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Dispelling Five Common Myths About Mental Health
Did you know that almost half of adults have had a decline in their mental health since the start of the pandemic? In fact, mental health problems are on the rise worldwide and across all demographics. This makes Mental Health Awareness Month an especially important reminder to tune in to and talk about our mental […]
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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 […]
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Five Simple Steps for Responding to Negative Online Reviews
There’s nothing that compares to that sick sinking feeling that we experience when we see a 1-star online review. These reviews are often filled with CAPS LOCK words and proclamations starting with “never” (e.g., “never going back…”, “never recommend…”, “never again…”). Many things shared in negative online reviews are exaggerated, over-emphasized, or just plain false, […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
