[music playing] Kelly:   It's a decision that may be one of the  most difficult ones a pet owner will ever   make.

On this episode of The Paw Report, we'll  discuss euthanasia.

Veterinary social worker,   Krystal Newberry, will join the  show to answer questions to help   pet owners faced with making life  or death decisions.

Stay with us.

[music playing] Male voice:   It's almost impossible to imagine life without  internet today.

It keeps us connected to work,   school and loved ones no matter where they are.

Fidium fiber internet now serves over a million   locations providing reliable, consistent service  that keeps these connections strong.

From vibrant   cities to quiet rural areas, fiber broadband is a  key driver of economic growth.

Fidium is dedicated   to supporting communities and enhancing lives  through this essential technology.

Learn more   at Fidiumfiber.com.

Olivia:   At Tender Touch Grooming, we groom dogs of all  sizes and breeds tenderly.

Our team pampers your   furry friend with care, because every pet deserves  a tender touch.

Appointments are available via   text at (217) 317-9489.

Rameen:   The Paw Report on WEIU is supported by Rural King,  America's farm and home store, livestock feed,   farm equipment, pet supplies and more.

You can  find your store and more information regarding   Rural King at ruralking.com.

Rob:   Dave's Decorating Center is a proud supporter  of The Paw Report on WEIU.

Dave's Decorating   Center features the Mohawk Smartstrand Silk  Forever Clean carpet.

Dave's Decorating Center,   authorized Mohawk color center in Charleston.

Kelly:   Thanks for joining us for this episode of  The Paw Report.

I'm your host, Kelly Goodwin,   and today we're talking about a relatively  difficult subject for all pet owners, frankly,   and that is euthanasia.

And joining  us on this episode of The Paw Report,   we have special guest, Krystal Newberry.

She  comes to us all the way from the University   of Illinois.

Thank you so much for joining  us today.

Very difficult.

As a pet owner,   I've been through it.

I'm sure  you've probably been through it.

Krystal: Mm-hmm.

Kelly: It's just one of the knowns of being a pet owner   that that's going to happen.

But you're a new  guest to The Paw Report.

Before we dive into that   subject matter, you're a veterinary social worker.

So tell us about your journey to that profession.

Krystal: Sure.

So I actually   started as a veterinary technician.

I worked at  the U of I in the small animal ER for six years,   and then working alongside those families, seeing  unfortunately a lot of death, how that impacts the   family, brought me back to school for my social  work degree.

So I have my master's in social work   now, and then stayed on at the U of I at the  Veterinary Teaching Hospital to be able to be   their veterinary social worker.

Kelly:   I guess for those that may not be  familiar with the profession, as I wasn't,   I didn't realize that there was such a thing,  what exactly is a veterinary social worker?

Krystal: Sure.

So it is somewhat new in the country, but a   lot of larger hospitals will have one.

So ideally  what we do is we act as sort of like a hospital   social worker.

So if you were at the hospital,  for example, then you might have a social worker   come in, make sure you are okay, make sure  your family understands what is happening,   what's going on, what options might be, and then  also talk about resources.

So a lot of times I   do work a lot more closely with the emergency room  because of the uncertainties of what might happen,   but I will follow up with the families, maybe  help with difficult decision-making, maybe talk   about quality of life, end of life care, maybe  hospice, and then even financial resources,   see what I can do to help with that.

Kelly:   Mm-hmm.

I would think, just in the short time that  we've met each other, that you would have to be...

It would take a special person to be able to deal  with heartache day-in and day-out because that's   really...

When you're around these families,  they're emotional.

It's a very hard time for   them.

How do you prepare yourself for something  like that?

I don't know.

Maybe you just learned   this in your trade and your education.

Krystal:   Yeah.

Honestly, I think I know it comes with  the job.

I'm a very passionate, emotional person   myself, so I'm not afraid to cry with a pet  owner.

But same as any mental health problem,   we always talk about self-care.

