Behavioral Euthanasia Considerations: Bringing the Conversation Out of the Shadows
1.0 CE Credit Hour / Christopher Pachel, DVM, DACVB, CABC
Christopher Pachel, DVM, DACVB, CABC
Christopher Pachel, DVM, DACVB, CABC, is the owner and lead clinician at the Animal Behavior Clinic in Portland, Oregon. He received his veterinary degree from the University of Minnesota in 2002 and became board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists in 2010. He has operated house call, office-based, and telemedicine-focused behavior practices. Pachel lectures worldwide, teaches courses annually at multiple veterinary schools in the US, and has authored articles and book chapters on topics such as intercat aggression, behavioral euthanasia, and pet selection for animal-assisted therapy. He is a sought-after expert witness for animal behavior legal cases and serves on the editorial advisory board for dvm360. Pachel is a vice president of veterinary behavior for the Instinct Dog Behavior & Training franchise and co-owner of Instinct Dog Behavior & Training Portland.
Overview:
If your professional role includes counseling pet owners through consideration of available intervention options for behavioral problems, it is inevitable that you will experience a situation in which the option of euthanasia is on the table for one reason or another. This is a complicated subject, and it is important that the behavior consultant has a solid grasp on the factors that influence this conversation and outcome across various circumstances. Specific discussion topics will include: a discussion of risk assessment and safety, navigating the role of the pet in that specific household, quality of life and welfare considerations, the impact of guilt on caregiver decision making, as well as specific conversation strategies and client support resources.
Learning Objectives:
- Recognize the emotional and ethical complexities involved in behavioral euthanasia.
- Explore the role of risk assessment in determining the appropriateness of euthanasia for behavior-related concerns.
- Recognize the potential emotional toll on caregivers and professionals involved in behavioral euthanasia decisions.
- Explore the communication strategies that can help clients through the decision-making process.
- Develop skills to balance idealism and practicality when assessing the potential for rehoming or behavioral intervention.
This course is RACE-approved for 1.0 continuing education credits hours in jurisdictions that accept RACE-approval.
