Euthanasia tips to make the final goodbye more compassionate

An example of a euthanasia room created for the comfort of both patient and client. Courtesy Corinth Veterinary Clinic in Hickory Creek, TX. It is never easy saying goodbye to a beloved pet. Euthanasia is one of the toughest topics to discuss with pet owners that is well before the experience of the actual appointment. In veterinary medicine, we often experience a range of emotions from the caregiver’s perspective. Comforting and guiding clients through this emotionally tumultuous time can be extremely taxing. There are ways to make these experiences better for the owners having to say goodbye and, in turn, could make it easier on the caregivers who find themselves in the support role. Setting the stage for the experience that honors the bond between pet and owner through the veterinary comfort room has become an essential part of any clinic or hospital. A comfortable environment equipped to help the patient and client through the emotional suffering that is part of the pet loss experience is vital. We, in the veterinary world, sometimes compartmentalize the pain and discomfort we feel during highly emotional situations by qualifying it as a procedure in order to cope. Unfortunately, that can do us and our clients a huge disservice. I invite you to embrace the euthanasia experience as a furthering of the bond between you and your client, and their beloved pet. As part of the healthcare team, this is one of the gifts you can offer to a pet that is suffering and, by extension, the suffering of the owner, as well. Importance of environment When considering the emotional tolls that the death of a pet plays on a client, one of the areas we can make intentional efforts are on the components of the comfort room for our clients and patients. Comfort rooms are typically one of the exam rooms that has been deemed the “euthanasia room” because of its location near an exit or its privacy. Ideally, comfort rooms should be separated from the loud, high-traffic areas of the clinic, to provide the owners with a quiet environment and privacy. I did a walk-through of a clinic that had this, as well as a private door for owners to come in and out of, so owners would not have to walk through any of the busy areas. There are a few items for the room that are obvious, but there are also some that are not as common; those could make a big difference for everyone in the room during that appointment. I’ve seen rooms that have been set up like living rooms with couches or comfortable seating for the clients to visit with their pets one last time. Having warm blankets, large rugs for bigger pets, dimmed lighting, pheromone diffusers, and even special treats like a jar full of chocolate candies pets would never get under normal circumstances. This jar is often referred to as “Goodbye Kisses.” Included are other treats that pets may enjoy, and the owners would enjoy giving them as a fond farewell. My own pet Sugar got to drive through a local fast-food restaurant and enjoy her very own cheeseburger before we made our final trip to the veterinarian’s office. Care carts a helpful option While in a practice we don’t always have a dedicated comfort room that is only used for euthanasia appointments. We do have an exam room that can be outfitted with ready-to-go baskets, carts, and totes with the items we need to quickly convert an exam room into a well-equipped comfort room. There are different rolling carts that can be made into comfort carts and stocked with the Goodbye Kisses, jerky treats, canned cheese, tuna packets, and more. Don’t forget the comfort items for the clients, as well. In a blog post titled Euthanasia Comfort Rooms, written by Kathleen Cooney, DVM, CHPV, CCFP, from The Companion Animal Euthanasia Training Academy, “A pet owner once asked me what’s the most important thing in my euthanasia comfort rooms. Kleenex was my response. The floor could be dirt and the room cold; as long as we keep compassion and the bond front and center, nothing else matters.” Stocking Kleenex is vital as Dr. Cooney shared, but I caution you against assertively handing it to the client with the expectation of them crying. That act alone can stress a client and cause them to cry when they may have been holding back trying not to cry. Having the tissues and water bottles, or juice boxes and snacks, on a cart within arm’s reach of the client or their children is a thoughtful gesture so they can use any item they need in the moment. Children may not fully understand and parents trying to be in the moment with their pet and distracted by kids that don’t understand is extremely challenging. Gummy snacks, goldfish crackers and juice boxes could make all the difference, and are a low-cost addition to a comfort cart. Most owners in these last moments want their pets to feel loved and to hold them as they say goodbye, as it will be their last moments with them. You can also bring in a blanket for the pet to lay on or even one to cover them to keep them warm and