PetVet Magazine PetVet Magazine
  • Issues
  • Subscribe
  • Advisory Board
  • Media Kit
  • Advertise
PetVet Magazine
  • Issues
  • Categories
    • Client Services
    • Best Practices
    • Business Trends
    • Beyond the Stethoscope
    • Industry News
    • Lifestyle
    • Why It Matters To Me
    • PetVet Profile
    • PetVet Top 10
    • Veterinarian Life Advice
  • Subscribe
  • Advisory Board
  • Media Kit
  • Advertise
  • PetVet Profile

Dr. Dani McVety-Leinen: A Pioneer in End-of-Life Veterinary Care

  • 2022-10-18
  • Jen Phillips April
Total
1
Shares
1
0
0
0
Photos by Lap of Love and Ross Taylor

In 2009, shortly after completing veterinarian school at the University of Florida, Dr. Dani McVety-Leinen founded of Lap of Love, which, today, is a multi-practice pet hospice network with 60+ locations around the country. Lap of Love provides in-home, end-of-life veterinary care; aftercare; in-home euthanasia and pet loss support groups.

“I was initially going to do this as a side job, and I’d offer to come to clients’ homes for euthanasia. Then I got busier and busier—it’s been a wild ride!” Dr. McVety-Leinen shares about her success.

Once word started spreading about this dignified approach to a beloved pet’s last days, Dr. McVety-Leinen received calls and emails from all over the country. It was then that she realized this was needed and could expand beyond its origin location of Tampa, FL. 

She reached out to veterinary school classmate Dr. Mary Gardner who had a decade of software development experience. Dr. Gardner immediately connected with the Lap of Love model and they became business partners. 

“Dr. Gardner was the second location. We then started designing and developing our proprietary software for the practices, and we wrote the operational manual and researched a lot of legal implications,” Dr. McVety-Leinen shares.  

It soon became inevitable that pet parents appreciate reassurance and guidance from their veterinarian when it comes to end-of-life decisions for their pets. The third location was then opened in NC by a fellow veterinarian who expressed interest in offering the service, and Lap of Love continued to grow from there.  

“As veterinarians, we put the decision to euthanize on the pet parent’s shoulders. That’s a lot of weight. Instead, at Lap of Love, we give them permission to say ‘goodbye’ and assure them they gave the pet a wonderful life, and now it’s time,” Dr. McVety-Leinen shares empathetically.  

“I’m passionate about talking with our clients and knowing what they need to hear when it comes to end-of-life care for their pets. In veterinary school,” she continues, “we’re not taught anything about how to talk with families about euthanasia.”

Dr. McVety-Leinen has studied different communication styles to facilitate these difficult conversations over the years, and says the tone you use and body language are all important. 

“There’s a piece of being a doctor that’s looking in the eyes of the person and knowing what they need to hear. You can say, ‘Yes, this is the right time. Yes, you’ve done an amazing job.’ It’s the difference between saying ‘I feel for you’ and someone else grabbing your hand and saying, ‘I know what you need.’ 

“Or, sometimes, the pet parent knows the pet is dying, but another family member will be home in a few days, and they want to say goodbye,” Dr. McVety-Leinen continues. “We can help them make the pet comfortable until they say their goodbyes.

“I volunteered for human hospice while in college. I had an affinity for this kind of care from the beginning. I love helping people feel comfortable about the end of life, and I love telling them they’ve done an amazing job for their pet and assure them this is the right time,” she says. 

The veterinarian community recently recognized Dr. McVety-Leinen’s work by naming her the recipient of the “2022 Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award.” The award is named after the late Dr. Leo K. Bustad. Dr. Bustad was a former president of the Delta Society and dean of the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Bustad pioneered studies of the bond between humans and their pets. 

The award is one of the profession’s highest honors, presented annually by the AVMA and supported by Merck Animal Health. According to the AVMA, “The award recognizes the outstanding work of veterinarians in protecting and promoting the human-animal bond.”1

Dr. McVety-Leinen says, “The bond between our species has not only brought me into this career that I cherish, but has also been the cornerstone of my work as a clinician, my inspiration as a businesswoman, and the driving force behind my work with veterinary students.” 

In her work with veterinary students, she teaches a communication class: “Part of that lecture is a divided slide that says, ‘don’t do this’ vs. ‘say this instead.’ For example, instead of saying, ‘There’s nothing more you can do.’ You can say, ‘You’ve done an incredible job of getting your pet here.’ It’s so much more supportive and positive,” she advises. 

In addition to educating veterinary students, Lap of Love added virtual support groups for grieving pet parents: “When COVID started, we added online pet loss support groups. They’re free every day of the week, and we offer one-on-one coaching for family members.” 

When not teaching, working with her patients or running her growing veterinary practice of nearly 500 employees, Dr. McVety-Leinen speaks and writes on topics such as veterinary hospice and body language for doctors. 

With her unmatchable empathy for grieving pet parents and pets reaching end of life, this one-of-a-kind veterinarian is certainly deserving of the coveted “Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award”—and so much more! +

References:

1. AVMA names Dr. Dani McVety-Leinen recipient of 2022 Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award. (2022, May 4). AVMA. https://www.avma.org/news/press-releases/dr-dani-mcvety-leinen-recipient-2022-bustad-companion-animal

Total
1
Shares
Share 1
Tweet 0
Share 0
Pin it 0
Jen Phillips April

A web writer since 2005, Jen’s written over 1000 articles on pet-related topics. She works with veterinarians and pet professionals around the world to help them attract and retain customers through effective content marketing practices. Passionate about both pets and digital marketing, you can find out more at jenphillipsapril.com. When not working with her fabulous clients, you can find her eating tacos and practicing her Spanish in her adopted home of the Riviera Maya.

Next Article
  • Team Management

Top 5 Workplace Productivity Killers and How to Combat Them

  • 2022-10-18
  • Louise S. Dunn
View Post
Previous Article
  • Client Services

Fact or Fiction: How to Handle Cautious Clients

  • 2022-10-18
  • Elycia Degenhardt, BA, CVT
View Post
  • December 2022 / January 2023
    • 2022-12-06
  • Veterinarian Life Advice
    • 2022-12-14
  • Answering the Age-Old Client Question: “What Should I Feed My Pet?”
    • 2022-12-14
  • Dr. Jonathan Stockman: Dedicated to Dispelling Myths & Revolutionizing Pet Nutrition
    • 2022-12-14
  • The Environmental Impact of Pet Food Protein Sources
    • 2022-12-14
  • 4 Plant-Based Dog Food Myths Debunked
    • 2022-12-14
  • Are You a Smarte? The Secret to Practice Success
    • 2022-12-14
  • 3 Nutrition Hacks to Help You Take Care of Your Health
    • 2022-12-14
  • Veterinary Hope Foundation: Offering Support for the Animal Care Community
    • 2022-12-14
  • PetVet Top 10
    • 2022-12-14
  • October/November 2022 Issue
    • 2022-10-12
  • Veterinarian Life Advice
    • 2022-10-18
Social Accounts
  • Home
  • Subscribe
  • Advisory Board
  • Media Kit
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
PetVet Magazine

A Practical Guide for Pet Health Professionals

Launching in the Summer of 2018, PetVet Magazine is an all-encompassing trade magazine that will cover all aspects of the ever changing veterinary industry. From customer service to the latest technology; PetVet Magazine will deliver Quality Content to Motivate & Educate Veterinarians and their staff.

© 2018-2022 PetVet Magazine

Issues
  • December 2022 / January 2023
  • October/November 2022 Issue
  • August/September 2022 Issue

Input your search keywords and press Enter.