The Hidden Struggles of Veterinarians: Navigating Passion, Pressure, and Burnout
By Dr. Ricky Walther, Guest Writer
Imagine dedicating your life to a profession out of pure love only to find that passion becoming a source of immense pressure and emotional exhaustion. For many veterinarians, including myself, this is the stark reality.
From a young age, I was captivated by animals and driven by a desire to understand and heal them. However, the reality of the veterinary profession is far more complex and demanding than I ever anticipated. The emotional and physical toll, coupled with financial pressures and high-stakes decisions, often leads to significant mental health challenges and burnout. My journey through veterinary school and into practice revealed a harsh truth: the empathy that fuels our dedication also makes us vulnerable—and strategies to foster resilience in our field are critically important for our well-being.
Expectations vs. Reality – My Story
I have always wanted to be a veterinarian. As a child, my fascination with animals and their physiology drove my ambition. I was obsessed with them and wanted to know how they worked and how to make them better. This passion led me to work in a veterinary hospital as a teenager, where I first encountered the realities of veterinary medicine.
My early experiences were eye-opening. While shadowing a practice owner, I learned that veterinary medicine was not just about saving every pet’s life. It was also about managing client expectations and the business aspects of running a practice. The practice owner advised me to learn business skills in college, which was unexpected but invaluable advice.
Veterinary school prepared me medically but not entirely for the practical and emotional challenges of the profession. I didn’t realize how frequently the financial constraints of the clients and other barriers would limit my ability to care for pets. Many pet owners don’t understand how much diagnostics and procedures cost, and they have not budgeted for the cost of veterinary care. This disconnect between expectations and reality can be jarring for many veterinarians.
Graduating during the COVID-19 pandemic added another layer of complexity. I entered the field at a time when in-person interactions were limited, making it challenging to build trust with clients in the practice I joined and effectively communicate care plans. The added stress of the pandemic, combined with the already high demands of the job, led me to experience burnout about six months into my career.
The harsh reality is that veterinary medicine is about helping animals and also about navigating a high-stress, emotionally charged environment where the stakes are incredibly high.
The High-Stress Environment of Veterinary Medicine
Veterinary medicine is a high-stress profession due to its emotional and physical demands, life-and-death decisions, and financial pressures. We deal with high-stakes situations daily, and our patients don’t live as long as human patients, so we experience loss frequently.
Emotional and Physical Demands
The job requires dealing with sick and injured animals, which is emotionally taxing. The physical demands of the job—including long hours and physically strenuous tasks—add to the stress. We spend most of the day on our feet or crouched on the floor examining pets, and we perform surgeries for multiple hours a day.
High-Stakes Decisions
We are constantly making life-and-death decisions. This pressure is heightened by the fact that our patients cannot communicate their needs, making our diagnostic and treatment decisions even more critical.
Financial Pressures
High student loan debt and the costs of running a practice are significant stressors. Many veterinarians face a sizeable debt-to-income ratio, which can be overwhelming.
Long Hours
The average veterinarian works over 48 hours per week, often without a healthy work-life balance, leading to physical and mental exhaustion.
Emotional Strain
Euthanizing animals and comforting grieving pet owners takes an emotional toll. This is compounded by the emotional investment we have in our patients and the heartbreak when outcomes are not as we hoped.
Professional Isolation
Many veterinarians feel isolated due to a lack of support systems. This isolation can make the emotional challenges of the job even more difficult to manage.
Client Expectations
Unrealistic client expectations and the pressure to provide high-quality care at low costs further exacerbate the stress. There is a common misconception that veterinary care should be cheaper than human healthcare, despite the similar costs of equipment and treatment.
These factors create a perfect storm of stressors that can lead to burnout and mental health struggles. My own experience highlighted how these pressures accumulate, especially during crises like the COVID pandemic. The combination of a high emotional toll, financial stress, and the physical demands of the job can quickly overwhelm even the most dedicated professionals.
Uncovering the Mental Health Challenges and Recognizing the Signs of Burnout
For me, the signs of burnout became apparent when I felt overwhelmed and stressed, and I couldn’t find joy in my work. This realization hit hard during the pandemic when the pressures of the job were magnified by the need to adapt to new ways of providing care. The isolation from clients, the increased workload, and the constant stress of navigating uncharted territory all contributed to a feeling of profound exhaustion.
