Blog
Featured Posts
-
Diffusing Difficult Situations with Veterinary Clients
In the fast-paced and stressful world of veterinary medicine, conflicts are inevitable. Very often these disagreements involve upset or angry clients who make statements like “you’re only in it for the money” or “you should have been able to figure out my pet’s problem by now”. When our self-image is challenged, particularly with accusations of […]
-
Navigating the Top Stressors in Veterinary Practice
In the heartwarming yet challenging realm of veterinary practice, we, the dedicated professionals, often find ourselves juggling an array of stressors that shape our daily lives. Acknowledging these challenges is not just a necessity for our mental wellbeing; it’s a vital step toward nurturing a compassionate and supportive community. Let’s dive into the most common […]
-
Defining Futile Care and Its Impact on Wellbeing in Veterinary Medicine
As an emergency and critical care specialist, I can wholeheartedly attest to providing futile care to patients whose owners who would not consent to euthanasia or discontinuation of intensive care. I remember one dog in particular who had a collapsing trachea that was stented and then had progression of his disease resulting in laryngeal and […]
All Posts
-
Ten things I wish I’d learned in veterinary school…
With more than a decade passed since I graduated from veterinary school, I have enough years under my belt that I can look back and consider some things that I wish I had learned earlier. While I am confident that my veterinary school prepared me for many things related to medicine and surgery, it left […]
-
How pet insurance can help the mental health of veterinarians
It’s not a secret anymore…veterinarians have poor mental health. Approximately 1 in 10 veterinarians report experiencing serious psychological distress and 1 in 3 veterinarians report they have had a previous depressive episode. And what’s more surprisingly to many is that 17% of veterinarians have had suicidal thoughts and 1% have attempted suicide. I continue to […]
-
What to say (and not say) to a person who has lost a pet
After the unexpected loss of my beloved Standard Poodle named Faith 2 months ago, it became clear to me that there are many ways that friends, family members, and colleagues try to help a person experiencing grief. The loss of a pet is incredibly painful because we do not simply lose our pet; we also lose […]
-
How to practice veterinary medicine mindfully
Veterinary care providers are always multitasking, dividing our attention between different responsibilities, often simultaneously. We might be speaking to one client while thinking about the last client we saw, rushing through surgeries to get to our first appointment on time, checking voice mail between appointments, or reading through emails and Facebook during lunch, all while […]
-
Why all veterinary hospitals should have a mental health professional on staff
There is no doubt in my mind that my job as an emergency and critical care specialist is much easier when I work at a hospital with a mental health professional on staff. As an advocate for wellness in the veterinary profession, I am passionate about reducing the struggles that veterinary care providers face at […]
-
Toxic veterinary workplace: what are the signs (and solutions)?
As a veterinary locum in small animal emergency and critical care, I have worked in many different hospitals including academic and private practice. I’ve been fortunate to work in several veterinary workplaces comprised of cohesive teams that allow for a happy and efficient work environment. Unfortunately, not all veterinary hospitals are that way. Some practices […]
-
It’s veterinary practice not perfection!
As a veterinarian (and recovering perfectionist), I can say that perfectionism is a common trait had by those in our profession. I think if I polled a room of 100 veterinarians, more than 90 of them would self-identify as perfectionists. Perfectionism is a personality trait that characterizes a person striving for flawlessness who sets excessively […]
-
I’m a veterinarian and I make mistakes…
As I prepare to give my lecture on “Disclosing Medical Errors” to veterinary care providers in Calgary this evening, I recall what is still to date the most difficult experience of my veterinary career. It was when I realized that a mistake that I made killed a dog in our intensive care unit (ICU). As […]
-
Do you experience Seasonal Affective Disorder?
If you’re anything like me and you live in a northern climate, then this time of year when the days get shorter, life can feel more “difficult”. In other words, you might start to feel like you have less energy, are more irritable, and that your sleep patterns are disrupted. While many people attribute these […]