comfortable. The best thing to do and focus on is that saying goodbye is beyond difficult for anyone, you want to make the owner and the pet feel comfortable. No owner wishes to say goodbye to their furry loved one on a cold metal table. Try to view your clinical environment through a grieving client’s eyes. Look for ways to make it warm and cozy, so the owners do not feel like they are in a medical setting. Aside from ensuring comfort with seats and rugs, some music could be provided, too. A personal approach is necessary Your own comfort level during the euthanasia procedure will also ease the client’s worry and concern over the event. They worry their pet will suffer more. Modeling confidence and guiding them through this with love and compassion will make them trust you and relax more so they can be present with their pet. I experienced the opposite of this during my own pet’s euthanasia. Sugar was my beautiful 15-year-old pug. She was my soul dog. She got me through college while she sat in my lap; I studied and rested the textbooks on her back. During my husband’s long military deployments, she was there following me around the house, often going to the clinic to work with me, and then sleeping curled up right next to me in the bed at night. The author’s own pets, Kona and Sugar, were euthanized at two different clinics, with strikingly different approaches to the process. Courtesy Rhonda Bell Years later, when the dreaded day arrived, and I knew it was time I called the practice to schedule her appointment. I was scheduled at the end of the day thankfully, or so I thought. Unfortunately, this was their busiest time, the waiting room was full. I was teary eyed and waiting with a very old pug and people watching us just knew what we were there for. The veterinarian I saw was very sweet, but very new and visibly uncomfortable. This put me and my family on edge. In fact, my husband and both sons looked at me with questions in their eyes, asking if this was going to be ok? I am experienced during this setting and have participated on the medical caregiver side of these appointments more times that I can even count, but this experience was only the second time in my life as an owner. The vet and her assistant took Sugar “to the back” to place a catheter, I could hear her yelp out in pain. She came back in and said they couldn’t set the catheter and told me to say goodbye so they could put her to sleep after we left. I was devastated because I knew how they would do it once we were gone. It truly was a horrible experience. There are so many things I would have changed from a management perspective that would have made my experience better. I left heartbroken, and that quickly turned to anger, frustration, and regret. In truth, I have not been back to that practice and switched vet clinics all together when we got a new puppy last year. Sugar’s sister, Kona, was ready a little more than a year later, and the new veterinarian office we went to was vastly different. The experience and confidence of the veterinarian made all the difference. This is not an indictment of the new grads; this is a call to action for spending the time to learn how to handle this distressing experience better. Work to become the euthanasia and comfort care experience expert in your practice. One thing I remember the second veterinarian told me during that appointment is that I had done all that I could do to keep her comfortable and it is obvious she had had a tremendous life. Those words released me from my pain of second guessing myself as her caregiver and owner. He understood my pain and concerns, and he helped ease them. In one of the worst moments of an owner’s life, taking a few steps to offer the little things that they may need to make it easier is key both physically and emotionally. Most owners probably won’t take notice of all the special items or efforts taken to make the room comfortable. They may not even sit in the chairs you provide or hear the soft music or noises in the room, but they will take notice and remember in those last moments with their pet, you cared, and they were comfortable. Rhonda Bell, CVPM, CCFP, CDMP, is founder and co-owner of Dog Days Consulting, a social media and brand management company. She spent 15 years as a practice manager working the day to day challenges of the veterinary practice and experienced firsthand the stresses, joys, communication dilemmas, and wonders of working in veterinary medicine. She now dedicates her work and energy to helping practices succeed online and to coaching team members with the skills that will hopefully prolong their careers. Resource Euthanasia Comfort Rooms, Kathleen Cooney, DVM, CHPV, CCFP, July 15, 2021. https://caetainternational.com/euthanasia-comfort-rooms/

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Euthanasia tips to make the final goodbye more compassionate

Comfort rooms and comfort care carts can make a huge difference for both patients and clients

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