Anticipating grief – the role of pre-euthanasia discussions

Given the deep emotional relationships that many people share with their pets, discussing euthanasia is stressful for both pet owners and veterinary professionals. Such discussion is however essential, and the manner in which veterinary personnel provide care for a client whose pet is approaching the end of its life has the potential to alleviate or aggravate grief. Where the loss can be anticipated, as is the case with terminally ill pets, discussion prior to the loss of the pet can be extremely helpful in lessening owners' feelings of responsibility, validating their decisions and enabling them to know they did their best for their treasured companion.