These Guidelines were developed by the Argus Institute for Families and Veterinary Medicine at Colorado State University. We hope you will find them an informative and useful reference. Most people seek medical care for their animals because they are as dedicated to their pets as they are to the human members of their families. These family-pet bonds are the foundation of veterinary medicine.
Research shows there are many benefits inherent in the family-pet bond.
Yet, there are also consequences. For every medical intervention, there are corresponding emotional responses. For example, human emotions accompany the treatment of a pet's illness, injury, undesirable behavior, and, most certainly, the pet's death. Like most people, you probably want to reach out and offer help when others are in need of support. However, you may not feel confident in your ability to do so.