Today's Veterinary Practice

JAN-FEB 2016

Today's Veterinary Practice provides comprehensive information to keep every small animal practitioner up to date on companion animal medicine and surgery as well as practice building and management.

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Today's VeTerinary PracTice | January/February 2016 | tvpjournal.com PracTice BUiLdinG 128 responses. Then, when the veterinarian walks into the appointment to euthanize the pet, he or she has an understanding of the family's interpretation of their pet's condition (because their perception is their reality). 3. "How soon would you like to bring Max in?" Get specifcs. "as soon as possible" can mean anything from hours to days. 4. "Do you know what you would like to do with Max afterwards?" notice that the word "body" is avoided. To the family, it's not Max's body, it's still Max. 5. next you should describe aftercare: "There are three options for what to do with Max afterwards—a private cremation, in which he will be cremated alone and the cremains returned back to you; a communal cremation, in which he will be cremated with other pets and their cremains scattered at a butterfy garden (know what your crematory does with communal cremains); and lastly, you're welcome to bury him at home. This is a very personal decision, and there's no right answer, only what's right for you. If it helps with your decision, the private cremation charge is $200 and the communal cremation is $50." 6. if a family asks if it's legal to bury at home, we say (see A Word on Home Burial & Other Body Care Options): "I buried my little one in my backyard. You can check your county ordinances and do what you feel is best for you." 7. "Just so you know, the total charge for the appointment, including cremation, is $250. It may be easier for you to write a check out now, so you don't have to worry about it when you get here." Pricing the euthanasia appointment should be carefully considered and not itemized. remember, this is a practice building appointment, not a proftable one. For the support team, collecting payment is one of the most diffcult parts of the euthanasia appointment; set everyone up for success by giving the owners the total in advance and gently preparing them for payment. A Word on Home Burial & Other Body Care Options Pets are property. You cannot demand that a pet's body remain at your clinic. Horses and other livestock are euthanized with barbiturates and buried all the time, and humans are buried with mounds of chemicals in their bodies every day. It is the clients' choice to bury, cremate, or otherwise honor their pets in what- ever way they see ft and at their own risk. However, it is your responsibility to educate the owner on proper burial techniques. Pre-Euthanasia Practice Building suggestions • If the pet is still eating, suggest the owners bring in a favorite treat or something special like ice cream or chocolate (or provide this in the examination room). Owners are happy to see their pets enjoying something good when they are saying goodbye. • If there is a calm housemate, invite the owners to bring this pet along. Many dogs and cats have some level of grief when they lose a friend, so allowing them to be present or minimally sniff the deceased pet after euthanasia may provide closure. This also provides company for the caregiver. • Invite owners to bring a toy or other keepsake to go with their pet for cremation. • Ask what kind of car the owners will be driving and direct them to park in the designated "Love Spot" for geriatric patients near the front of your clinic. If the dog is large and you know the family is burying him at home, offer to perform the euthanasia in the car (Figure 1). • Do not give the owners too many options. Offer the best from the start. For example: » Owners should not decide if their pets should be sedated (we are the ones to make medical decisions, not them, and sedation should always be provided). » Have one nice urn chosen for all private cremations and included in your price (your crematorium may have a standard urn option). Only give the owners the option to choose something else if they ask. » The most outrageous trend we have heard is that some clinics charge more if the owners want to be present. We understand the thought pattern behind this—the need to provide an indwelling catheter and more room time with the family—but imagine what this looks like to the owner, who thinks, "What are you doing to my pet if I'm not present?" If the owners don't want to be there, they will tell you, so assume they will be. P r e - E u FIGURE 1. This dog loved being in his car and the owner asked if euthanasia could be performed there. There is no reason why this can't be done. For those large dogs that can't move, nothing is worse than having an owner struggle to get them in the clinic.

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