In emergency veterinary medicine, everything moves fast. The cases are harder, emotions run higher, and the losses come more frequently. For most ER vet teams, these realities are simply part of the job. But there’s one aspect of emergency care that rarely gets discussed, even though it quietly shapes the emotional health of the people who keep the hospital running: the body care process.

For years, the emergency animal hospital in this case study used standard plastic cadaver bags for their deceased patients. It was routine, familiar, and widely accepted. The team had no reason to question it. Until they tried something different.

Euthabag partnered with the hospital to conduct a 30-day trial, providing a full supply of dignified pet body bags for staff to use for every deceased patient. The goal was simple: to assess how this change affected their mental and emotional experience with body care.

Let’s break down what this case study revealed!

Before the Body Care Case Study: “A Bag Is a Bag”

When we began the study, most of the team weren’t expecting anything to feel different. Body care was emotionally difficult, but it was also just part of the job. Plastic cadaver bags were what everyone used - so the emotional impact of the product itself wasn’t something anyone thought about.

Several team members shared that they hadn’t realized how desensitized they had become to the harshness of plastic bags. That emotional numbness is common in high-stress veterinary environments; it’s a way to keep moving when the cases don’t stop coming.

But numbness doesn’t mean something isn’t taking a toll.

During the Trial: A Noticeable Shift

For 30 days straight, the hospital replaced every plastic bag with a Euthabag. No exceptions. Every staff member - technicians, assistants, and support staff participated.

By the end of the trial, patterns had emerged. Regardless of their role, experience level, or tenure in the hospital, nearly everyone reported the same realization: They hadn’t understood how much the plastic bags were affecting them until they weren’t using them anymore.

Here are some examples, through their own words.

“When you put an animal in a plastic bag, you have to contort them in terrible positions to get them where they need to be, whereas with the Euthabag, I feel like I’m just laying them to rest. It makes everything way more dignified.”

— Brittany, ER Veterinary Technician

“It feels more like I’m sending the pet away to its forever, and not just bagging them up, and putting them in the freezer.”
— Lexi, ER Veterinary Assistant

“It feels a lot more respectful. I feel like you see a difference in being able to put them in a respectful bag and lay them down peacefully, rather than trying to fold them awkwardly into a trash bag. It just feels dirty.”
— Dr. Light, ER Veterinarian

“I feel like the Euthabag takes less of a toll, emotionally and physically, all the way around.”

— Caty, ER Veterinary Assistant

The team consistently described a sense of relief, peace, and respectfulness when using Euthabag that they did not experience with plastic bags. Some noted that it felt like they were finally honoring the lives of their patients - even in the quiet moments after passing.

Emotional Impact: Dignity Changes Everything

The most powerful theme that came out of the case study was this: Dignity doesn’t just benefit the pet’s family - it supports the people behind the scenes.

The team described:

Feeling more aligned with their values
Feeling gentler and calmer during the body care process
Feeling less like they were “placing a beloved pet in something meant for garbage”
Feeling proud of the care they provided, even after the patient had passed
Feeling less emotionally weighed down at the end of a long shift

Many also commented on how the softness, structure, and appearance of the Euthabag changed the emotional tone of the task. These shifts matter. In a field where compassion fatigue and moral distress run high, even small improvements in emotional experience can create meaningful change.

Operational Benefits Noticed Along the Way

While the focus of this study was mental health, the hospital also noted practical improvements:

Fewer double-bagging incidents
Better presentation for crematory pickup
Smoother storage and organization
A more consistent, standardized process
Less discomfort if a client asked about post-care handling
Patients being more presentable if the owners came back later to view their deceased pet

These weren’t the goals of the study - but they became valuable secondary benefits.

What This Case Study Proves

After 30 days, the hospital came to a clear conclusion: The tools we use in veterinary medicine directly impact the emotional well-being of support staff.

The body care process isn’t just procedural. It’s meaningful. It carries emotional weight. And the materials we provide staff play a significant role in how they experience that part of their job.

This case study proved something our industry has long overlooked:

Plastic cadaver bags carry a hidden emotional burden.
A dignified alternative provides measurable mental health relief.

Why This Matters for Veterinary Medicine

We talk often about burnout, compassion fatigue, and staff retention in veterinary medicine - but we rarely talk about body care. Yet for many support staff members, they perform this task daily. If something as simple as replacing plastic bags with a dignified, purpose-designed alternative can relieve even a small part of that emotional strain, it deserves attention.

Investing in dignified body care tools is not a luxury. It is a form of mental health support. And for the people who carry the weight of loss in our hospitals every day, those investments matter.

Conclusion: Better Body Care Supports Better Veterinary Care

This 30-day trial revealed what many veterinary professionals have felt for years but never had the words to articulate: The body care process affects us more deeply than we realize.

By giving staff the opportunity to perform this task with dignity, gentleness, and intention, we not only honor the pets we’ve cared for - we honor the people who care for them. If your hospital is ready to explore the emotional and operational impact of transitioning to Euthabag, we would love to support you.

How a 30-Day Euthabag Trial Revealed the Hidden Mental Health Impact of Veterinary Body Care