When the desire to become a veterinarian first occurred to me, handing my career over to death-centered work was not on my radar. I was primarily interested in caring for horses, which later matured into small animal medicine and finally general practice work. Upon graduation in 2004 from Colorado State University, I had been exposed to a few euthanasia appointments, and said goodbye to my own pets over the years, but the notion of becoming a euthanasia specialist was far from thought. Everything would change for me in 2006.
Like many other end-of-life focused veterinarians today, I started out in general practice caring for companion pets as they say, from womb to tomb, cradle to grave, and birth to earth. I saw my fair share of puppy appointments, busy surgery days, health rechecks, and more. And I helped many families and their pets with euthanasia. After a year in general practice, it became clear to me that my favorite appointments were those that offered me the chance to slow down and really connect with pet owners on a personal level. The longer the interaction and the more stories I heard, the happier I was. Euthanasia, it turns out, was the right procedure for such intimacy.
What should have been an inherently sad and difficult appointment took a different angle for me as a veterinarian. I was able to be there emotionally for my clients, perform a technically strong euthanasia procedure, and find peace with the decision, especially when I know I did my best. My mindset was one of success for having ended suffering, not failure for being unable to continue life. Death comes for every patient, and the sooner I accepted that, the more harmonious I felt.
Euthanasia appointments may offer the following to veterinary professionals:
- The chance to slow down during a busy day
- An opportunity to learn more about the pet’s life, pleasures, and joys
- A compassionate connection with people
- An appreciation for the human-animal bond
- The receiving of gratitude from grieving clients
Offering euthanasia in the home setting took me to an entirely new level of appreciation for the procedure. Early in my career, a life-altering gift was given to me through a hound dog named Jasper. He was a cancer patient of mine and he took a turn for the worse one Sunday afternoon while I was on emergency call. Jasper’s chest was full of fluid and he was struggling to breath. The family rushed him to the hospital and did all they could to carry him into the lobby where I met them. We euthanized him right there on the floor of the lobby, kneeling around and crying. I remember thinking this sweet old boy should have been at home and avoided this unpleasantness at the end. Soon after, I began offering home euthanasia to my patients and referring to local mobile services when I wasn’t available.
When pet euthanasia work poses challenges:
- When palliative treatments aren’t tried
- The pet isn’t ready for euthanasia but the owner is
- The need for death at all hours of the day, 24/7
- Conflict between colleagues on timing
- When home euthanasia isn’t an option
My career led me to become a home euthanasia specialist in northern Colorado after just two years of general practice, and to add hospice services for those patients who needed support before natural death occurred or euthanasia was needed. Everyday, I was out there offering guidance to families; those walking the end of life journey for the first time and those who had said goodbye many times before. For me, going into the home and seeing my patient in their favorite places, safe and surrounded by love, held extra special meaning. It enhanced their story. The variety of cases and collective histories all added to my fulfillment as the chosen veterinarian, and I feel it made me a better doctor. These days, I no longer provide home services but instead offer appointments at my euthanasia comfort center. The goal is the same…to slow down and build rapport with the family, to really lean in, engage, and give them my undivided attention.
I continue to feel extremely blessed to have recognized, early on, the importance of not only the beauty of a well-performed euthanasia, but for the feeling of peace that comes from supporting pet owners during their darkest hour. As the Senior Director of Medical Education for CAETA, I often come across veterinary students and practitioners still searching for their “why” in veterinary medicine, who are unsure how to approach the all-too-common euthanasia and find their own peace with it. When euthanasia is deemed the right thing to do, there is a shift from uncertainty to certainty, and a new focus on making it the best death possible. For many including myself, we relish the opportunity to shine and exceed expectations. Knowing there is one chance to get it right, we rise to the occasion. This is, after all, exactly what the pet needs and why loved ones feel gratitude beyond measure.
Learn more about how to provide amazing euthanasia support with the Companion Animal Euthanasia Training Academy.
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