A previous version of this article first appeared on Medium.com. Emotional blackmail is the new term being used to characterize the pressure that clients put on veterinarians to care for their pets, to feel guilty about charging, and for making money. It has catapulted our profession into a crisis of burnout, compassion fatigue and suicide…. Read More
Wellness
TISI: I’m Tired of Bullying in Veterinary Medicine
Mental health. Self-Care. Anxiety. Depression. Suicide. These are all words that have come to the forefront of veterinary medicine in recent years. It is finally a topic that is being addressed in seminars, conferences and articles. It is a real problem. I have heard many theories about why it is such a problem in our… Read More
The Growing Pains of Setting Boundaries in Veterinary Medicine
I’m sitting in the car and crying outside of my daughter’s school. I’ve just left work and made my way to her school for her annual talent show. We are doing an aerial yoga routine together that we have been practicing for 2 weeks. I know that she’s inside nervously waiting for me and I’m… 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
Are You Your Worst Enemy? Be Aware of Your Self Talk
As a veterinary mentor and wellness coach, I regularly speak with veterinarians who are impacted by negative self-talk. Veterinarians often get into the habit of judging their abilities/performance and ruminating over their actions. Frequently, we are our own worse critics. Being a vet comes with great responsibility. We are often faced with life or death… 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