Posts

Euthanasia-Related Highlights from the 2025 IAAHPC Conference

By Dr. Kathleen Cooney / November 1, 2025

I recently attended the 15th annual International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care (IAAHPC) conference in Louisville, Kentucky. It’s a gathering of veterinary professionals (DVM, technician, social worker, etc)…

CAETA Euthanasia Case: Francisco the Itchy Cat

By Dr. Kathleen Cooney / October 1, 2025

The Companion Animal Euthanasia Training Academy (CAETA) invites you to consider the following fictional euthanasia case and reflect on how to proceed. After reviewing the case, read the questions and…

Common Complaints About Pet Euthanasia

By Dr. Kathleen Cooney / September 1, 2025

The euthanasia of a beloved pet is one of the most emotionally charged experiences a pet owner can face. While many families find comfort in a peaceful, compassionate process, others…

The Best Way to Euthanize Awake Pets with IV Pentobarbital (if you must)

By Dr. Kathleen Cooney / August 1, 2025

CAETA is known for its advocacy of pre-euthanasia sleep for companion pets. It is part of our 14 essential components of companion animal euthanasia and the backbone of our ability…

Emotional Blackmail by Pet Owners Demanding Euthanasia: How to Respond

By Dr. Kathleen Cooney / July 1, 2025

What is emotional blackmail and how does it apply to pet euthanasia and veterinary medicine? Emotional blackmail is a form of manipulation where a person uses fear, obligation, or guilt…

New Study Shows Lidocaine as Euthanasia Agent in Dogs and Cats

By Dr. Kathleen Cooney / June 1, 2025

Lidocaine is a local anesthetic drug that can be administered to dogs and cats in high doses to achieve death. It requires pre-euthanasia anesthesia to induce unconsciousness beforehand and appears…

CAETA Euthanasia Case: Nugget the old horse

By Dr. Kathleen Cooney / May 1, 2025

The Companion Animal Euthanasia Training Academy (CAETA) invites you to consider the following fictional euthanasia case and reflect on how to proceed. After reviewing the case, read the questions and…

Rabies Testing Requirements Following a Bite Incident: What to know before considering pet euthanasia

By Dr. Kathleen Cooney / April 1, 2025

It’s an unpleasant situation. A dog, cat, or other mammal has bitten a human. While some bites are more serious than others, if a person’s skin has been punctured to…

How Common is it for Veterinarians to Refuse a Pet Euthanasia Request?

By Dr. Kathleen Cooney / March 1, 2025

Recently I was in conversation with some colleagues, discussing a veterinarian’s right to choose whether they proceed with a client’s euthanasia request for their pet. It got me wondering how…

The Importance of Keeping Families Together During Pet Euthanasia

By Dr. Kathleen Cooney / February 1, 2025

The original title of this blog was going to be “The Importance of Keeping Families and Pets Together During Euthanasia.” However, I thought, pets are family, so it seemed redundant…