Providing veterinary care to working and service dogs involves unique challenges, yet veterinary curricula typically do not cover this important topic. To help outline the nuances around veterinary care for working or service animals, the American Animal Hospital Association recently published the "2021 AAHA Working, Assistance, and Therapy Dog Guidelines" (Otto et al., 2021).
Service dog handlers and their service dogs have a unique and profound relationship, and numerous studies have identified how service dogs positively impact people with disabilities, including the ability to foster socialization and community participation. Service dogs provide emotional support, security, and an increased sense of independence. As such, the loss of a service dog (from retirement or death) is often a significant life event, due in part to the lost relationship, but also, because of the changes this brings to the handler’s independence and activities of daily living.
We are pleased to present this webinar on the loss of a service dog to help people better understand the impacts of service dog loss. This group of researchers designed this study in an effort to better understand how service dog partners experience the loss of their service dog. Their study "The Loss of a Service Dog Through Death or Retirement: Experiences and Impact on Partners” was published in 2021 by Kogan et al. This webinar highlights the distinctive aspects of this profound relationship between a disabled person and their service dog and issues related to its loss. Our panel of presenters also share suggestions, based upon their findings, about how veterinary and allied industry professionals can help support this important relationship.
The panel of presenters include: Dr. Phyllis Erdman, Dr. Cori Bussolari, Dr. Wendy Packman, and Dr. Jennifer Currin-McCulloch
Running time: 39 mins
*Registration is compliments of VetVine
*Veterinarians and veterinary technicians can earn AAVSB RACE, NY, and NJVMA-approved CE credit on a pay-per-view basis or inclusive of a VetVine Premium Membership
