What Are The Most Sensitive Communication Skills When They Decide To Opt For Euthanasia

Question 1:

Clients require the most sensitive communication skills when they decide to opt for euthanasia for their animal. They may opt for euthanasia because of incurable disease, lack of finance to pay for treatment, age, trauma or some other reason.

The first point is to remember how the client is feeling. If they are unable to afford treatment, they may be feeling guilty, or they could be angry that they have been put in this position. It is important that nurses learn to deal with this as it may happen frequently.

Skills that can be used include:

• Giving the client time to think, speak and show emotion

• Showing empathy

• Making sure that the procedure itself goes smoothly

When talking with a client about euthanasia it is important

This may take a little while: a pet may look dead and be no longer breathing but still have a weak heartbeat for a minute or so after. The vet cannot call a pet deceased until the heart has stopped.

Signs that an animal has passed:

• The animal's lips, gums and tongue are purple in colour (see image below).

• The patient is no longer breathing - you won't see a rib cage moving up and down.

• The patient has no heart beat

• The patient’s pupils are dilated (see image).

• The patient’s pupils do not react to light - if you shine a light in the animal's eye, the pupil will not constrict.

• The patient’s eyeballs are dull and seem dry in appearance and no longer shiny.

• The patient is not moving and is unresponsive.

11. More time to say goodbye?

We offer more time to say good bye, sometimes owners like to sit with their pet and grieve awhile and regain their composure for the outside world. The vet will leave the room and go about their business until you are ready.

12. Mystar’s body

This should have already been discussed in post – euthanasia so the clinic can assist what you would like to do with the body after death has taken

Denial is the first reaction to loss. This can be an overwhelming emotional situation. Some clients will be in shock and refuse to believe or accept the circumstances or diagnosis. They may say such thing as

• “I can’t believe this is happening”

• “She was fine yesterday”

• “It can’t be that bad”

• “You must have it wrong?”

This is the start. I would say Natalie is in shock, is very emotional and can’t believe or accept the circumstances. She is also saying such thing as “she isn’t ready “and “can’t believe this is happening”.

2. Anger/ resentment is the most difficult stage to deal with as angered emotional clients can be unintentionally vicious to the veterinary team. It is often seen in the veterinary setting with traumatic or sudden death or euthanasia. The anger can be directed towards themselves, towards friends, family, the veterinarian staff or the pet itself. The anger stage often manifests itself of what the veterinarian team didn’t do for a client and their pet.

They may say things like:

• “I knew she wasn’t well”

• “I told you she was sick, but you didn’t listen”

• “You don’t care – you just want to kill my pet!”

• “You refused to help me”

• “If I had brought him to the vet