This is Part 11 of our Support Protocols for 14 Common Situations series. The cases described in this series are drawn from everyday scenarios found in general veterinary practice or emergency and specialty practices. Below you’ll find an example of a type of case you’re likely to encounter in practice. This blog’s subject is a case involving helping seniors with pet loss. Situation: Helping Seniors Mrs. Franklin is an elderly woman who lives alone and has been a client of yours for many years. Her beloved dog, Toby, whom she refers to as her “one and only companion,” is dying… Continue Reading
Suicide Ideation vs. Suicide Intent
National Suicide & Crisis Prevention Hotline: 988 May is Mental Health Awareness Month. The following is an excerpt from the textbook Connecting with Grieving Clients by Laurel Lagoni, MS and Dana Durrance, MA (see copyright below) and is being made available as a free resource for you and your staff. Suicide Ideation Although thoughts and comments about suicide are quite common, truly suicidal clients are very rare. Sometimes clients will say something like the following: “Life means nothing to me without Pepper. Sometimes I wonder why I should go on…” A remark like that is usually a normal reaction to… Continue Reading
Helping Children: Situational Support Protocols
This is Part 10 of our Support Protocols for 14 Common Situations series. The cases described in this series are drawn from everyday scenarios found in general veterinary practice or emergency and specialty practices. Below you’ll find an example of a type of case you’re likely to encounter in practice. This blog’s subject is a case involving helping children with pet loss. Situation: Helping Children Your client Mrs. Smith is trying to calm down her young son, Jimmy, after the death of their cat, Midas. Standing over him, she murmurs, “Jimmy, the doctor couldn’t save Midas. He was too badly… Continue Reading
Making Referrals: Situational Support Protocols
This is Part 9 of our Support Protocols for 14 Common Situations series. The cases described in this series are drawn from everyday scenarios found in general veterinary practice or emergency and specialty practices. Below you’ll find an example of a type of case you’re likely to encounter in practice. This blog’s subject is a case involving making referrals. Situation: Making Referrals Joan, a good client of many years, doesn’t seem to be handling the loss of her cat very well. When you ask her about it, she replies, “My daughter died three years ago and Betsy was her cat…. Continue Reading
Client Guilt: Situational Support Protocols
This is Part 8 of our Support Protocols for 14 Common Situations series. The cases described in this series are drawn from everyday scenarios found in general veterinary practice or emergency and specialty practices. Below you’ll find an example of a type of case you’re likely to encounter in practice. This blog’s subject is a case involving client guilt. Situation: Client Guilt Mark McEachern is sitting in an exam room waiting for news about his beagle, Snoopy, who was hit by a car. You knock gently, enter, and explain to him that Snoopy has died. He stares at the wall… Continue Reading
Handling Body Care Options: Situational Support Protocols
This is Part 7 of our Support Protocols for 14 Common Situations series. The cases described in this series are drawn from everyday scenarios found in general veterinary practice or emergency and specialty practices. Below you’ll find an example of a type of case you’re likely to encounter in practice. This blog’s subject is a case involving handling body care options. Situation: Handling Body Care Options Berkley, a nine-year old yellow lab, underwent exploratory surgery. During the procedure, Berkley was found to have cancer all through his abdomen. The veterinarian contacted Berkley’s owners, Jim and Marge, and together they decided… Continue Reading
Emotional Response to Pet Loss: Situational Support Protocols
This is Part 6 of our Support Protocols for 14 Common Situations series. The cases described in this series are drawn from everyday scenarios found in general veterinary practice or emergency and specialty practices. Below you’ll find an example of a type of case you’re likely to encounter in practice. This blog’s subject is a case involving a client’s emotional response to pet loss. Situation: Emotional Response to Pet Loss One of your clients, Mary, sits in your exam room crying softly as you talk to her. You’ve just given her the news that her Basset hound, Freddie, has cancer…. Continue Reading
Offering Condolences
Offering condolences and creating keepsakes are standard practices in most veterinary clinics today. Reaching out to clients after their pet dies is not only a sign of compassion, it is also a wise business practice. For one reason or another, a significant number of clients do not return to a veterinary practice after their pet dies. However, a friendly, concerned contact after the death of a pet can break through this avoidance and denial aspect of grief. It may help to reassure clients that you understand their loss and will welcome them back at any time. The vast majority of… Continue Reading