Posts by Dr. Kathleen Cooney
Veterinary Technicians in Euthanasia Work; Encouragement
Could our profession be utilizing highly skilled, empathetic veterinary technicians/nurses to perform companion animal euthanasia, rather than always relying on veterinarians? It turns out around 50% of US states already…
Read MoreA Pet’s Home Burial
As the days warm, pet owners who’ve lost a pet tend to contemplate the option of home burial. There is no set figure on how many people choose backyard burial…
Read MoreCOVID-19 and Home Euthanasia; Suggested tips to reduce exposure
The following are suggested tips to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission during home euthanasia work. Note these have not been reviewed by health officials and you are encouraged to…
Read MoreEmotionally Intelligent Euthanasia (EIE)
Emotionally Intelligent Euthanasia A veterinary student recently shadowed me for a week to learn how I cope with the emotional strain of euthanasia-centric work. Her backstory was filled with highly…
Read MoreEuthanasia Protocol Change Takes a Euthanasia Action Plan
Have you ever gone to an educational conference and learned so much you didn’t know where to start? It’s easy to get overwhelmed with information and then struggle implementing it…
Read MoreResisting Complacency in Euthanasia Work
A colleague told me recently how frustrated she was when a client verbally lashed out at her following a dysthanasia (bad death experience). The client was upset with the dog’s…
Read MoreA Guide to Intracardiac Injections by Dr. AJ Smith
The intracardiac injection as a euthanasia technique in animals has been utilized since the early 20th century. The heart is a central vascular pump able to move euthanasia drugs effectively…
Read MoreA Brief History of Pentobarbital
For those curious about the discovery of barbiturates, their origin can be traced back to Germany in 1864. Ludwig von Baeyer, the founding father of the Bayer company, synthesized urea…
Read MoreUtilizing Euthanasia to Reduce Compassion Fatigue
In medicine, we seek treatments to our ailments. Find a cure and fix the problem. Compassion fatigue is a real condition that affects millions of caregivers around the world. While…
Read MoreRennie’s Story: The Perfect Euthanasia
A case study in the perfect euthanasia experience by following CAETA’s 14 Essential Components of Companion Animal Euthanasia
Read More