That's also in my  job.

I need to ensure that I do my own self-care   so I can give everything that I possibly can,  or even that work-life balance of once I leave,   I leave, and I cannot take those cases  necessarily home with me and dread on them.

Kelly: Mm-hmm.

Today we're talking about euthanasia,   and it's a very difficult subject matter to  discuss, but it's very important because when   you decide as a pet owner, a pet family to bring  a furry friend into your home, that's something   that you're going to be faced with.

And I think  first, before we even dive into it further,   let's talk about what is euthanasia.

Krystal:   So euthanasia in Greek translate to good death,  so honestly does have a good sound to it.

However,   euthanasia is honestly just a way to humanely  put a pet to sleep, whether they're in pain,   considering those options, and just  having a good way to say your goodbyes.

Kelly: Mm-hmm.

Is it normal to go   through a bunch of different emotions when you're  experiencing this when you know that you have a   pet that's maybe aging or ill to continually ask  yourself, "What should I do?

What should I do?

Am   I making the right decision?"

Is that all normal?

Krystal:   Absolutely.

So I frequently will talk  about anticipated death or unexpected   death.

That anticipated death might be a pup  with cancer, a pup with a chronic diagnosis,   or even old age.

You are expecting this to kind of  happen, so honestly you are coming to terms with   all of your emotions inside, being able to figure  things out ahead of time.

Whereas unexpected,   which we commonly, I will be honest, see more  in the emergency room, but that's when something   happens very suddenly.

You might wake up, your  pet had died, you don't know what happened,   and now you're just experiencing all this grief,  all these questions.

Or a trauma happens, and now   you just have to be able to process this.

So it's  expected to have all these different emotions,   all these questions.

All of that is very normal.

Kelly:   How do you know when it's time or when it's  getting close to having to make that decision?

Is   it something that you should keep that extra eye  on your pet to see their daily routines and maybe   start journaling some of this?

Krystal:   Yeah, journaling's a great idea for it.

Again,  depending on the timing or what's going on with   your pet, you have different things to consider.

In sudden cases, honestly, finances might be that   one thing that you just have to consider, on  whether or not you can afford this surgery,   afford this hospitalization to help your pet  get through that trauma that just happened.

For more anticipated aspects of pet loss, we  always talk about quality of life scales.

There   are quite a few online.

I'll often print them out,  walk it through with the owner.

But that looks at,   how much is their pet sleeping?

How much are they  eating?

Are they eating normal amounts?

Are they   eating less?

Are they eating at all?

So are they  getting that appropriate nutrition?

Are they still   hygienic?

Are they taking care of  themselves?

Are they able to get up,   use the restroom, or are they laying there  and urinating on themselves?

There are many   different things to consider.

So that's  focusing on the pet's quality of life.

And then we also consider our own quality of  life.

Do we have the finances to keep things   going?

Do we have the emotional capacity  to keep giving this to our pet?

Because   when you are caring for either a family member  or a pet, that's a lot on you.

So can you still   give that?

And it's not selfish if you can't.

And then also physical demands.

So think of   maybe an elderly couple who have a large dog who  can't walk.

Can they appropriately lift that dog   up to go outside?

So a lot of different things to  consider on both the pet side and the human side.

Kelly: But you mentioned at the   start of that answer that there were tools that  people, if they're struggling and they're like,   "I don't know what to do.

I don't know if this is  the right decision," there are guidelines online   that could kind of walk them through step-by-step,  as you said, the different levels of their pet.

Krystal: Yeah.

So that's a lot   of tracking of everything I just stated.

Are we  having a good day?

Are we having a bad day?

You   could either journal, like you mentioned, or even  there's an app called Grey Muzzle that we found,   but that actually puts it in a calendar form and  color-codes it, so you can kind of see which are   the good days versus bad days.

