Compassionate end-of-life care: Development, implementation, and evaluation of a comprehensive euthanasia course in veterinary education from 2019–2024

Abstract Background: End-of-life (EOL) and euthanasia best practices are vital but underrepresented areas in veterinary education. The Compassionate End-of-Life Care course at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine (VMCVM) was developed to address this gap by offering third year veterinary students specialized training in EOL care with emphasis on euthanasia for a variety of species. Methods: The course was created as an in-person elective course and evolved into a hybrid model during the COVID-19 pandemic. The course was presented by the Companion Animal Euthanasia Training Academy (CAETA) and included certification and micro-credentialing as a Certified Peaceful Euthanasia Veterinarian (CPEV). This article evaluates the course as an elective within the third year of the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine curriculum at the VMCVM using two surveys with both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. The first survey obtained data on the course between 2019 and 2021. Additional data using Student Perceptions of Teaching (SPOT) surveys from 2022, 2023, and 2024 were incorporated to provide longitudinal feedback on course effectiveness, instructor performance, and overall course satisfaction. Results: College integration was effective because of strong and consistent collaborative efforts between the passionate VMCVM faculty and CAETA administrators. Student feedback from course evaluations highlighted improved human-animal interaction skills, enhanced confidence in euthanasia techniques, and increased preparedness for EOL care in clinical practice for a variety of species. The hybrid format increases flexibility while maintaining high student satisfaction. Longitudinal student surveys (2022–2024) indicated consistently high ratings for instructor effectiveness, course relevance, and overall satisfaction, demonstrating sustained course value with minor fluctuations and highlighting areas for ongoing refinement. Conclusions: This article presents the development, implementation, and evaluation of a novel hybrid euthanasia course in veterinary medicine that offers a replicable model for other institutions to integrate EOL education into their curricula. Future opportunities exist for deeper exploration of EOL competencies in veterinary professional education, including those around hospice and palliative care, team-based veterinary healthcare, and interprofessional collaboration.