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) with a passion for end-of-life (EOL) care. There were talks emphasizing that endings of all kinds matter, and that veterinary medicine has an obligation to care for dying animals when they are at their most vulnerable. The Companion Animal Euthanasia Training Academy (CAETA) was there to both sponsor and present educational content.
The purpose of the conference is to bring veterinary EOL professionals together to celebrate the important work they do while inspiring those new to the field to get involved. For those like myself who have been attending since 2011, it was the chance to see old friends and marvel at the IAAHPC’s expansion. Here are some of the highlights related to companion animal euthanasia.
- Emphasis on pain management to reduce premature euthanasia – a full day plus additional lectures throughout the weekend were focused on the latest ways to reduce pain in sick and aging animals. The take home message was that veterinarians have an obligation to consider all forms of pain management to prevent and minimize pain when able.
- Navigating personal emotions and preventing secondary traumatic stress – a few talks addressed the need for veterinary professionals to remain resilient in EOL work. Tips were given to elevate emotional intelligence to better understand not only why being in the presence of death is challenging, but how to cope with it. Self-regulation was mentioned as helping the mind and body relax and reset before encountering the primary trauma of others during a euthanasia appointment.
- The latest in companion animal euthanasia research and best practices – multiple presenters offered an ever growing body of evidence around better approaches to euthanasia. We learned about:
- Lidocaine as a euthanasia agent in canine and feline patients
- The use of oral transmucosal sedatives to avoid injection pain
- Adding euthanasia rounds for monthly team support
- The need to include loved ones during all aspects of the procedure even during emergencies
- What veterinary students want related to euthanasia education
- Visual phenomena observed at the moment of animal death
- Home euthanasia as the gold standard – as is often the case at IAAHPC conferences, a large majority of the attendees are mobile EOL practitioners or those with an interest in exploring this career path. A few talks gave advice on how to manage an EOL company and how to offer the gentlest home euthanasia experience. This was important to many attendees who work in general practice and wanted to learn skills they could bring back to their communities.
- CAETA hosted their euthanasia technique workshop using 10 feline models – for the first time at an IAAHPC conference, CAETA held their popular workshop using their newly developed feline models rather than cadavers. Around 40 participants gathered to first learn the 14 Essential Components of Euthanasia, then practiced the five most common injection methods. The workshop included euthanasia scenarios related to each model and ample time for discussion.
A few remaining noteworthy claims are worth mentioning. This year’s IAAHPC conference brought a large number of international attendees. I met veterinary professionals from as far as Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore, all coming together to learn and share their own EOL best practices. The IAAHPC also announced their renewed goal to form an American College of Veterinary Hospice and Palliative Care. Efforts are ongoing, and if you are interested in learning more, please contact them directly. As always, the conference brought a renewed focus and passion to attendees who believe in the power of a good death. CAETA was proud to be involved for yet another great event.
Next year’s IAAHPC annual conference will be held virtually over September 24-27, 2026.
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