Kelly:   On the flip side of that, what if you have  a healthy dog that is vicious, that is maybe   aggressive to members of your family and you're  kind of stuck, like "I don't know what to do"?

Krystal: Mm-hmm.

That is a very tough situation-   Kelly: Yes, it is.

Krystal: ... and very personal.

I've assisted   families who have had that experience, and it's  hard, and I totally see where they're coming   from.

It's a lot of worrying, a lot of emotions,  physical demands.

But I think there are options.

We'll often recommend, okay, have you worked  with a behavioralist?

Have you tried potentially   anxiety medications or something to take that edge  off if we can figure out the triggers?

Do we maybe   consider rehoming them?

I think every veterinarian  thinks that euthanasia would be last resort.

However, it is ultimately, my opinion, the owner's  decision, the pet parent's decision.

But most   veterinarians, it's sort of an ethical dilemma  for them.

You might have to talk to the vet, have   that relationship for them to see that you have  put in this effort before they feel comfortable   potentially euthanizing.

But it's a very- Kelly:   It's a tough one.

Krystal:   It's a tough one.

Kelly:   As an adult pet owner who meets with you,  meets with the vet, and they decide that's   the best thing for their family, they then  have to be the person that goes back to   their family and maybe discusses the news or  tells the news with not only their adult spouse,   but their young children.

What's the best  way that that news can be shared with them?

Krystal: It's easier with adults because they understand.

They might not fully agree depending on who was  there and who all was involved in that decision.

However, I think that comes with a very intimate  conversation, particularly for children.

Depending   on their age and developmental stage, most of  the time we feel like we have to sugarcoat and   say like, "Hey, we put Fluffy to sleep," but that  could also be misinterpreted and be almost fearful   for a child.

So then they might say, "Well,  I'm going to sleep tonight.

Does that mean..."   Kelly: Didn't think of it like that.

Krystal: "I'm not going to wake up," or "My parents aren't   going to be there tomorrow."

So oftentimes with  children, it's very important to use death, dying,   body has stopped working.

So you feel almost  more aggressive in how you're describing it,   but it's what they need to hear, allowing them to  express their emotions, knowing that it might be a   challenging time for them, and being able to talk  them through it and understand where it's coming   from.

"Why are you crying right now?

Why are you  angry or acting out?"

And then also when we cry,   it's important for them to see us mourning and to  express these emotions so they know it's natural.

Kelly: Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

I think the one thing,   and as a pet owner who went through euthanasia, I  asked this question, and I know others have, too,   they want to know more about the procedure, and  will it be painful, and is it going to hurt the   animal?

And I'm sure you get that question.

That's  probably the number one question that you get.

Krystal: Yes.

Kelly: So I'll ask it.

Is it painful for them,   or what is the procedure that goes into it?

Krystal:   It's not painful.

I can't speak for every  veterinary clinic because everyone has a   different protocol around euthanasia.

At the  U of I, we have a two-step process.

So first,   obviously we do an IV catheter in one of the  limbs, so that's just giving us access to a   vessel.

It's a quick, easy process.

But whenever  family is ready to move forward with this and   have the doctor come into the exam room and  perform the euthanasia, we first start with   a sedative.

So that medication honestly puts  them to sleep.

It's almost like an anesthesia   medication that you would use to undergo surgery.

So they are asleep.

They're not feeling anything.

They are unconscious in a way, but I  always believe that they can still hear us,   so I always encourage everyone to talk, say  their final words, whatever they feel like   they need to say.

So that's a very quick  process.

That only lasts for probably 30   seconds to maybe a minute, minute and a half.

And then the other injection is the one that   will stop the heart.

So the doctor will administer  that one, most likely flush with a little bit of   saline flush just to get everything through.

But ultimately two medications, very quick,   very painless.

If at another clinic you  do think that maybe your dog is in pain,   your cat's in pain, whatever pet you bring in,  you can always advocate, "Hey, can we give them a   little bit of pain medication?"

