanasia
Euthanasia has evolved to include more elements than the medical act itself. It is a procedural experience wherein the owner is invited to be present and say goodbye in a manner that matches the bond they hold with their pet. The patient’s comfort in the last moments of life is especially important, and veterinary teams are now introducing more and more effort to the process in order to reduce fear, anxiety, and stress. A quality euthanasia appointment begins early with client preplanning and team preparations; once everyone is gathered, the 14 essential components of good euthanasia (Table 1) are completed to ensure a smooth delivery of the procedure. These components are a template for the veterinary team to follow every time. Performing euthanasia correctly is good for animal welfare, protects the mental health of clients and the veterinary team, and maintains trust in the veterinary profession to care for patients in their time of need. In the Greek language, euthanasia means “good death” and with adequate training, it may be successfully completed by anyone licensed to perform the procedure. I appreciate the dedication it takes to achieve it and the emotional toll it can have on the veterinary team, but when done well and for the right reasons, euthanasia has the potential to be one of the most rewarding and meaningful interactions the team has with the patient and client, and a driver towards compassion satisfaction (1).
G = Grief support materials provided O = Outline caregiver and pet preferences O = Offer privacy before and after death D = Deliver proper technique E = Establish rapport U = Use pre-euthanasia sedation or anesthesia T = Thorough, complete consent H = Helpful and compassionate personnel A = Adequate time N = Narrate the process A = Avoid pain and anxiety S = Safe space to gather I = Inclusion of loved ones A = Assistance with body care |
Table 1. The 14 essential components of good euthanasia.
© Courtesy of CAETA
Preplanning with clients
Helping clients to prepare for the euthanasia of their pet often begins well in advance of the appointment. They need discussions around if and when to euthanize, including what options they have before euthanasia is considered necessary. Help with decision-making is one of the most important things veterinarians can do for their clients (2). Beyond when to euthanize, clients often have questions related to who can be present, what will occur, and where they can gather for the procedure (Table 2). In this preplanning stage, it is appropriate to involve everyone on the team who can help clients get the information and answers they seek. This increased understanding about euthanasia reduces regret and fear of the unknown. Even those clients who have been through the procedure before benefit when preplanning for their next pet.
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