Euthanasia Flashcards
what is the 4th stage of life?
end of life
what is the greek meaning of euthanasia?
good death
what are reasons for doing euthanasia?
excessive/uncontrollable pain, no longer enjoying life/living with dignity, no longer in control of bodily functions, liability rather than companion to owner, re-homing not feasible
what percentage of people don’t go back to the same vet practice after euthanizing a pet there?
> 20%
what are the 7 stages of grief?
shock, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, testing, acceptance
what are some mediators of grief?
age of bereaved, developmental stage, history, comorbidity, concurrent trauma, gender, sudden vs expected, age of deceased, type of death, support system, coping styles, level of attachment
coping with grieving clients: empathy
sometimes just being present and not saying anything is enough
don’t say: “I went through the same thing”, “I know what you mean”, “you should…”
don’t be judgmental and leave personal beliefs out
coping with grieving clients: patience
give them time, remember we only see part of their behavior
coping with grieving clients: respect
don’t rush them, know their name and their pet’s name, provide privacy, don’t make them be in the waiting room
euthanasia protocols
beforehand establish: who is handling euthanasia, who explains procedure, who does paperwork
if uncomfortable don’t take part in procedure
what must be on a euthanasia consent form?
must state that this procedure will result in pet’s death, owner must be the one to sign, must have consent to do necropsy, request for body disposal, bite acknowledgement (10 days bite-free)
how is euthanasia done?
overdose of barbiturate (high doses have same effects as anesthesia) which suppresses cardiovascular and respiratory systems
how can you support other pets living in the home where one pet died?
keep routines
maybe let them spend some time with the deceased pet
