The Top Ten Things Vet Students Should Understand About Euthanasia While in College

This past weekend, I was at a veterinary conference teaching veterinarians and technicians about gentle pet euthanasia. Among the crowd was a lone veterinary student hoping to glean some pearls of wisdom to help them better understand the complexities of euthanasia procedures. It got me reminiscing about my time in veterinary school, some 25 years ago, and how worried I was to not only watch an animal die, but how best to conduct myself in those settings. If I could go back in time, what would I tell my younger self about euthanasia? The message would have to highlight three things…human connection, patient experience, and forgiveness.

In vet school, developing veterinarians are exposed to a variety of cases including euthanasia. It is possible that some students won’t see a euthanasia appointment at all, but most will in one form or another, be it livestock or companion animals. During my 4th year of training, I recall being asked to participate in a dog euthanasia and relay the procedure details to the owner. While I felt good about how things went, my supervisor told me I sounded like I was describing “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride” at Disneyland. The important takeaway was that just because something seems appropriate or correct, it might not be perceived that way. This supervisor was helping me to let go of over-the-top descriptions, and instead, keep things simpler. Fortunately, the medical part of the dog’s euthanasia went well and the owner was pleased overall. I supported a few more animal deaths during my schooling and pulled lessons from each one. 

Top Ten Things Every Veterinary Student Should Understand About Euthanasia

1. Clients won’t necessarily remember what you said or did, but they will remember how you made them feel.
   • Slow down and make a personal connection
   • Establish rapport and build trust
2. It is essential to take time to relax your mind and body before the appointment.
   • Self-regulation reduces the risk of traumatic stress and compassion fatigue
   • A calm veterinarian helps everyone else be calm
3. Failing to plan is planning to fail.
   • Take time to ready supplies and understand the client’s needs
   • You cannot go back in time so get it right the first (and only) time
4. There is more to the story than meets the eye.
   • Provide time for clients to share their back story
   • The human-animal bond often goes deep
5. Clients want to know the death of their pet/animal matters to you.
   • It’s ok to cry and show emotion
   • Be compassionate without compromising your mental health
6. The dying patient does best with loved ones nearby, in safe space.
   • Your patient wants to be surrounded by loving and caring people
   • Safety comes in anxiety-free and familiar settings
7. Create a peaceful environment and most everything falls into place.
   • When you lead with the goal of peacefulness, you often find it
   • Follow CAETA’s 14 Essential Components of Good Euthanasia
8. Be open to doing things differently or outside your comfort zone.
   • Realize you will find yourself in uncomfortable situations no matter what
   • Keep an open mind and lean on your training
9. Things will go wrong, and that’s ok.
   • Practice self-forgiveness when you have a dysthanasia
   • Create a legacy from it by improving your approach for the next euthanasia
10. You may find you love euthanasia work above all else.
    • Pay attention to how you feel before, during, and after euthanasia
    • If you feel joy and gratitude for the work, you may have found your calling

The majority of my euthanasia training came after veterinary school when I started a job in general small animal practice. That was like “drinking from the fire hose” on what owners expect, what drugs to use, how to pivot when trouble comes up, and finding peace following a euthanasia so I could continue seeing other appointments. It turned out that euthanasia work would speak to me. My entire career has since revolved around saying goodbye to animals in need of relief from physical and mental suffering. And here I thought I’d be doing something so different like small animal surgery or equine ambulatory.

If I could go back in time, I would attend every possible euthanasia appointment during school. What an opportunity to see the right and wrong way to do things. I would also contact local euthanasia services like Lap of Love to ride along on mobile appointments. Back in my day, such services were few and far between, but today, thanks to what CAETA refers to as the “Good Death Revolution”, more and more veterinary services focus on end-of-life care and gentle euthanasias. I recommend every veterinary student engage with these practitioners to benefit from their wisdom.