Medicine/Critical Care
90th FVMA Annual Conference
Christine A. Culler, DVM, MS, DACVECC
Veterinary Specialty Hospital of the Carolinas
Breaking difficult news is a distressing and challenging part of our profession. Reflecting on cases of both chronic and acute illness, this lecture will provide the audience with different techniques on how to discuss a serious illness with clients. Explaining the diagnosis in a way that is accessible to a client is critical, as well as clearly describing how a disease may progress and what an owner should prepare for. A goal of this lecture is to help the audience think differently about communication in serious illness and to become more at ease with an honest discussion about death and dying.