VPN Plus+ ExclusiveEuthanasia tips to make the final goodbye more compassionateDecember 9, 2021Setting the stage for the experience that honors the bond between pet and owner through the veterinary comfort room has become an essential part of any clinic or hospital. A comfortable environment equipped to help the patient and client through the emotional suffering that is part of the pet loss experience is vital.
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VPN Plus+ ExclusiveManaging pet loss grief and sadnessAugust 19, 2021There are techniques we can use within the practice to help prevent euthanasia and pet deaths from harming or causing long-term fatigue in clients and ourselves. One of those ways is by helping join pet owners in their grief without internalizing their trauma for ourselves. We need to remember we are not grieving for that pet in that moment, but instead we are empathizing with that owner’s sadness.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveA practical guide to compassionate care, for all parties involvedJuly 15, 2021If someone with a mental health condition brings you their animal for help, they are doing the best they can by their pet. It is our professional responsibility to rise to the challenge.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveRewire fixed ideas to ease personal torment over euthanasiaDecember 3, 2020Learn tips to focus your mindset on the positive aspects of euthanasia to boost your well-being.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveAbuse: What veterinarians should know, what they can doNovember 5, 2020Veterinarians are on the front lines of seeing abuse in both pets and people. What can they do? What should they do? And how has determining abuse or neglect in animals changed in a world of COVID?
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveFood is love—So why is nutrition a problem area for veterinarians?September 29, 2020By Brennen McKenzie, MA, MSc, VMD, cVMAAs a child, I was a big fan of the Peanuts cartoons. One of my favorite characters was Snoopy, a suave, bipedal beagle who wrote novels and engaged in breathtaking aerial combat with his nemesis, the Red Baron. Though Snoopy was unlike most other beagles I have known, he had one characteristic in common to others of his breed, and indeed most dogs. When suppertime arrived, all other activities were forgotten, and he often launched into an exuberant, joyful, food-induced dance. Every feeding was a celebration for Snoopy, not only of food but of the bond between dog and owner. Few subjects generate the same intensity of emotion in pet owners as the question of what to feed our animal companions. Feeding our pets is the quintessential act of caring and love. And based on how most dogs and cats act at feeding time, it certainly seems like a highlight of the relationship for them. There is also a deep sense in most pet owners that choosing a pet food has tremendous significance for the health and well-being of their pets. Everyone wants to give their pets the "best" food that will keep them active and happy and prevent illness …
What a country song teaches us about patient/client careFebruary 12, 2020Around 1990, Marty Becker, DVM, founder of Fear Free Pets, overheard the mantra: “Let’s remember to practice today like pet owners are right there looking over our shoulders.”
Study finds owners are humanizing their pets more and moreOctober 28, 2019Thinking about moving to the beach because your dog loves water? You're not alone. A new survey finds a pets-are-people-too mentality is influencing marketing and retail trends.
Tips to help prep clients and pets for road tripsAugust 28, 2019Family road trips are fun, but making sure a pet is comfortable and safe is a big part of that. With summer winding down, families will be hitting the road to make the most of what's left of the season. To help keep stress levels down for pets and owners alike, advise clients to do a little prep work ahead of time. "Preparing for the journey is just as important as knowing what pet-friendly amenities and accommodations are available at your destination," says Jennifer Freeman, DVM, PetSmart's resident veterinarian and pet care expert. "Be sure to pack plenty of food, water, and a few familiar objects like their bed, blanket, or toys. I also recommend pet parents take their pet to the veterinarian prior to the trip to ensure their pet is up for travel." Here are some travel tips you can offer pet owners: Get a dog safety harness for the car to help keep the pet in place in case of an abrupt stop. Most harnesses clip into the car's seat belt system so they're easy to use Protect car seats with a bench seat cover, allowing the pet to stretch and relax for a comfortable ride while …
Fear Free launches shelter programAugust 27, 2019Rescued animals can now enjoy a less anxious shelter experience thanks to a new Fear Free initiative. The Fear Free Shelter Program is a free computer training course designed to help staff members and volunteers of animal shelters, rescue groups, and other animal welfare organizations to create a Fear Free experience for pets from intake to adoption and beyond. In addition, it provides resources adopters and foster homes can use to promote the emotional well-being of the pets in their care and ease the transition to a new environment. "We created the Fear Free Shelter Program to improve the experiences of animals by educating shelter personnel about the emotional needs of dogs and cats," says VPN columnist Marty Becker, DVM, founder and CEO of Fear Free. "This program will empower them to apply key concepts, strategies, and techniques designed to reduce the negative emotional states that are commonly experienced by shelter animals, including fear, anxiety, stress, and frustration." Brenda Griffin, DVM, MS, DACVIM, is lead author of the Fear Free Shelter Program. She is also co-instructor of courses in shelter medicine and animal behavior at both the University of Florida and the University of Georgia. Three board-certified veterinary behaviorists with …