Most of the time  the doctors and the care team will accommodate   your needs just to ensure that you're comfortable  in this moment and the pet's comfortable.

Kelly: Mm-hmm.

In those final moments,   what is the best way to say goodbye?

Should you  be there in the room?

Should you do it at home?

Should you go to the vet's office?

I suppose  it's each individual's...

It's what's best for   them and their family.

But I don't know.

As the  experts, how do you guide families when they say,   "Should I be home?

Should I be in the office?

Should I be in the room?

Should I be in the   waiting room?"

How do we know?

Krystal:   You don't know.

It's very personal, like you said.

Oftentimes I'll speak with the families and kind   of gauge what they're looking for.

Some people  really know that they want it to be at home.

They   have their heart set on it.

They want it to be in  their home where the pet feels most comfortable.

We could figure that out, whether it's with  your veterinarian that you have a relationship   with or you call someone who does that.

Whether you want to be present or not, I   think some families know what they're comfortable  with.

If they know deep down they cannot see their   pet take those final deep breaths, we respect  that.

It's whatever you think that you need   in that moment.

And with my job, I help figure  that out with you.

So I'll listen and be like,   "Okay, so this is what I'm hearing.

Do feel that  way too?"

Most families, I will say, like to be   present, whether it's one member specifically for  the whole group, or everyone.

Parents oftentimes   will judge it based on whether they feel like  their kids can handle it.

I always like to   encourage that because that is a way for them to  say their goodbyes and have that understanding of   what happened.

But again, comes down to the  parent's decision for that.

But either way,   if a family can't be present, we always tell them,  there's a whole team of medical professionals who   are going to love on your pet, maybe give them the  last few snacks or cuddles.

There's always going   to be someone around the pet.

Kelly:   What can I expect as far as the  grieving process is concerned?

Myself, it's like losing a human family member.

It's devastating.

But the grieving can be   different for everybody.

But what can we expect  as far as moving forward without our best friend?

Krystal: Yes.

So most people expect   grief as the five stages of grief, where we're  angry, we're in denial, we're bargaining, we're   depressed, and then here comes the resolution of  acceptance.

It doesn't work that way.

A lot of   mental health professionals now are explaining it  as a nonlinear process.

Think of a scatter chart.

Your emotions go everywhere.

You might feel  one thing one day and another thing one day,   but a lot of times it is you're going to be sad,  you're going to have things that are unexpected.

You might walk into a room and think that corner  of your eye, you saw Fluffy, and then that's going   to trigger something in you.

Kelly:   I think the one thing... And I know I keep  going back to myself.

It's not about me,   but I'm just using my personal experience.

With my pet, and to this day, I think about it,   before I made the decision, it was almost like  they got another burst of energy and another burst   of being youthful again, and then I backtracked.

I'm like, "I don't know if I should be doing   this."

But then the incontinence continued  and the seizures continued and it was like,   "Boy, oh, boy.

They're still doing this,  but then they have a burst of energy."

And   I think that was part of my grieving process  was like, "Did I make the right decision?"

Krystal: Yeah.

Kelly: Normal?

Krystal: Very normal.

Oftentimes   we'll see them get that burst of energy in their  last moments, or maybe it's us visualizing it   and wanting to make it a thing.

But going back  to what we discussed earlier, those quality of   life skills can assist with that, too, in making  sure that you are comfortable with that decision.

Kelly: There's also some wonderful things that you can   provide for the families.

They have the wonderful  memories, but they can also carry on with their   loved pet.

Can you talk about some of those  things?

You brought along some things with me, but   some other things as far as after the cremation  happens or before it happens, what can happen.

Krystal: Sure.

So memorialization is one   of my favorite things, honestly, because it's the  last things you get of your pet, so making sure   that you get everything that you're happy with.

Most clinics will offer clay paws.

It's typically   some form of clay, whether it's in a nice little  guy like this, or just a circular clay.

