This issue of Veterinary Clinics: Small Animal Practice, guest edited by Drs. Beth Marchitelli and Tami Shearer, focuses on Small Animal Euthanasia: Updates on Clinical Practice. This is one of six issues each year. Articles in this issue include, but are not limited to: historical perspective of euthanasia in veterinary medicine, the science of transitional states of consciousness and euthanasia, the physiology of death, pharmacological methods: an update on optimal pre-sedation and euthanasia solution administration, common and alternative routes of euthanasia solution administration, standardization of data collection to document adverse events associated with euthanasia, factors contributing to the decision to euthanize: diagnoses, clinical signs and triggers, euthanasia decision making: a collaboration between pet owners and veterinary professionals, euthanasia from the veterinary client's perspective: psychosocial contributors to euthanasia decision-making, and communication and euthanasia- beyond open ended questions

Introducing one of the first primers on palliative and hospice care for the small animal veterinarian Guest edited by Dr. Tami Shearer, this volume will include topics such as: the history of pet hospice, delivery systems of veterinary hospice and palliative care, 5-step pet hospice plan, a veterinarian's role in helping pet owners with decision making, quality of life assessment techniques, assessment and treatment of pain in life-limiting disease, the role of rehabilitation techniques for hospice and palliative care patients, the role of nutrition and alternative care methods in hospice and palliative care patients, emotional support tips, ethical considerations in life-limiting conditions, case studies, and much more