Orientation II
Worksheet #8
The following questions come from Chapter 19 and 20 in McCurnins, select the most appropriate choice.
1. Euthanasia was defined by the 1986 American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Panel on Euthanasia as “the act of inducing painless death”.
a. Trueb. False
2. Although euthanasia is an emotionally charged issue, most members of the veterinary profession are unified in their acceptance of the practice and hold the same view of its utility.
a. Trueb. False
3. The decision to euthanize a pet is often made more difficult because few pet owners have an adequate support group available that understands the bond that develops between an animal and its caretaker.
a. Trueb. False
4. The most important help the veterinary technician can provide an owner is answering their questions about euthanasia.
a. Trueb. False
5. If an owner makes a decision to euthanize that the veterinary staff believes is not in the best interest of the pet, the staff should gently but firmly try to convince the owner to change his decision.
a. Trueb. False
6. As many as 40% of clients change veterinarians after a pet has died. This figure probably approaches 100% if euthanasia is handled in a manner that causes the client to perceive a lack of care, concern, or respect on the part of the veterinarian or other staff members.
a. Trueb. False
7. In general, slang terms such as “put to sleep” or “put down” are preferred over the formal medical term “euthanasia” when discussing the subject with owners.
a. Trueb. False
8. Allowing a client to be present for euthanasia is often too graphic and shocking for them; it interrupts a healthy grief process and should be avoided.
a. Trueb. False
9. Euthanasia appointments should be scheduled when interruptions are unlikely and placed in a time slot of at least 30 minutes.
a. Trueb. False
10. If the procedure is to be performed in an examination room, the pet should not be placed on a blanket because of the risk posthumous urination and defecation.
a. Trueb. False
11. Always take payment or make arrangements for payment and make arrangements for care of the pet’s remains prior to the euthanasia procedure.
a. Trueb. False
12. Perceived lack of caring or insensitivity by the veterinary staff and having to return to the room where their previous pet was euthanized are two major reasons that clients do not return to the euthanizing veterinarian with their next pet.
a. Trueb. False
13. Clients wishing to be present for their pet’s euthanasia should also be allowed to observe the placement of the intravenous catheter that will be used for the injection.
a. Trueb. False
14. Pre-euthanasia sedatives or general anesthetics are often used to calm an agitated patient or shorten the “excitement” phase that occurs as the euthanasia solution takes effect.
a. Trueb. False
15. Diazepam is the most commonly used euthanasia solution.
a. Trueb. False
16. The euthanasia solution should be administered very slowly to prevent perivascular infiltration and resulting lack of effect.
a. Trueb. False
17. One of the most important aspects of creating a smooth client experience of the euthanasia process is informing them, before the procedure, of every detail, what to expect, and every possible complication that can occur.
a. Trueb. False
18. When returning a pet’s body to a client, you should clean any blood off the fur, remove any catheters or bandages, place the tongue in the mouth, and close the pet’s eyes.
a. Trueb. False
19. Do not call a client who has lost a pet; simply send a condolence card signed by everyone on the hospital’s staff.
a. Trueb. False
20. If the client wishes to know what will be done with the pet’s body left with the veterinarian for disposal, it is best to tell them the body will go into a “mass cremation with other animals” regardless of how the remains will actually be handled.
a. Trueb. False
- Successful strategies for coping with the stress of performing euthanasia include staff discussions about feelings, rotation of euthanasia responsibilities, and dark humor.
a. Trueb. False
22. The best and safest vein to use for large-animal euthanasia is the cephalic vein.
a. Trueb. False
23. Technicians performing the frequent euthanasia procedures often required in animal shelters are actually less affected by the stress that normal accompanies the procedure because they become emotionally acclimatized to death.
a. Trueb. False
The following questions come from Chapter 20 in McCurnins.
- Due to changing family structures and an increasing number of people who live alone, companion animals have taken on larger roles in people’s support systems and are often considered members of their owners’s family.
a. Trueb. False
- In the 1990’s, the dog supplanted the cat as the most popular pet in the United States.
a. Trueb. False
- When the pet loss occurs, the veterinary staff can expect the same level of intensity of grief from all owners.
a. Trueb. False
4. Because people who make up client support systems often do not understand the full extent of attachment between a pet owner and pet, pet owners often turn to veterinary professionals as sources of support, comfort, and understanding at and around the time of their pet’s death.
a. Trueb. False
5. Crying, taking time away from work, and wanting to memorialize a pet are unhealthy responses to the death of a pet and are a sign of an interrupted, or blocked, grief process.
a. Trueb. False
- The five stages of the grief process are denial, bargaining, anger, depression, and resolution.
a. Trueb. False
7. All client-grieving behaviors should be met with acceptance and reassurance that the client’s feelings are normal, but severe depression can be addressed by referral to a professional counselor.
a. Trueb. False
8. Never attempt to force a client who is in denial about a pet’s illness or death to “come to her senses” or move out of denial.
a. Trueb. False
9. When helping a client find a new animal to replace a dead pet, encourage them to choose one of the same breed, gender, and color.
a. Trueb. False
- Denial is best met with patient repetition of the facts until the client is ready to accept them.
a. Trueb. False
- Due to the volatile nature of this emotion and the risk of liability, angry clients should be avoided until they have moved through this stage of the grief process.
a. Trueb. False
- Many veterinary schools offer free pet-loss support hot lines for clients needing support after the death of a pet.
a. Trueb. False
- Because young children do not fully understand the permanence of death, they should be protected from the truth about a pet’s illness possibly by telling them the family pet “went to live on a farm.”
a. Trueb. False
- Children under the age of 12 do not really understand that death is final.
a. Trueb. False
- Straightforward explanations and concrete words like “dead” and “died” should be used when talking to children about death.
a. Trueb. False
- The veterinary technician can play a vital role in helping a bereaved client by being available; listening; assuring the client that his feelings, emotions, and struggles are normal; and offering referral when the client thinks he needs more help than his available support group is able to provide.
- a. Trueb. False
- List three suggestions you might make to an owner needing or wishing to memorialize a pet.
- A client who responds to a diagnosis of cancer with a request that the pet’s toenails be clipped is exhibiting which stage of grief? Can this behavior be considered normal?
- Name three factors that may complicate, prolong, or intensify the grief process.
The following questions come from Chapter 5, Urinalysis, in Hendrixand the additional notes sent to you titled Urinalysis.
List the four methods of urine collection.
1.
2.
3.
4.
The two preferred methods of collection are:______and ______
What information is needed to label the specimen collected?
Ideally, urine samples should be analyzed ______of collection to avoid postcollection artifacts
and degenerative changes.
If a urine sample can not be examined immediately, the sample may be______(be specific)
and will need to be ______before the examination continues.
List the components of the Gross Examination (Evaluation of Physical Properties) of a urine sample:
Also give a normal and abnormal comment for each. i.e.: normal color of urine is yellow due to the
pigments called urochromes; colorless urine usually has a low specific gravity and is associated with
polyuria
List the components of the Chemical Evaluation of a urine sample. Indicate if the presence of the urine
component is normal or not.
List some constituents of Urine Sediment that may be seen on a given sample.
Define the term Uroliths and list the four types.
Define the terms located at the end of the notes handout.