PVMA Keystone Veterinarian Fall 2020 - 19

advantages and the fears, but eventually I decided that I had
nothing to lose and that I would give it a go. I thoroughly
researched the requirements of such an enterprise, secured
the necessary licenses, insurance, equipment, etc. that I
needed to operate, and launched my first owner-operated
business. I committed to myself that I should help at least
10 clients before allowing myself to throw in the towel if I
were becoming an emotional wreck. My marketing strategy
was successful and soon I was booking appointments and
helping families. To my astonishment, what I discovered
was a world of appreciation and gratitude that I had never
experienced before. Being able to attract business and being
able to help clients through the hardest of times in the best
possible way, I was genuinely surprised to discover how
satisfying the in-home euthanasia business is.

Losing a patient to euthanasia
is not a failure; however,
failing to perform the best
possible euthanasia is.
Compassion fatigue
I now know that I am not destined for emotional burnout
because I am not myself emotionally invested in each
client. Compassion fatigue in the veterinary profession is
something that needs to be addressed and performing
euthanasia is often cited as a contributing factor. I believe
that we need to remember and accept that all of our
patients will die eventually, irrespective of how skilled we
are as veterinary surgeons, and that losing a patient to
euthanasia is not a failure; however, failing to perform the
best possible euthanasia is. We need to be able to provide
our patients the best possible euthanasia and I believe, for
a multitude of reasons, that this is best done in the home
environment. In-home euthanasia services are not a threat
to brick and mortar veterinary practices. I perform only
the last appointment of an animal's life, and as such, the
owner can continue to take their other pets to their regular
veterinary practice without any negative associations from
any last visits having been endured there.

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Dealing with grief
There have been some cases that were more emotionally
taxing, but I have learned to face these knowing that what
I am doing is incredibly beneficial for the client. Dealing
with clients who are grieving gives me a huge sense of
satisfaction in being able to help them through such a hard
time in their lives. Visits involving complicated grief are
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PVMA Keystone Veterinarian Fall 2020

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