Imagine this scenario, you’ve been administering chemotherapy to treat a patient’s lymphoma (in a Welsh Corgi named “*Cagney”). For the past three years, Cagney has responded well to your treatments and your client has been very happy. A few months ago however, your client noticed that Cagney’s lymph nodes have gotten bigger. She brings Cagney in and you determine that the cancer is back and that you are now out of options to treat him. The best that you can do is to manage his pain and keep him as comfortable as possible. Because he’s responded so well these past few years, you’re having a hard time getting your client to accept the inevitable. Cagney’s health is rapidly declining and you suspect that Cagney has little time left. You want to support your client but you also need her to start making decisions about Cagney and what to do in the coming weeks. How should you do this?

You probably know that that are no magical words to use in this situation. There are no medical treatments, pills, or surgical procedures to help guide you. When people are facing the eminent death of a loved one, they feel a jumble of emotions including fear, helplessness, and tremendous anxiety. It may seem to you that there is nothing you can do for your clients at this point….not true! There are many things that you can still do to support your clients during this very difficult time. Some strategies to try include:

• Talk with clients about “anticipatory grief and reassure them that this is normal (grief emotions that occur before the actual death of a loved one.) They may start withdrawing from their pet and become more anxious as time goes on. By normalizing your client’s feelings, you are demonstrating your compassion and desire to help them through this difficult time.
  
  
• Encourage your client to consider quality of life issues. This will help you be an advocate for your patient but also help them to make difficult decisions.
  
  
• Explain the difference between pain and suffering. Pain is a physical sensation that you can identify and manage with proper medications. Suffering however, is much more difficult to determine. It includes a pet’s unique personality and temperament. Advise your client to consider the following:
  • What kind of habits, routines, or interactions constitutes my pet’s daily life? What type of things makes him/her “happy”?
  • How does your pet respond to going in for repeated visits to the pet hospital? Is your companion tolerant or afraid of this and what are the limits?
  • Do you have enough time in your schedule to care for your pet if he/she becomes more rapidly ill?
    
    
• Encourage your clients to spend time with and“talk” to their pet. Remind them that they have always been able to communicate with their pet. Empowering clients will help them to make decisions and move forward. Assure them that their love is the strongest and most important comfort their pet will need.
  
  
• Talk kindly, but openly with your client about euthanasia. Clients cannot make a decision to do something when they don’t know what that “something” is. Describe in detail what will happen to their pet and things that they can expect. Once a client becomes more familiar with euthanasia, they often become less anxious and able to move forward with decisions.
  
  
• Educate your client about normal grief. Help them to know that they’re not going crazy. This will make them feel more supported and can also reduce their anxiety.
  
  
• Encourage your client to seek out support from understanding friends/family, or even pet loss specialists. This gives your client more support and also decreases the pressure on you.
  
  
• Encourage your client to think about how they want to memorialize their pet (try using ClayPaws® prints as an example to create lasting memories). There are many ways people can memorialize their pets and there are many products you can obtain to help them. Reassure clients that whenever they do something in honor of their pet, there are helping to move forward through their grief.
  
  
• Invite clients to contact you when they have concerns. Make a list of appropriate grief support resources that you can refer them to when needed.