One contributing factor to burnout is the challenge of building boundaries between work and personal life. Veterinary medicine often becomes our identity, making it difficult to separate professional stress from personal well-being. The emotional investment in our patients means that stress at work often becomes stress at home. This blurring of lines makes it hard to find respite from the demands of the job.
Another critical issue is the high level of professional isolation. Many veterinarians work long hours with little support, leading to feelings of loneliness and disconnection. The lack of a robust support system can exacerbate feelings of burnout and make it harder to cope with the stresses of the job.
Financial pressures also play a significant role in mental health challenges. High levels of student loan debt and the financial strain of running a practice can add to the stress. These financial burdens can feel insurmountable, especially when combined with the emotional demands of the profession.
Feelings of constant exhaustion, detachment, and a lack of accomplishment are key indicators of burnout. It’s essential to be aware of these signs and understand that experiencing them doesn’t mean failing as a veterinarian or a person.
Practical Tips for Preventing and Managing Mental Health and Burnout
I’ve found that establishing boundaries, seeking support, and leveraging available resources are critical strategies for maintaining my mental well-being.
Prioritizing Self-Care and Setting Boundaries
Prioritizing self-care and setting boundaries between work and personal life are crucial. One practical tip is to avoid taking work home. I discovered that completing medical records at the clinic and maintaining a clear separation between my work environment and personal space helped significantly. This physical and mental boundary allowed me to decompress and leave the stresses of the job at the clinic.
Professional Help
Professional help, such as therapy or counseling, is another vital component. It’s essential to recognize when you need help and not hesitate to reach out for professional support. Therapy and counseling can provide coping strategies and a safe space to process the emotional demands of the job. Veterinary medicine deals with the same stigma around this topic as other kinds of doctors. It can also be hard to find professionals who know the nuances of a lot of the triggers of mental health in our profession because some of the situational stress is different—such as the high rate of euthanasia and the unique interplay of financial constraints on our ability to provide care.
Veterinary Community Support
Build support systems within the veterinary community. Programs like MentorVet offer mentorship and training that can help new graduates navigate the complexities of the profession. MentorVet, in particular, provided me with the skills to create boundaries and manage ethical considerations around finances and pet health. Communities such as VIN (Veterinary Information Network) and Facebook groups can also help. Not One More Vet is another excellent resource that provides a community and various tools to support mental health in the profession.
Alternative Career Paths
Understand that it’s OK to explore alternative career paths within veterinary medicine. If clinical practice is not fulfilling, consider roles in industry, regulatory work, or advocacy.
Ensure clear communication with clients about financial expectations and resources. By setting realistic expectations early on and providing clients with financial options—such as payment plans or pet insurance—we can alleviate some of the stress associated with cost-of-care conversations.
The Bottom Line
Addressing burnout and mental health in the veterinary profession is crucial for the well-being of veterinarians and the quality of care we provide. Building a supportive network, seeking professional help, and establishing clear boundaries are essential steps in maintaining mental health.
Open conversations about mental health within the veterinary community are vital. By acknowledging the challenges and working together to find solutions, we can ensure that veterinarians thrive both personally and professionally. The importance of client education around pet insurance, financial options, and setting realistic expectations cannot be overstated.
My journey through veterinary medicine has been shaped by these challenges and the strategies I’ve implemented to manage them. I’ve found that, as the chief medical officer at Pawlicy Advisor, I could have a larger positive impact on the profession and pets’ lives by helping to make it easier for veterinarians to educate pet owners about pet insurance and other financial options. If this resonates with you, please reach out.
Whether you’re a veterinarian or another kind of medical provider, have you dealt with burnout? What were some of your symptoms? How did you deal with them? Comment below!
[Ricky Walther, DVM, is a small animal general practitioner in the greater Sacramento, California area. Realizing the positive financial and medical impact that pet insurance can provide for pet parents and the profession, he lends support and advice to companies, like Pawlicy Advisor “The Pet Insurance Marketplace,” that simplifies the process of connecting with veterinary financing resources. This article was submitted and approved according to our Guest Post Policy. We have no financial relationship.]