University of Wisconsin–Madison
UW Veterinary Care > Veterinary Support Services

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

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SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

Veterinary Support Services Hours:
Monday – Friday
8:00 AM until 4:30 PM

Clients may contact Veterinary Support Services directly

608-263-0280

EMAIL US

Resources for Pet Parents

We love and care for them daily. We celebrate their “gotcha” days and birthdays. They bring us joy and laughter. Losing a pet can be just as difficult as losing a close family member or friend. This loss can be overwhelming for pet owners. Grieving the loss of a beloved pet is normal, and there are resources available to help pet owners process their feelings after saying goodbye to their furry, scaled, or feathered loved one. If you or someone you’re concerned about is at imminent risk to harm yourself or others, immediately call 911 or go directly to the nearest emergency room. If you or someone you’re concerned about is experiencing a mental health crisis, please contact: 
  •  Dane County’s 24-Hour Crisis/Suicide Prevention Hotline at Journey Mental Health: 608-280-2600
  • The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free and confidential support for anyone experiencing a suicidal, mental health, and/or substance use crisis: Call 988 (multiple languages), text to 988 (English only) or chat feature at 988lifeline.org (English only) 
  • Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in the United States, anytime, about any type of crisis. A live trained Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds from the Crisis Text Line’s secure online platform
  • Veteran’s Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1 or text 838255, 24/7 service for veterans and their loved ones
  • The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678678, 24/7 crisis support services to LGBTQ+ people

Meet our Team

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

Lee Xiong, Social Work Intern
UW-Madison Social Work graduate student

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.