Introduction/Background: 
Effective communication is one of the most important contributors to high quality end-of-life care. Although euthanasia is nearly an everyday event, the conversations we have with clients are rarely simple or straightforward. Moreover, they can be the toughest conversations of all, leaving everyone feeling depleted. Yet it doesn’t have to be this way. Done well, these conversations can not only foster client decision making and reduce animal suffering, but also enhance both client and veterinary satisfaction and well-being. An evidence-based approach can enable veterinarians and their teams to be more humanistic, compassionate, and effective facilitators of end-of-life care, potentiating best outcomes for patients, clients, and veterinary staff alike. 

Objectives:
  1. To consider more deeply the client’s feelings, thoughts, and attitudes and incorporate a stronger focus on clients in euthanasia conversations.
  2. To follow the four guiding principles for all euthanasia conversations and procedures.
  3. To incorporate the recommended communication skills to create more effective euthanasia conversations, and better outcomes for patients, clients, and veterinary staff.
Method:
Facilitative presentation. [Estimating that workshop availabllity may be limited, this submission may be the one (of the 3 submitted) that would be most conducive to shortening to a podium presentation.]

Implications:
Opportunity to critically reflect on current practices/patterns, learn from others, and become willing to try new skills/approaches. 



Author:
STOEWEN, Debbie Pets Plus Us, Oakville, Canada