Suicide in veterinary medicine is rampant, and one of the two most common means of suicide among veterinarians is pharmaceutical poisoning1. In cases where suicide is an impulsive decision [in one study, 48% of suicide attempt survivors said they made an attempt within 10 minutes of making the suicide decision2], restricting access to lethal medications… Read More
Uncharted Podcast Tackles Reducing the Risk of Suicide in Your Practice
Dr. Andy Roark and Co-host Stephanie Goss talk about the new #4eyessavelives initiative in their newest Uncharted Veterinary podcast. Goss interviews Roark about why he believes that restricting access to lethal drugs can save lives in veterinary medicine. The duo discusses the reasons this approach makes sense, how to implement it into your own practice,… Read More
Can You Care Too Much? How to Draw the Line So You Can Keep Going
With trembling hands and red eyes, the veterinarian looked at me pleadingly. “I have 12 pets I never even meant to have. There are IV bags that just stay hung up in my bathroom. I work all day, and then I go home and take care of animals I took in because clients couldn’t pay… Read More
You Don’t Have to See All the Pets
One of my most crushing failures as a vet came one Friday when I was scheduled to work at a tiny satellite clinic with only a single young veterinary technician. It was my first year in practice and I dreamed of being a great doctor to patients, a great champion for staff, and a great… Read More
You’ve Earned the Right to Be Proud
Think for a moment about the nastiest client you have in your practice. The one who has made you and others in your clinic feel awful in every way possible. What did that person do or say? How long have you remembered it? Now, think about your favorite pet owner. The one who brightens your… Read More
Need to Vent? Are You Sure?
“This is a safe space, right? Great. Let me tell you how awful yesterday and my boss and my techs and my job and my clients and the other vets and my kids’ school and our government are. Then I’ll feel better.” You’ve heard something like this before. You’ve probably said something like this before… Read More