Caregiver Burden and Veterinary Client Well-Being

Mary Beth Spitznagel; Mark D Carlson

doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2019.01.008

Caregiver Burden and Veterinary Client Well-Being

Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2019 May;49(3):431-444. doi: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2019.01.008. Epub 2019 Mar 4.

Authors

Mary Beth Spitznagel¹, Mark D Carlson²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychological Sciences, Kent State University, 144 Kent Hall, Kent, OH 44242, USA. Electronic address: mspitzna@kent.edu.
² Stow Kent Animal Hospital, 4559 Kent Road, Kent, OH 44240, USA.

PMID: 30846380
DOI: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2019.01.008

Abstract

This article describes veterinary client caregiver burden, including how it differs from other key client experiences in the palliative care setting. Caregiver burden in human relationships is reviewed. Research examining veterinary client caregiver burden in the context of serious illness (or pet caregiver burden), including the link between pet caregiver burden and client psychosocial well-being, is summarized. Risk factors for development of pet caregiver burden are discussed in the context of beginning to address how it might be reduced or prevented. Finally, suggestions are provided for veterinarians working with clients facing these issues in a palliative care setting.

Keywords: Palliative care; Pet caregiver burden; Serious illness; Veterinary client.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Caregivers / psychology*
Humans
Pain / prevention & control
Pain / veterinary*
Physician-Patient Relations*
Quality of Life*
Veterinarians*
Veterinary Medicine / trends