In this episode, we discuss how to prepare for emergency room decisions; how to manage and support a chronically or terminally ill pet; thoughts about humane euthanasia, and what to expect if you and your companion animal are faced with this procedure; and how to cope with grief and work towards recovery after losing a beloved animal.

Time stamps:
3:50: Life threatening emergency situations7:10: Providing comfort asap for a suffering animal9:00: Using prognosis as a guide in decision making11:10: Considering finances and financial aid17:30: Monitoring quality of life in chronically ill animals25:03: Palliative care/hospice care37:00: What does a peaceful end look like?38:09: Conflicting opinions about humane euthanasia44:25: How do we know if it’s too soon?46:40: Dealing with feelings of guilt or selfishness47:30: Humane euthanasia, what to expect58:00: Coping with grief1:01:00: The pain of guilt along with grief1:03:25: Dwelling on traumatic memories1:04:00: The power of happy memories, ritual, and memorials1:08:30: Helping kids cope

Resources: Financial assistance:https://www.carecredit.com/vetmed/https://scratchpayapp.com/https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/financial-assistance-veterinary-care-costsGrief support:https://www.lapoflove.com/our-services/pet-loss-supporthttps://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/coping-loss-petQuality of life monitoring:https://www.lapoflove.com/how-will-i-know-it-is-time/lap-of-love-quality-of-life-scale.pdfhttps://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951966