Pet Hospice 101: Compassion Fatigue

What is Compassion Fatigue?

When your line of work routinely involves helping clients through the traumatic experience of losing an animal companion, you may find yourself suffering emotionally. This experience is known as compassion fatigue. The American Institute of Stress defines it as, “the emotional residue or strain of exposure to working with those suffering from the consequences of traumatic events.” It is possible to vicariously experience feelings of trauma through one case, or cumulatively over time.It may feel simpler to try to brush off your feelings, chalking it up to “burnout”. But compassion fatigue and burnout are not to be confused; a teacher can get exhausted or burnt out grading too many papers, but they are not traumatized. The difference is significant! Take notice if you don’t feel like yourself, or don’t enjoy doing the things you normally do. It is important that you do not trivialize your experience, but rather focus on taking care of yourself. Maintaining your own positive emotional well-being is crucial to offering quality support and services to your clients.

Self-care Tips for Dealing with Compassion Fatigue

• Get plenty of sleep
• Eat a healthy diet
• Allow time for rest (mental and physical)
• Play, laugh!
• Lean on support network of meaningful relationships 

If you are taking all these steps for proper self-care and are still struggling, seek out someone to talk to a friend, colleague or counselor. There is no shame in admitting you need help; on the contrary, it is a highly professional step and an investment in your own well-being and career. On the flip side, if you are approached by a colleague who is experiencing compassion fatigue, empathize with them openly--“me too” goes a long way to kill the shame they may be feeling. Veterinary professionals need to be a supportive community for each other.Finally, reframe yourself mentally- always try to find the silver lining and focus on the positive:

• Make the most out of what you can control 
• Practice gratitude
• Remember that the pet had a good family
• You helped the suffering end
• People genuinely mean well 

Compassion fatigue can be a real struggle. But with awareness, self-care, a good support system, and a positive mindset, you can overcome it and continue to do amazing work for your clients and their pets. Our MissionThe goal of pet hospice is to make sure that the pet is as pain-free and comfortable as possible. This goal is best achieved when veterinary clinics and pet hospice providers work as a team to provide a high-quality care and services for clients. 


Pet Hospice 101: Processing Grief

How Do I Help My Clients Through the Grieving Process?

The loss of an animal companion can be heartbreaking. Clients are experiencing the loss of a family member, and depend on support and guidance during this difficult time. One overlooked role that veterinarians must play is a counselor to their client.

• There are several things to take into account when it comes to helping clients process grief: 
• The loss of an animal companion affects everyone in the family; adults, children, and other pets 
• Adults, children and pets all process grief differently
• Grief is natural and will pass 

Helping Children Understand the Loss of a Pet

There are proactive measures that should be taken to help children with grief processing. The biggest factor is honesty. Use the words death and dying instead of euphemisms, such as “sleeping”. It may seem counter-intuitive, but give children of all ages the choice to be present during an in-home pet euthanasia. Sheltering them from the event can lead to confusion and lack of closure. Provide children with a special time to say goodbye to their beloved pet. This will create a more positive and comforting experience.

Signs of  Pet Grief and Treatments

Pets also need help grieving a housemate. Examples of pets grieving a housemate include:

• a dog letting out a whine as a housemate passed
• a dog laying on a housemate’s grave for weeks
• a dog who slept next to a shelf where a housemate’s ashes rested.

Their pain and grief are indeed real. A client can oftentimes be so consumed by their own grief that they may not realize their other pets are grieving.

Here are signs of pet grief to look out for:

• Depression: loss of appetite or desire to play
• Anxiety: behaving in a needy, hyper, or destructive way

Suggested treatments for pet processing grief include:

• walking and exercise
• extra attention
• possibly the addition of another pet for companionship

So much thought is given to preparing for and executing a compassionate in-home pet euthanasia. It is critical that the professional care and attention a client receives extends beyond the actual procedure, with a compassionate follow-up appointment to discuss grief and how the family is processing. Our MissionThe goal of pet hospice is to make sure that the pet is as pain-free and comfortable as possible. This goal is best achieved when veterinary clinics and pet hospice providers work as a team to provide a high-quality care and services for clients. 


