Veterinary Support Services

Recognizing the depth of the human-animal bond, social workers are a part of veterinary teams to help address the human needs of both clients and veterinary professionals that occur during animals’ care. Social workers offer support to animal owners during emotionally difficult situations. They offer support to veterinary professionals who are faced by the emotional toll of patient loss or illness daily.

UW Veterinary Care’s (UWVC) Veterinary Support Services is available to UWVC clients free of charge. The UWVC medical team may ask Veterinary Support Services to offer support during an animal’s care.

We appreciate your understanding and patience regarding Veterinary Support Services being prioritized for in-hospital patient families.

Support for clients

• Assist in planning ahead for potential medical crisis, chronic illness, or end of life.
• Act as a liaison between client and veterinary medical team
• Support during times of uncertainty, diagnostic testing, and/or treatment
• Facilitate processing animal’s diagnosis and treatment options
• Talking through when the time is right to stop treatment for client/family and animal
• Discuss consideration of possible choice to end animal’s pain and suffering
• Help in making quality of life assessments
• Be present before, during, and/or after euthanasia
• Be present, if client cannot be present during euthanasia
• Help guide family discussions with children regarding animal’s illness, possibility of death, or death
• Support to caregivers of animals with chronic illnesses
• Individual, couple or family anticipatory grief and grief support
• Facilitate Animal Loss Support Group: UWVC Together in Pet Loss

Meet our Team

Rhonda Nichols, MSW, LCSW
UW Veterinary Care's full-time, on-site licensed clinical social worker (LCSW)

If you are interested in further resources or connecting with UW Veterinary Care’s social worker, please email:
svm-uwvc-counseling@g-groups.wisc.edu.