PETCAREGIVERBURDEN.COM
CARING FOR YOURSELF
WHILE CARING FOR A SICK PET
Managing a pet's chronic or terminal disease can be stressful. Our lab and science blog are dedicated to helping pet owners and veterinarians understand this stress, and finding ways to reduce it, so that people can make the most of their time with their pet.
ABOUT
We love our four-legged family members because they bring so much to our lives: love and affection, constant companionship, they even improve our health.
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But what happens when our pets become sick?
Pets can live happy lives for months or even years after the diagnosis of a chronic or terminal disease. But no matter how much we love our pets, providing care when they are sick can take a toll on the owner— “pet caregiver burden.” Working with owners in distress can, in turn, cause stress for veterinary teams.
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Petcaregiverburden.com is dedicated to the science of caregiver burden in the pet owner, and the understanding of how the owner's experience impacts others, including the pet and veterinary healthcare team.
Our team is based in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Kent State University. With backgrounds in clinical psychology and veterinary medicine, our team's research aims to help people decrease the stress and make the most of the time remaining with their pet.
MEET THEÂ PCB TEAM
Meet the team members at the heart of this research and blog. We come together from our backgrounds in clinical psychology and veterinary medicine to create an evidence-based resource for pet owners facing the challenges of providing care for a sick pet, and to help veterinarians better understand the experience of their clients.
Learn more about the petcaregiverburden.com team here!
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MARY BETH SPITZNAGEL, PHD
Mary Beth Spitznagel, PhD, lab PI, has a degree in clinical psychology from Ohio University and postdoctoral fellowship at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University. With specialized training in neuropsychology, she began researching caregiver burden in family members of people with dementia. After providing care for her dog with transitional cell carcinoma and cognitive dysfunction, she expanded her research to focus on how caregiver burden affects pet owners -- and how stress in pet owners can lead to burnout for veterinary teams. She is a Professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Kent State University.
MARK CARLSON, DVM
Consulting veterinarian, Mark Carlson, DVM completed his degree at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He practices at Stow Kent Animal Hospital, where he is Chief of Surgery. With more than 100,000 patient visits over 30+ years of experience, Dr. Carlson's extensive clinical expertise helps ensure our study of pet caregiver burden remains relevant to the veterinarian and pet owner.
Photo credit: Stow Kent Animal Hospital
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Nikki Bennett, PHD
Nikki Bennett, PhD, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, earned her doctorate in Anthropology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she specialized in human-animal interactions. In the Veterinary Psychology Lab, her research focuses on burden transfer in veterinary professionals and the development of strategies to support veterinary care provider wellbeing. Dr. Bennett is also working on programs to assist veterinary clients caring for chronically ill pets. ​​​​
Matt Fellows
Matt Fellows, Undergraduate Research Assistant, is completing his bachelor's in psychology. His academic goals are to attend graduate school to become a mental health counselor. In the lab, Matt contributes to research examining caregiver burden among pet owners. Matt is an animal lover with two cats at home: Prima, and the aptly named Sigmund (pictured above). ​​​​
​​​​​​The information offered on this website does not constitute psychological or veterinary medical advice. Please consult with an appropriate professional who can make recommendations for your specific situation.
CONTACT
Are you interested in joining the lab, a member of the media, or interested in scheduling a speaking engagement? Contact us here!