But we'll   do an impression of the paw print, write their  name if you want it.

I always ask if there's a   nickname you prefer, something different you want  on there.

Some families, and nowadays with tattoos   being popular, want ink prints.

You can do an  ink print of paw prints.

We've made some of nose   prints as well.

It's very personalized.

And then  we'll also offer hair clippings.

Works better for   those with longer fur, but the family understands  it.

And then I love asking, "Where do you touch   the most?

What's your favorite part of the pet?"

I had one family say, "Can we get a tuft of her   fur from the chest over where the heart is?"

So  making sure that it is accommodating the owner.

Kelly: Yeah.

There's a lot of grief that we talked   about as far as the families that are involved,  the children, the adult pet owners in the family,   but there's grief that goes with the vets too.

They have to deal with this a lot, and I would   think that that's very emotional for you and for  them.

How do you handle... You said early on,   when you leave, you go home, and I get that.

I  think we all try to do that.

But I think in your   heart there's always those families- Krystal:   There are.

Kelly:   ... with those stories.

Krystal:   There's always stories, always something  about that pet that you hang onto as well   as a veterinary professional.

That's also  where I can come in too.

I'm not just here   for the pet parents; I'm also here for the staff  members.

So if they need to discuss, debrief,   talk their emotions through, I'll try to help them  afterwards.

But it is hard on the veterinarians.

They don't want to euthanize pets on their shift,  but they also went into the field knowing that   this is something that they can provide that is  painless and is also helping the pet in the long   run.

So deep down, they do understand that.

But of  course, just like the families, they hold onto it.

They also grieve it in their own ways.

Kelly:   Mm-hmm.

Last in our last minute, let's leave  with an uplifting moment.

And that is people   like you are available, and families should know  that there's veterinary social workers out there.

I think more than anything, maybe you can reassure  them that it's okay to feel what they're feeling.

It's okay to be angry.

It's okay to ask questions.

There are people out there like you to help.

Krystal: Definitely.

Yeah.

It is okay,   and there's so many different resources, so  many people in the community to help as well,   whether it's a counselor, any mental health  professional.

But life is unexpected.

And we   go through all these emotions, period, so feel  what you need to feel.

It is all normal.

It is   expected.

Honestly, you should feel those emotions  to be able to move forward in whatever recovery   process you're doing.

Kelly:   Krystal Newberry, thank you so much.

Krystal:   Thank you.

Kelly:   A very hard and sensitive topic to talk about, but  one that needs to be addressed.

It was a wonderful   discussion today, and I know that people out there  watching may get some comfort from the information   that you provided, so thank you for joining us.

Krystal:   Yeah.

Thank you.

Kelly:   And thank you, our viewers of The Paw  Report, for joining us.

Until next time,   we'll see you then.

Rob:   Dave's Decorating Center is a proud supporter  of The Paw Report on WEIU.

Dave's Decorating   Center features the Mohawk Smartstrand Silk  Forever Clean carpet.

Dave's Decorating Center,   authorized Mohawk color center in Charleston.

Rameen:   The Paw Report on WEIU is supported by Rural King,  America's farm and home store, livestock feed,   farm equipment, pet supplies and more.

You can  find your store and more information regarding   Rural King at ruralking.com.

Olivia:   At Tender Touch Grooming, we groom dogs of all  sizes and breeds tenderly.

Our team pampers your   furry friend with care, because every pet deserves  a tender touch.

Appointments are available via   text at (217) 317-9489.

Male voice:   It's almost impossible to imagine life without  internet today.

It keeps us connected to work,   school and loved ones no matter where they are.

Fidium fiber internet now serves over a million   locations providing reliable, consistent service  that keeps these connections strong.

From vibrant   cities to quiet rural areas, fiber broadband is a  key driver of economic growth.

Fidium is dedicated   to supporting communities and enhancing lives  through this essential technology.

Learn more   at Fidiumfiber.com.

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