The day after Christmas started normally for a day in the clinic… with an emergency. Petey had been vomiting since Christmas Eve. By the time he made it to my exam room, he was looking miserable. “Were there any Christmas parties?” I asked Mom. “Any holiday treats he could have gotten into?” “No,” she said,… Read More
Perspective
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
Managing Massive Moments
Something massive just happened. I mean hugely ginormous. At this moment, it feels like my world has just stopped, changed direction, and will never be the same again. And yet, there are people around me who do not seem to realize anything is different. How can they go on as if nothing happened while I… 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
Don’t Waste Energy on the Negative
Once upon a time, working in veterinary medicine was regarded as a selfless profession. Everyone employed in the hospital knew at a young age that taking care of animals was their calling. We had more people than we needed to fill vacant jobs and had stacks of resumes from determined people wanting to get their… Read More