Pet loss support for clients and staff: the importance of clear communication

Abstract

Anyone who works in the health and welfare sphere is aware of death, but it's not a topic that many people want to think about or find easy to work with. In relation to pets, the role that those in the veterinary world play in this ending brings many added pressures, from emotion and stress, to client reactions and moral injury, to name just a few. This article aims to address many of the areas that result from loss, and reiterates the importance of being mindful that empathy, compassion and communication relating to loss will vary from person to person and can improve or decline over time.