It is impossible to have balance between work and home life when we are constantly thinking about work. — I know what you’re thinking right now…work-life balance? C’mon!! It doesn’t exist! Well…I’m here to tell you that there are ways to achieve balance between veterinary work and all that remains in life outside of it! As veterinary care providers, we spend so much time at work, whether it’s in…

Veterinary care providers are at risk of psychological distress because they experience repeated incidents of moral stress. — Contrary to popular belief, veterinary care providers do not spend their days vaccinating puppies and kittens and discussing deworming regimens with pet owners; the average companion animal practice deals with illness, disease, death, and dying 75% of the time. Veterinarians diagnose serious and terminal illness; they experience unanticipated outcomes after…

Considering how much time we spend sleeping, and how overworked most of us are these days, it is important to do everything we can to boost our sleep hygiene. — I don’t know about you, but most of the veterinary professionals I speak to nowadays when asked how they are doing answer: “tired” or even “exhausted”. Veterinary practice is busier now than ever before thanks to pandemic puppies and COVID cats, which means longer shifts and disrupted sleep for many…

Veterinary practice is not just vaccinating puppies and kittens — Despite most people believing small animal veterinary teams spend their days cuddling kittens and giving treats to puppies, most shifts are spent dealing with fractious cats, terminally ill dogs, disgruntled clients, and cranky co-workers. Repeatedly engaging in responsibilities that do not match our perceived “true calling” can result in burnout…

Pet insurance can prevent moral distress and compassion fatigue — I continue to speak with people outside of the veterinary profession who are shocked to learn that veterinary care providers have high rates of psychological distress and that suicide is a major concern within the industry. They are flabbergasted and seemingly unaware of the struggles that veterinarians face. I tell…

Seven daily activities that nourish the mind — The mental health concerns that veterinary professionals face are more widely publicized now than ever before. Psychological distress and suicide occur at rates higher than in the general population, which means that fostering mental health must be prioritized. Unfortunately, the overwhelming nature of today’s society and the demands of veterinary…

So that you can say yes to yourself — As veterinary care providers, we are “helpers” by nature and tend to have difficulty saying no to others. While this makes us generous and giving of our time and energy, it can also leave us feeling depleted and taken advantage of. As a way to practice self-care, veterinary team members…

It’s time for veterinarians to let go of the unrealistic expectation of saving every animal, making every client happy, being best friends with every co-worker, and never making a mistake. — As a veterinarian (and recovering perfectionist), I can say that perfectionism is a common trait held by those in our profession. In the past when I have polled groups of veterinarians, more than 90% of them have self-identified as perfectionists.

Given the high rates of psychological distress and suicide among veterinary professionals, experts have questioned what impact euthanasia has on the mental wellbeing of veterinary teams. — Almost every time I euthanize a client’s pet, one of the family members says to me “I don’t know how you do this…I could never do what you do.” As a veterinarian who takes pride in saving the lives of animals, I find myself struggling to know what to say…