Impacts of the process and decision‐making around companion animal euthanasia on veterinary wellbeing

Abstract

A qualitative study using group and individual interviews involving 10 veterinary hospitals in Wellington County, Ontario, explored how the practices involved in euthanasia-related care impacts the wellbeing of veterinary professionals. Thematic analysis indicated two major outcomes: the goal and desire of veterinary professionals was to facilitate a 'good death' for the companion animal and navigating the euthanasia decision process was more challenging than the actual event of performing euthanasia. When successful in achieving a 'good death' and navigating euthanasia decisions, participants reported feeling that their own sense of wellbeing and the veterinary client's sense of wellbeing were improved. When unsuccessful, participants reported experiencing a reduced sense of wellbeing, reduced job satisfaction, increased emotional strain and feeling that the client was also detrimentally impacted. For many participants, navigating euthanasia decision-making consultations was seen as a greater challenge and a greater contributor to a reduced sense of wellbeing than the act of euthanasia itself. These findings suggest that there is a need for greater attention and support for veterinary professionals, particularly when navigating euthanasia decision-making consultations. Additional training and resources on navigating euthanasia consultations may assist in improving the wellbeing for veterinary professionals and the companion animals and owners under their care. Ethics approvalThe study protocol was reviewed and approved by the University of Guelph Research Ethics Board (REB#14MY006) for compliance with federal guidelines for research involving human participants.Data availability statement Data are available upon request.

Public Perceptions of Veterinarians from Social and Online Media Listening

“…Risk factors among veterinarians, such as suicidal ideation, attempts at one’s own life, and depression, have been cited in the literature, both in the U.S. and in other countries [ 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 ]. Other challenges facing the veterinary health profession are well documented within the industry, including student debt loads [ 34 ], mental health implications arising from compassion fatigue [ 35 ], and the impact of performing euthanasia [ 36 ], in addition to lesser discussed but more obvious risks to (human) physical safety arising from working with animals [ 37 ]. While these challenges and issues are being raised in the media and in the literature around the world, veterinary suicides were not found in the searches conducted in this study.…”

Animal euthanasia – empathic care or empathic distress?

“…They also describe vets' reduced sense of wellbeing and emotional strain when discussions around euthanasia are prolonged or complicated, thus making the euthanasia decision-making consultations more diicult and distressing than the act of euthanasia itself. 10 Vets are reported to be present during the death of their patients ive times more oten than general practitioners in human healthcare. 11,12 Animals will present on the brink of death and requiring euthanasia through trauma, illness, injury, abuse and human abandonment.…”

“…Drawing a distinction between the act of euthanasia and the process of euthanasia, as suggested by Matt and colleagues, 10 provides an important insight into developing strategies to support veterinary professionals. Vets are already at risk of higher levels of stress linked to depressive symptomology due to occupational…”

“…In a paper summarised on p 480 of this issue of Vet Record , Matte and colleagues draw attention to the reported benefits when the human carer and the vet work together to end the suffering of a companion animal and provide a ‘good death’ through euthanasia. They also describe vets’ reduced sense of wellbeing and emotional strain when discussions around euthanasia are prolonged or complicated, thus making the euthanasia decision‐making consultations more difficult and distressing than the act of euthanasia itself 10 …”

Should we be euthanasing cancer patients?

“…We encourage readers to also consider reading the article by Matte and others, 1 who found that when veterinary professionals successfully navigate euthanasia decisions and help shepherd pets through a ‘good death’, their sense of wellbeing, and that of their clients, improves.…”