bereavement grief and euthanasia
TRANSCRIPT
Bereavement, Grief and Bereavement, Grief and EuthanasiaEuthanasia
Companion animals provide both parents Companion animals provide both parents and children with stability, constancy, and and children with stability, constancy, and security security
The human animal bond has made our The human animal bond has made our pets part of the familypets part of the family
Pets are used to meet many of the Pets are used to meet many of the changing psycho-social needs of modern changing psycho-social needs of modern societysociety
When pet loss occurs, intensity and When pet loss occurs, intensity and duration of attachment determine the duration of attachment determine the significance of the loss and intensity of significance of the loss and intensity of grief that follows. grief that follows.
Pets can take on symbolic meaning as Pets can take on symbolic meaning as reminders of both pleasant and traumatic reminders of both pleasant and traumatic events in people’s lives.events in people’s lives.
The degree of attachment is different for The degree of attachment is different for each pet and ownereach pet and owner
Keys to attachmentKeys to attachment
Owners believe that they rescued their pet Owners believe that they rescued their pet from death or near deathfrom death or near death
Owners believe that their pet got them Owners believe that their pet got them through a difficult period in lifethrough a difficult period in life
Owner spent their childhood with their pet Owner spent their childhood with their pet
Keys to attachmentKeys to attachment Owner has relied on their pet as their most Owner has relied on their pet as their most
significant source of supportsignificant source of support
Owner anthropomorphizes their petOwner anthropomorphizes their pet
Owner has invested significant time, effort and Owner has invested significant time, effort and money into their pets long term medical caremoney into their pets long term medical care
Owners view their pet as symbolic links to Owners view their pet as symbolic links to significant people who are no longer in their lives significant people who are no longer in their lives or to significant times in their lives.or to significant times in their lives.
Pets can take on symbolic meaning as Pets can take on symbolic meaning as reminders of both pleasant and traumatic reminders of both pleasant and traumatic events in people’s lives.events in people’s lives.
Grief can be intenseGrief can be intense
Grief is very individual, and each family Grief is very individual, and each family member may grieve in a unique waymember may grieve in a unique way
As a childAs a child
Did you have a pet as a child?Did you have a pet as a child?
What kind of pet did you have as a child?What kind of pet did you have as a child?
Was it special to you?Was it special to you?
Tell us why it was a special pet.Tell us why it was a special pet.
What happened to it?What happened to it?
As an adultAs an adult
As an adult, have you have a pet die?As an adult, have you have a pet die?
What kind of pet was it?What kind of pet was it?
What’s was it’s name?What’s was it’s name?
How was it special to you?How was it special to you?
Have you ever had to euthanize a pet?Have you ever had to euthanize a pet?
Who made the decision?Who made the decision?
A dog comes in and is diagnosed with A dog comes in and is diagnosed with systemic lymphosarcoma. systemic lymphosarcoma.
Euthanize or not?Euthanize or not?
A chicken has a fractured leg. A chicken has a fractured leg.
Euthanize or not?Euthanize or not?
A cat with feline aids. A cat with feline aids.
Euthanize or not?Euthanize or not?
Barbaro. Barbaro.
Euthanize or not?Euthanize or not?
A 4 year old hamster with a tumor. A 4 year old hamster with a tumor.
Euthanize or not?Euthanize or not?
A cow with a chronic history of prolapsed A cow with a chronic history of prolapsed uterus. uterus.
Euthanize or not?Euthanize or not?
A cow with a chronic history of prolapsed A cow with a chronic history of prolapsed uterus. uterus.
Euthanize or not?Euthanize or not?
A cow wouldn’t be euthenized, it would be A cow wouldn’t be euthenized, it would be shipped to slaughtershipped to slaughter
What is your opinion about the use of What is your opinion about the use of animals or animal products for food, animals or animal products for food, clothing, research, entertainment, or clothing, research, entertainment, or competition?competition?
Your personal values may effect your Your personal values may effect your perception and beliefs about euthanasia.perception and beliefs about euthanasia.
As a professional, you will have to As a professional, you will have to participate in assisting in the process of participate in assisting in the process of euthanasiaeuthanasia
It is important to understand your own It is important to understand your own feelings in order to be able to assist the feelings in order to be able to assist the client with their decision regarding client with their decision regarding euthanasiaeuthanasia
In addition, you do not to make this In addition, you do not to make this process more difficult for the client by process more difficult for the client by projecting your values into the situationprojecting your values into the situation
The euthanasia processThe euthanasia process
Explaining euthanasia to clientsExplaining euthanasia to clients
Empathizing with clientsEmpathizing with clients
Death and DyingDeath and Dying
Kübler-Ross: Stages of dyingKübler-Ross: Stages of dyingDenialDenialAngerAngerBargainingBargainingDepressionDepressionFinal acceptanceFinal acceptance
Bereavement and mourningBereavement and mourning
denialdenial
People are uncomfortable talking about People are uncomfortable talking about death and dyingdeath and dying
People don’t consider that most pet’s life People don’t consider that most pet’s life spans are much shorter than ours and that spans are much shorter than ours and that the grieving process is part of pet the grieving process is part of pet ownershipownership
Veterinarians and technicians are Veterinarians and technicians are confronted daily with complex issues of confronted daily with complex issues of attachment, loss and grief in the course of attachment, loss and grief in the course of their patients’ illnesses and deathstheir patients’ illnesses and deaths
Many times clients turn to the veterinary Many times clients turn to the veterinary staff as sources of support, comfort, and staff as sources of support, comfort, and understanding at and around the time of understanding at and around the time of their pet’s deaththeir pet’s death
Veterinary staff have a unique position Veterinary staff have a unique position since they have an understanding of the since they have an understanding of the bond between owner and pet bond between owner and pet
Veterinary staff have the ability and Veterinary staff have the ability and responsibility to assist clients going responsibility to assist clients going through the process of grief when their through the process of grief when their beloved pet diesbeloved pet dies
You must give the clientYou must give the client
SupportSupportUnderstandingUnderstandingEmpathyEmpathyThe permission to grieveThe permission to grieve
Places to contact for help or referral Places to contact for help or referral sources for help with griefsources for help with grief
Box 38-3 pg 1184 in textBox 38-3 pg 1184 in text
Dealing with children and deathDealing with children and death
tell them the TRUTHtell them the TRUTHExplain in simple termsExplain in simple termsDon’t use euphemismsDon’t use euphemismsContact children’s support systemContact children’s support system
TRUTH!!!!!!!TRUTH!!!!!!!
Factors that may complicate the Factors that may complicate the grief processgrief process
Box 38-5 pg 1187 in textBox 38-5 pg 1187 in text
Veterinarians and techniciansVeterinarians and technicians
Work with death and client grief on an Work with death and client grief on an almost daily basisalmost daily basis
Are emotionally involved with each patientAre emotionally involved with each patientAre affected by every patient’s deathAre affected by every patient’s deathNeed to assist in the euthanasia processNeed to assist in the euthanasia processNeed to deal with their own emotional Need to deal with their own emotional
healthhealthCan burn out easily if not also allowed to Can burn out easily if not also allowed to
grievegrieve