Course Description

Behavioral and convenience euthanasia requests can create significant moral stress for veterinary teams. These cases often involve complex circumstances that require thoughtful consideration and a structured approach before proceeding. This course provides practical guidance on how to navigate these sensitive situations with greater clarity, safety, and team alignment.

Participants will:

  • Explore the various types of euthanasia and the motivations behind them

  • Review tools to support sound, ethical decision-making

  • Learn how to approach aggression cases more safely

  • Discover how to incorporate hospital-wide policies into a euthanasia manual

This session is ideal for any veterinary professional looking to feel more prepared and supported during challenging euthanasia discussions and appointments.

Open to all members of the veterinary team.

Course curriculum

    1. Behavioral and Convenience Euthanasia

    2. Behavioral Euthanasia Veterinary Policies Templates

    3. Quality of Life and Human–Animal Bond Assessment for Companion Dogs

    4. Multidimensional quality of life and human–animal bond measures for companion dogs

    5. Behavioral Euthanasia Discussion Guide

    6. Final Exam

    7. Exit Survey

About this course

  • $60.00
  • 7 lessons
  • 1 hour of video content

Instructor

DVM, CHPV, CPEV, DACAW Dr. Kathleen Cooney

Dr. Kathleen Cooney has been practicing advanced end-of-life care since 2006. In 2017, she founded the Companion Animal Euthanasia Training Academy (CAETA) and is now the Senior Director of Medical Education, plus she has owned 3 end-of-life businesses. Dr. Cooney is well-known for her work in companion animal euthanasia and has authored two books on the subject along with numerous articles and book chapters. She has collaborated in end-of-life training for the AVMA, AAHA, NAVC, IAAHPC, and the Fear Free Program, plus is a past-president and board member of the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care. Dr. Cooney is a strong advocate for best practices in all aspects of end-of-life care and speaks nationally and internationally on such topics. She is Board Certified in animal welfare, and is Affiliate Faculty at Colorado State University where she teaches end-of-life topics and animal welfare. She loves all things old and gray.