The horse stands alone as one of the most challenging of species cared for by veterinary professionals. Their size, strength, and intelligence, as well as the depth of their bond with the humans with whom they share their lives require a different level of attunement, attention, and skill - especially at the end of a horse's life. Unlike end-of-life and hospice / palliative care for small animals, equine end-of-life care is not well-defined; it is an unsettled discipline.

Throughout this series Dave Shuey, LMSW, RVT, CHPT, in part, shares his personal journey in caring for horses, and weaves in pearls from the domains of knowledge and care, all the while drawing on philosophical viewpoints from the domains of inquiry and wonder, to help translate what we know from human and small animal hospice and palliative care into a proposed framework for equine end-of-life practice. 

In this first segment, Dave Shuey shares some personal perspectives to help us understand several objective and subjective considerations that distinguish quality of life from welfare. Aside from the well-established pain scales and body condition scoring assessments readily available to veterinarians, he proposes some common themes that both veterinary caregivers and horse owners can consider when working to assess a horse's quality of life or in contemplating euthanasia.

Running time: 37 mins
Approved for 0.5 hrs of CE credit by AAVSB RACE and NY State

You might also like

Dispelling Cancer Treatment Myths And Addressing Quality Of Life Of Affected Dogs And Cats

12/11/2024

Cancer is a word that can evoke a lot of fear and uncertainty, especially when it affects our animal...

Read More

Supporting The Cancer Patient: Managing Cancer Pain, Nutritional Needs Of Patients, And Supporting The Caregiver Through It All

12/04/2024

Aside from the plan prescribed to treat a pet’s cancer, we have to ensure that we are addressi...

Read More

Hemangiosarcoma - What We Know And How That's Changing The Paradigm Of Treatment And Prevention

11/13/2024

Hemangiosarcoma is a malignant tumor and, historically, associated with a poor long term prognosis....

Read More

Treating Cancer - It's Not Just Limited To "chemo" Or "radiation"

11/06/2024

There are different approaches to cancer treatment and, for some types of cancer, the therapy may be...

Read More

Cancer Diagnostics - What Is Helpful? What Is Hype Or Truly Offers Hope?

10/30/2024

The mention of 'cancer' can evoke a wide range of emotions ranging from fear to concern to confusion...

Read More

The Current Thinking About What Cancer Is And Its Possible Causes

10/23/2024

Cancer is a term that is often shrouded in uncertainty and fear, but gaining a clear understanding o...

Read More