Pet Hospice 101: Euthanasia

What is Euthanasia?

For most clients, euthanasia is not an option that they have considered. It may have a negative stigma attached to it, or a client may feel that making a decision to end a pet’s life is unnatural. It is common for clients to experience guilt while deciding whether or not euthanasia is the right option for their beloved pet. But euthanasia is not inhumane; on the contrary, euthanasia literally translates to “good death”. The role of veterinarians and pet hospice providers is to provide support and guidance. 

How to Approach Euthanasia

Helping clients during the difficult time of caring for a terminally ill pet requires emotional intelligence. The human-animal bond is very strong, which usually means clients are suffering right alongside their pets. Clients will benefit from your non-judgemental support and guidance as they make this hard decision. A big part of playing the supportive role is giving clients the “permission” they seek; let them know that the decision to euthanize is compassionate, that “it’s okay”. Another strategy is to repeat back to the client what you hear them say they are struggling with. Sometimes clients don’t clearly realize how bad the situation has gotten until they hear it repeated aloud by someone else. Ultimately, when the client comes to the conclusion that they want to choose euthanasia, support them by validating their decision.Euthanasia traditionally takes place in the clinic. The clinic environment can feel sterile, so suggest that the client bring their pet’s items from home to make it more comfortable- a bed, favorite stuffed animal, or blanket, for example. Suggest to the client that, if possible, it always helps to have a long time housemate, friend, or family member present. During the procedure, check in frequently while waiting for the sedative. Your presence will help to decrease your clients fear and anxiety. Try to avoid physical restraint as much as possible. Explain each step and answer questions as you go, and exude a calm, and caring energy.

In-Home Pet Euthanasia

The most loving and peaceful euthanasia passing can happen in your client’s home. This service is offered by a pet home hospice and euthanasia provider. Client’s may find this setting is preferable to a clinic for several reasons:

• Pets feel more relaxed and less anxious in their own home
• Easier to have more friends and family present 
• Housemates can have closure
• More relaxed for the owner
• Can express grief more freely

Make sure your clients are aware that in-home euthanasia is an option for them. Just like you would refer their pet to any other special services, your client depends on you to refer them to this important service.

Our Mission

The goal of pet hospice is to make sure that the pet is as pain-free and comfortable as possible. This goal is best achieved when veterinary clinics and pet hospice providers work as a team to provide a high-quality care and services for clients. 


Pet Hospice 101: Quality of Life: Recognizing Pain in a Pet

Quality of Life: Recognizing Pain in a Pet

The goal of pet hospice is to make sure that the pet is as pain-free and comfortable as possible. This begins with being able to recognize when a pet is pain. Pets do not show outward signs of pain and suffering the way humans do. Many clients may be completely oblivious to their pets suffering if they don’t know what signs to look for. Pet hospice service professionals rely on a special pain assessment to determine the condition of a pet. They use the results of this assessment to educate the client on the amount of pain of their pet is experiencing and how they can help.When looking for signs of pain in a pet, it is important to consider what is normal vs. abnormal. Biting, licking, and chewing, for example, are often considered normal pet behaviors and not a reason to raise an alarm. However, these actions can point to something more than just anxiety; for example, there could be an infection or deeper pain beneath the surface. Pet owners expect to see whining or crying, but in reality, pets express pain and discomfort in much subtler ways. Discussing the list of signs below with clients can help save pets from unnecessary suffering.

Signs of pain

• Hesitation to stand or lay down
• Dragging on a walk 
• Hiding 
• Sleeping more or less
• Loss of interest in playing with owner or other pets 
• No longer doing a behavior, such as being held

Signs of anxiety

• Panting 
• Heart pounding 
• Pacing
• Unable to sleep 

The differences between signs of anxiety and signs of pain in a pet are subtle. Help clients understand the difference between the two and empower them to better care for their pet. This works towards the ultimate goal- to make sure that the pet is as pain-free and comfortable as possible. A pet’s quality of life can be greatly increased just by educating clients and raising awareness. If a client needs help to recognize signs of pain, refer them to a pet hospice care service for a formal consultation and assessment.Our Mission The goal of pet hospice is to make sure that the pet is as pain-free and comfortable as possible. This goal is best achieved when veterinary clinics and pet hospice providers work as a team to provide a high-quality care and services for clients. 

