How Can You Help Your Veterinarian & Staff With Compassion Fatigue? скачать в хорошем качестве

How Can You Help Your Veterinarian & Staff With Compassion Fatigue?

Compassion Care for Those Who Care for Our Pets In this emotional episode of The Dog Gone Positive Way, I continue my conversation with Adam Spencer, CFRE, founder of Furlanthropy, to confront one of the most common crises in veterinary medicine today: Compassion Fatigue. The life-saving care and the emotional support veterinarians, veterinarian technicians, assistants, and front desk staff give their clients takes a toll. Veterinarians are 2-3 times more likely to die by suicide as compared to other professionals.   We go to a veterinary office with a healthy pet for a routine checkup, or our pet in crisis who needs immediate care. In those moments, we expect compassion, understanding, and expertise—for our pets and for ourselves. But how often do we stop to think about what the people on the other side of the exam table are carrying? Veterinarians, technicians, assistants, front desk, and other staff work in a profession rooted in love and empathy. Yet it comes with an emotional cost few of us fully see. Compassion fatigue, burnout, moral distress, long hours, and repeated exposure to grief take a profound toll. When we are in crisis with our pets, it can be nearly impossible to hold space for anything else. But consider this: the veterinarian standing in front of you may have just walked out of the exam room next door after euthanizing another family’s pet—perhaps one they’ve known since puppyhood or kittenhood. And now, they must take a breath, steady themselves, and walk into your room offering calm, care, and compassion all over again. That emotional whiplash happens multiple times a day. What Is Compassion Fatigue? Compassion fatigue is the emotional and physical exhaustion that comes from prolonged caregiving and repeated exposure to trauma and grief. It doesn’t mean a lack of caring—it means too much caring for too long without enough support. How Can We Help Our Veterinarians and Their Staff? Small acts matter more than we realize: • Practice patience. Delays, tough news, or difficult conversations aren’t personal—they’re often the result of someone else’s emergency or loss. • Use kind language. Stressful moments can escalate quickly. A calm tone and respectful words can make a world of difference. • Say thank you—and mean it. A genuine “I appreciate what you do” carries weight. • Leave positive reviews. These help morale more than you might imagine, especially after difficult days. • Support fair care. Veterinary teams want to help every animal, but they face financial, ethical, and emotional limits. • Acknowledge their humanity. They are professionals—but they are also people who grieve, love, and hurt. If you’ve ever felt supported, comforted, or guided through one of the hardest moments of pet ownership, that care came at a cost to someone who chose this profession out of love. Mental Health Resources for Veterinarians & Veterinary Staff If you are a veterinarian, technician, or staff member—or you love someone who is—support is available: • Not One More Vet (NOMV) NOMV Created by Dr. Nicole MacArthur October 1, 2014, following the suicide of world-renowned veterinary behaviorist Dr. Sophia Yin.  • AVMA Wellbeing & Peer Support Resources The American Veterinary Medical Association provides mental health tools, wellness education, & confidential peer assistance. ⁠https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/... • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S.) Call or text 988 for immediate, confidential support—24/7. International: ⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of... • Local Veterinary Peer Support Groups Many state and regional veterinary associations offer confidential peer-to-peer programs. Asking for help is not a weakness. It is a sign of strength—and survival. Follow Furlanthropy on Social Media: @furlanthropy https://furlanthropy.org/ #Caregivers #MentalHealth #CompassionFatigue #NotOneMoreVet #drsophiayin #sucideprevention #veterinarians Have A Dog Gone Positive Day!