What type of people like to surround themselves with death? It seems intuitive the answer is no one. Death is emotional, sad work. People crying, confusing choices, anxiety. For those who want joy and happiness in their careers, death work appears the exact opposite, yet many veterinary professionals are shedding general practice or industry careers and heading straight toward it. They are being called to serve the dying, not the living. Who are these unique souls and what are they hoping to accomplish in the end-of-life (EOL) space? We have asked the questions and found some interesting answers.
Before we dive in, some background on what veterinary EOL includes. EOL refers to an animal's end-of-life stage, which can occur at any time throughout life. Cancer, heart disease, kidney failure, and old age are common conditions leading to eventual death. Veterinary EOL services include quality-of-life assessments, palliative medicine, hospice-supported natural death, euthanasia, bereavement (grief support), and deceased pet aftercare.1 One does not need to be an expert in all, but should be familiar with and capable of providing most.
Euthanasia, in particular home euthanasia, is a popular service many practitioners provide exclusively, and to great success.2 Others are learning what it takes to provide euthanasia and hospice care, namely physical/emotional support of the dying pet, and education and bereavement support for owners.3 Some are also starting pet cremation or aquamation services to become what may be referred to as full-service EOL companies. Whether supporting all EOL patient needs or some, it is clear the field of death care is growing in veterinary medicine.
EOL company startups have exploded in the past 10 years. Today the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care (IAAHPC) reports more than 1,200 members, including veterinarians, technicians, social workers, and other support personnel. Many of them work for national companies or independent services of 1-10 veterinarian/tech combinations. While the exact number of veterinarians working exclusively in EOL is unknown, estimates may be as high as 2,500 worldwide. An online directory of mobile home hospice providers has some 300 listings from all over the United States (https://www.inhomepeteuthanasia.com). With the increase in pet ownership and the human-animal bond, the need for death care will grow.4