Pet Hospice 101: What is a Custom Hospice Plan?

Pet hospice care is a three-prong approach:

• listening to clients’ concerns and fears
• educating clients on quality of life
• helping clients plan for euthanasia or natural death.

Because each client presents a unique set of needs and challenges, there is no “prescribed” or “standard” pet hospice treatment.

Our Customized Pet Hospice Plan

Pet hospice is a service that must be customized in each circumstance to be effective, and plans are always tailored to each pet's specific needs. This takes a considerable amount of time and specialized knowledge. To ensure quality, it is best to refer clients to a separate pet hospice service. The first step in creating a custom pet hospice plan is to assess the pet’s pain and educate the client about their pet’s condition. The goal is to make sure that the pet is as comfortable and pain-free as possible. This begins with an initial consultation by a Board Certified Dr. of Veterinary Medicine, during which a pain assessment is conducted. Many pet owners cannot recognize signs that their pet is suffering because animals do not display outward signs of pain the way humans do. A pet hospice service provider will conduct the pain assessment in the client’s home and then educate the client on the results. With information gathered from an in-home pain assessment, the next step is to coordinate with the client and their veterinarian on a treatment program. This program involves what the client will do at home with aid from the pet hospice service, and what treatment will be done in the veterinary clinic. The pet hospice servicers can even train clients to administer medications and fluids at home as part of their custom hospice plan. All data from assessments, progress, and changes in condition, will be reported by the pet hospice servicer to the client and their veterinarian for continuity of care.A custom hospice plan works effectively when all three parties (pet hospice servicer, client and veterinarian) are on board. The pet hospice servicer acts as team leader to keep all parties on track with the goal of the custom hospice plan and to maximize the benefits for the client and their pet.

Our Mission

The goal of pet hospice is to make sure that the pet is as pain-free and comfortable as possible. This goal is best achieved when veterinary clinics and pet hospice providers work as a team to provide a high-quality care and services for clients. 


Pet Hospice 101: What is Pet Hospice?

For many people, the word ‘hospice’ is associated with a special medical center where terminally ill patients go for end-of-life care. Hospice, however, is a philosophy, not a place. The hospice philosophy is best described as- ending aggressive treatment for a cure. The focus shifts from actively treating to find a cure, to providing the best quality of life, and minimizing pain and suffering.

The 3 Prong Approach

Pet hospice care is a three-prong approach: listening to clients’ concerns and fears, educating clients on quality of life, and helping clients plan for euthanasia or natural death.When a pet owner is in the heartbreaking position of caring for an ailing pet, it can be difficult for them to have a proper perspective on when to consider a hospice approach. As the veterinary provider, you can refer a client for a hospice consultation under several circumstances:

• When you must deliver bad news 
• When you see a client in denial
• When you are concerned a client may be naively putting their pet at risk of suffering
• When a client is highly emotional
• When a client is struggling with the decision of what to do

An objective, professional hospice consultation is the first step to helping a client understand pet hospice. A consultation can take place at a clinic or in the client’s home, and generally lasts 45-60 minutes. By listening to the client’s concerns and fears, and talking the client through the hospice philosophy and practice, a consultation helps a client become educated and empowered.

Benefits Of Our Hospice Service

There are several benefits of referring clients to a Gentle Journey hospice service:

• Clients feel free to be honest when receiving unbiased support
• Clients have increased levels of trust in a separate agency specializing pet hospice services 
• As a separate pet hospice service, we can dedicate more energy and resources to a needy client and still communicate feedback directly with your clinic

Our commitment to you, as the treating veterinarian, is what sets Gentle Journey apart.

Our Mission

The goal of pet hospice is to make sure that the pet is as pain-free and comfortable as possible. This goal is best achieved when veterinary clinics and pet hospice providers work as a team to provide a high-quality care and services for clients.