Veterinarian in Society

CONCEPT IN INTERACTION WITH ANIMAL OWNER

• Clients become deeply attached to and care about the health and well-being of their companions that their expectations for veterinary care are becoming more similar to that ideally provided in human medicine. Emotional needs of the family are addressed along with the medical needs of the animal.
• Communication skills, interpersonal relationship-building skills help the veterinarians and their staff facilitate clients’ understanding of medical situations and preventive medicine. They can prepare clients for providing palliative care or dealing with end-of-life issues.
• Despite optimal communication skills, veterinarians inevitably encounter clients who are inattentive, neglectful, over-involved, or cost-focused, and patients who are uncontrolled, dangerous, or dirty, adding to medical and emotional problems. Making plans in advance with specific protocols for interventions can prepare the veterinary staff with strategies for these occasions. Client adherence is generally lower than believed by veterinarians, but follow-up communication improves the level of adherence.
• When a medical crisis arises, the veterinarian will often be the closest professional at hand and may need to provide support to the handler as well as the animal. If the client has a disability, special accommodation may be required for communicating with and providing instructions to the client. Attentive listening and respect, while essential for all clients, assumes particular importance in these relationships.
• Reducing or preventing the incidence of animal pain or distress and promoting animal well-being are overall goals of veterinarian. These goals pertain to animals on farms or in laboratories as well as companion animals. Aversive handling and abuse has stressful effects on animals. Veterinarians are often the first contacts when someone seeks help for animals being badly treated or receiving inadequate care.
• Intentional, deliberate abuse of animals is an extreme marker and veterinarians are the most likely person who can avert such activity.
• Although sometimes seen by veterinarians, abuse appears less common than the neglect, poor husbandry, or lack of essential medical care of animals. A more serious problem occurs with animal hoarders. Without awareness, some acquires more animals than they can care for properly.
• A major, widespread societal problem is the abandoning and killing of companion animals. While the incidence of animal relinquishment has decreased somewhat, the problem is still widespread. Behavioral problems of animals and owners’ lack of knowledge increase the likelihood of relinquishment. Veterinary teams can provide leadership and education about more realistic expectations of companion animals, and can encourage earlier intervention if problems arise.
• As in any intimate relationship, when an animal companion dies or is ill, people are likely to feel stress, sorrow, and grief. The significance of pets dying and the consequent emotional impact on clients is now clearly profiled within the veterinary profession with educational materials, support groups and counseling available.
• An extra burden comes in assuming responsibility for the moment of death by euthanasia.
• As an alternative to euthanasia, it is important to offer instruction in providing palliative care for clients who are prepared to offer it.