It is crucial that veterinarians rethink end of life with more hope and action. We need to refrain from persuading carers to elect either definitive treatment or euthanasia for patients diagnosed with terminal disease or advanced cancer. If recommendations for surgery or medical treatment of a terminally ill patient (TIP) are declined, there needs to be a third option that promotes quality of life (QoL) and nurtures the Human-Animal Bond (HAB). That third option is hospice or Pawspice, which embraceskinder gentler standard treatment along with palliative medicine to allow an extended farewell. To compassionately and professionally provide advice, home care instructions, palliative medicine and emotional support concerning death may be the best andonly medicine one can give. However, many veterinary team (v-team) members find it difficult to engage in an area of practice that would require high level communication skills and giving emotional support, which are needed to deal with TIPs and end of life care issues. Carers often express worry, disappointment, fear, sadness, anxiety, and anticipatory grief about the decline and inevitable death of their TIP. The Pawspice care team must be prepared and willing to provide emotional support for carers and palliative care for TIPs. Therefore, is important to first of all help dispel some old myths and refute the reasons why physicians and many v-team members feel reluctant to work with dying patients. We must also dispel the notion that we should avoiddiscussing a TIP'S poor prognosis with carers.
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