Veterinary and Other Animal-Related Practice Management and Veterinary Social Work

Abstract

Veterinary social workers (VSWs) attend to human needs at the intersection of veterinary and social work practice. With specialized training, they respond to contemporary challenges found in veterinary and other animal-related settings. Veterinary social work activities fall within four general topic areas: animal-related grief and bereavement, animal-assisted interventions, the link between human and animal violence, and compassion fatigue and conflict management. As an interdisciplinary practice, veterinary social workers collaborate with a wide variety of individuals, including veterinary generalists and specialists, veterinary technicians and nurses, veterinary students, animal shelter medical and animal care staff, municipal animal control and law enforcement personnel, and more. These mutually beneficial collaborations may result in improved pet-owner client experiences and rewarding and productive practice settings. As a new and growing field, veterinary social work leaders must develop comprehensive practice standards and associated competencies that are based on empirical research regarding outcomes for individuals and groups in veterinary and other animal-related settings. It is anticipated that these activities will inform current and future veterinary social work training programs.

Appendices

Appendix A

How to conduct veterinary social work rounds

1. Gather your group together

2. Set the guidelines

(a) Affirm that the purpose of the group is to process the “human side of things” in providing medical care

(b) Everyone is invited to share or NOT share according to what would feel helpful to them at that time

(c) Review Ten Guidelines for Making Conversations with Emotional Charge Productive (Strand, n.d.)

(i) If you meet with a group in an ongoing way and they already know the eight guidelines you can summarize the guidelines by restating:

1. Everyone speaks for themselves

2. Avoid giving unasked advice

3. Be open, receptive, and supportive as you listen by noticing how you would feel in the situation being described

(d) Show your support for people nonverbally by drumming the table if you have empathy or resonate with what a person is saying

(e) State or re-state the structure of the group

(i) Short body scan and relaxation practice

(ii) Share challenges

(iii) Share victories

3. Invite participants to share a case that was a challenge

(a) Useful questions are as follows:

(i) What case lingered in your heart/mind?

(ii) What case did you have negative feelings about after the fact?

(iii) What case made you feel unsure or afraid?

(iv) What case caused you trouble sleeping?

(v) Was there a particular day or constellation of cases that was particularly stressful for you?

4. Invite participants to share what they were feeling throughout the case

(a) Angry, sad, afraid, guilty, disgusted, shocked, grateful, happy, secure, proud, etc.

(b) Role model drumming on the table if you would have shared those feelings

5. Invite participants to share what they did well in the case

6. Invite participants to share what they wish they had done better in the case

7. Invite participants to share what they learned from the case

8. Repeat steps 3–7 with others who have a case to share

9. Invite participants to share victories

(a) Useful questions are as follows:

(i) What was a case this week that was very satisfying?

(ii) What case made you feel great about being a veterinarian (or other animal-related professional?

(iii) What did you do this week as a veterinarian that was exciting?

1. Here let participants tell you cool medical things that were rewarding

10. If time and appropriate to the group you could end with going around the room and sharing

(a)What self-care activity have you done in the past week?

(b) What self-care activity do you commit to doing in the next week (or month or whatever time frame)?

(c) What have you learned most in the past year/month, etc., (this is particularly goof for residents and interns)?

1. Used with permission from Dr. Elizabeth Strand

Notes:

• Describe that veterinary social work rounds are a way to process emotions that get stuck when we handle a stressful case. Processing these emotions by giving them a little attention in a supportive group helps with learning from and letting the stressful event go. This is particularly important for handling moral stress.

• Watch free online videos on the work of Dan Siegel and teach participants the hand = model of the brain so they understand how stress affects them and their clients.

• The non-verbal show of support helps to address the emotional brain subcortical part of the brain that is a key part in processing moral stress.

• Occasionally you can, if appropriate, ask others in the group to put into words how they would feel in the situation described if they were the DVM, the technician, the front desk staff, the client—this is to support perspective taking after the fact. Be sure to do this in such a way that is supportive and not blaming of the person sharing the case.

Appendix B

Ten guidelines for making conversations with emotional charge productive

Speak for yourself	Avoid making statements like “I am sure we would all agree.” Inevitably there will be someone who does not agree with you who will be offended by your assumption
Do not interrupt	Allow people to fully share their perspectives by not interrupting
Be concise	Be mindful to express your opinion, interest, or position in a manner that is clear and concise. Saying too much without coming to a point can harm people’s ability to listen to you
Really listen	Listen completely to what is being said. Listening is compromised when you are mentally focused on your rebuttal instead of the speaker’s comments
Acknowledge what has been said	Letting a person know you understand their perspective, does not mean that you agree. It is simply a sign of respect, not a show of agreement
Agree where you can	Highlighting the areas in which you do agree makes the places where you differ less difficult
Be courteous	Avoid labels like “that is stupid” or “he’s an idiot.” These types of labels of person or position inflame emotion and conflict and reduce productivity
Give and receive olive branches	Admit your mistakes or misunderstandings and outwardly acknowledge such admissions from others
Keep an open mind	Conversations about topics where people have differing opinions and positions have the greatest possibility of teaching something new. Allow yourself to be open to the possibility that your perspective may change through participation
Express gratitude and growth	Share the ways your connection with others helps you feel grateful and grow in your life

1. Used with permission from Dr. Elizabeth Strand

Appendix C

National organizations providing pet owner services

National program	Website
Pets of the Homeless	https://www.petsofthehomeless.org/
The Humane Society of the United States	https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/are-you-having-trouble-affording-your-pet
Veterinary Care Charitable Financial Assistance	https://www.vccfund.org/
Bow Wow Buddies Foundation (for seriously ill/injured dogs and urgent care) financial assistance	https://www.bowwowbuddies.com/
Canine Cancer Awareness (offers support forums, articles, and contact form for support)	https://caninecancerawareness.org/category/therapy-&-support/
Frankie’s Friends Fund (providing financial assistance for emergency and specialty medical conditions)	https://www.frankiesfriends.org/national-frankies-friends-fund
Program that donates wheelchairs to pets	https://hpets.org/
Provides financial assistance for veterinary services, supplies, medications, etc.	https://www.help-a-pet.org/apply.html
Land of Pure Gold— financial assistance for cancer treatment for working dogs	http://landofpuregold.com/grants/index.htm
Financial assistance for dogs and cats with cancer (National Program)	https://themagicbulletfund.org/https://waggle.org/
Offers financial assistance for veterinary care, food, medicine, supplies, spay and neuter services, and helps dogs of veterans suffering from PTSD	https://www.onyxandbreezy.org/
Offers financial assistance for spay and neutering, cancer treatment, and critical veterinary care	https://www.themosbyfoundation.org/
Provides financial support for cancer treatment	https://wagglefoundation.org/riedelcody/
Provides financial assistance for veterinary care	https://waggle.org/