Euthanasia procedures and services

Re: Euthanasia procedures and services

Julie-Anne Wilson — Sat, 04 Jan 2014 00:10:48 GMT

[quote user="Bloomoo27"]Thanks for all the great ideas guys, unfortunately we don't seem able to disconnect our card machine, might look into that. Also we do send sympathy cards to those who have lost their pets and our practice is fairly small so I'm able to get most to sign them. Any other ideas?

[/quote]

I've worked at places where we have put payment through as if it's a phone payment since the card machine was not mobile.

Re: Euthanasia procedures and services

Lisa Goodship — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 21:40:30 GMT

We have a ink pad and do prints of the patients feet to send to the client in the symp card. Takes a bit of practice to get a decent print, we find trimming the hair helps.

I usually try and get a blanket in the room for the patient to sit on and have everything ready and drawn up in a kidney dish to take in, rather than the clients having to watch.

At other practices we have taken the patient out the back and put in a I/v catheter so the O can hold how they want and they don't have to remember the patient struggling when inserting the needle etc.

I think it's always nice if the vet takes the time to explain the procedure first so clients know what will happen and can expect - eg length of time, eyes not shuting, just like having a GA, sometimes taking a gasp or bladder emptying.

If we sedated cats we used to use the saphenous vein, so the client could be at the front of the cat by the head and us at the back.

Re: Euthanasia procedures and services

Ceri Boyd — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 20:53:22 GMT

Sounds fairly obvious but make sure you always have a box of tissues to hand! Also sometimes just being there for the client as a shoulder to cry on or for a wee hug does help... obviously not with everyone but I find some of them really do appreciate it.

Re: Euthanasia procedures and services

Honeybadger — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 20:52:55 GMT

You can get little clay kits to take paw prints of pets feet. A nice option and also good if owners cant afford ind cremation but would like something to remember their pets by.

Maybe look at getting some books on bearevement for owners and also children too.

I really think a cozy room with pictures, flowers, seats is nice rather than a cold, clinical consult room.

Re: Euthanasia procedures and services

Bloomoo27 — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 20:41:44 GMT

Thanks for all the great ideas guys, unfortunately we don't seem able to disconnect our card machine, might look into that. Also we do send sympathy cards to those who have lost their pets and our practice is fairly small so I'm able to get most to sign them. Any other ideas?

Re: Euthanasia procedures and services

Ceri Boyd — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 20:27:16 GMT

Another idea is sorting payments before the euthanasia takes place or taking card machine etc into room so they don't have to wait at reception desk.

Ceri x

Re: Euthanasia procedures and services

r-more — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 19:20:22 GMT

Hi Following on from what Steph posted, a hospital I worked at several years ago had a client consulting room that was used to meet with clients for non clinical issues, it had some simple but comfy chairs, a table, flowers etc and we would have clients wait in there if they wished after a PTS. You might not have the spare space for this but if you could have a place or procedure whereby clients don't have to leave immediately (maybe a cup of tea?!), this might be better for them.

Re: Euthanasia procedures and services

Steph Worsley — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 18:29:44 GMT

get some nice sympathy cards, depending on the size of the practice can depend on how it is signed, due to our size I get the key members of clinical staff who have dealt with the patient to sign and then add......and all at the small animal hospital, smaller practices I have worked at everyone signed every card (unless someone was off) some practices will just sign it "all at x practice"

Bonded clients who have been with the practice for years/been regular clients would be sent a nice bunch of flowers

Depending on your crem company some will do keyrings automatically with each individual crem so this may result in 2 keyrings being produced.

try and book pts's at the end of surgeries to prevent clients having to walk through a lot of people, offer to take payment in the consult room