The ability of some veterinarians to blast through the day while maintaining a positive attitude and maintaining their health is a mystifying feat. The level of physiological stress from the grueling work week potentiates the risk of illness from pathogens outside and inside the practice, including zoonoses. 

So, how are so many veterinarians able to maintain such a rigorous schedule caring for the sick without getting sick themselves?

Well, the answer may lie in an ethos that undergirds the entire veterinary profession: Human health is closely connected to animal health and our shared environment. 

Not only do veterinarians strive to maintain animal health, but safeguarding human health is also supremely important—including protecting the health of the veterinary healthcare workforce. Keeping the veterinary medical team healthy not only allows more animals to be treated, but it is also an integral component of public health. A healthy veterinary team promotes wellness and a more sustainable professional life. 

Veterinarians already employ a myriad of methods to help keep our patients healthy; however, these techniques and practices are not just for our patients. These same techniques can be used for ourselves…albeit in a different form. Essentially, the preventative strategies that veterinarians espouse for our patients may also be the key to keeping ourselves healthy. 

Physical Fitness

For Us: Exercise has long been understood to be one of key tenets to maintain both physical and mental health. For busy veterinarians, finding the time and energy to exercise can be a struggle. How much exercise is enough and does it really help to protect us from physical illness? 

The science of exercise immunology concludes that there is a link between moderate exercise and a strong immune system for humans. However, the effects that vigorous exercise has on your immune system are less conclusive. Research indicates that the health benefits to exercise for humans mainly lie in the consistency. When moderate exercise is repeated on a near-daily basis, there is a cumulative effect that leads to long-term immune response. Research shows that individuals who walk 40 minutes per day at 70% to 75% of their VO₂ max experience half as many sick days due to sore throats or colds as people who don’t exercise.¹

If you’re having trouble staying consistent with your workouts, kick-start your exercise regimen by adding variety. Change your running route, try a new HIIT workout app, keep pace with and learn new workouts from your favorite YouTube fitness athlete, or you can even download a new fitness app that you can share with your coworkers so they can hold you accountable during your fitness journey. 

For Our Patients: Veterinarians evangelize about the benefits of exercise for our patients. Depending on their health status and activity level, veterinarians may go as far as to prescribe a physical fitness program as it is well known that being moderately overweight may decrease an animal’s lifespan and increase the risk of inflammatory conditions like arthritis and other conditions. Prior to starting an exercise program, a full orthopedic exam can be performed to uncover any musculoskeletal conditions so the exercise program can be tailored appropriately. 

Five components of a balanced exercise program for veterinary patients include flexibility, proprioception, strength, balance and stamina. No matter what the breed or the physical ability of the animal is, these components can be incorporated into any exercise program. 

One Health: Both veterinarians and their patients can stay healthy during exercise by incorporating a warm-up prior to any physical activity. A warm-up is important for both people and animals. During the warm-up period, blood flow to the muscles increases (which carries additional oxygen and nutrients) and muscle temperature increases. Warm muscles have a greater force of contraction and greater speed of relation. The power and speed by which the muscles contract is greater and it also mitigates the dangers of overstretching. Warm tissues help to avoid the perils of the “Weekend Warrior Syndrome” which can include muscle strains and sprains. When muscles, ligaments, tendons and fascia are warm, they are more elastic and have a greater range of motion.

For us, a good warm-up could include a brisk walk, low-intensity movements and some stretching. For animals, it may include trotting for five to ten minutes, changing direction and moving in concentric circles. Sit-to-stand and stand-to-down exercises are also great low-impact warm-up exercises. A vigorous rub-down or massage at the end of the exercise is a great way to end the activity for us and animals as well. 

Alone Time

For Us: If you ask a veterinarian when the last time was that they spent time alone, they might be able to remember a few precious seconds of solitude in the middle of the day. Whether you’re surrounded by people or animals in need, the work day doesn’t allow you any time to be by yourself. However, alone time should be considered precious because it can be richly beneficial for a veterinarian’s peace of mind. In fact, the daily engagement of the staff can be so intense that everyone involved in the veterinary healthcare team is likely to benefit from some quiet time. 

Science also corroborates the truism that time by yourself is beneficial. After a busy work day surrounded by people and animals, your productivity may shift towards a personal project. Studies indicate that being surrounded by people reduces productivity.² So, with a little privacy, people will perform better, and also help veterinarians practice better medicine. Perhaps you’re stumped by a complex case, or you would like to spark the idea for a new innovative invention, practicing solitude may trigger creativity. Similar to how a novelist or an artist looks to escape the cacophony of a busy environment to maximize their creativity, the same spirit applies to veterinarians. When you’re alone with your thoughts, your mind may explore some weird and wonderful places. Being alone with your thoughts gives your brain a chance to wander, which can help you become more creative.

Veterinarians often don’t get much longer than ninety seconds to establish rapport with their patients. In that tiny window, they have a mandate to make clients feel comfortable and understood and to gain their trust. That interaction is vitally important because the veterinarian is entrusted to protect the life of one of their species-diverse family members. The pressure of that responsibility can mount throughout the day and solitude can help you relieve that pressure. Solitude can be cathartic because it allows you to connect with your thoughts, opinions and emotions free from other people’s judgement and expectations. 

For Our Patients: There are different manifestations of alone time for animals. One technique that has been popularized is mat training. Mat training for our patients is loosely analogous to our alone time. In addition to fostering a spirit of independence, teaching an animal to relax on a designated mat can help to settle them mentally—particularly during episodes of excitement, anxiety and fear. 

In a similar fashion, some animals need an escape from the raucousness of children or the unfamiliarity of strangers. Many animals begin to regard this mat as their “safe place” when the doorbell rings or if there is a rapidly-approaching thunderstorm. Eventually the mat becomes a place both inside and outside of the home for an animal to seek out on their own. As time progresses, the location of the mat can be changed (i.e., placed in a different room or the car) so that the mat is the centerpiece of relaxation regardless of the environment.

One Health: A picture of someone relaxing by a fireplace while reading a book with a pet nearby conjures images of peace and tranquility. The ability to simply enjoy a good book while your pet is in the room is an aspirational experience for many overworked veterinarians. Relaxation, peace and creative exploration can be enhanced by having animals around you. For some, alone time doesn’t mean free from all animals and people; it just means that you want to have the right animals and people in your space that promote calm. 

It has been shown that petting animals and being in their presence lowers stress and blood pressure for both parties. Closing the door on stress opens the window for imagination and inspiration. Alone time not only benefits us, but it can be a boon to animals as well. 

Prevention

For Us: In the midst of a pandemic, terminologies that may have existed before but were now thrust into the spotlight included “essential” and “frontline” workers. The definition of “essential workers’’ used by the CDC comprises nearly 70 percent of the American workforce, including grocery store clerks, emergency responders, medical professionals and veterinary healthcare personnel. Essential workers and frontline workers were among the first to be prioritized for the Covid vaccine to decrease the spread of infection among people. 

To prevent getting sick from other people (including pet parents), a similar syllogism applies when considering the flu vaccine. Many medical professionals consider getting the flu vaccine each year because although it doesn’t provide 100% immunity, it helps the fight against acquiring the infection from other people. 

The influenza (flu) vaccine can not only prevent illness that may cause a week or more of misery, it can reduce the likelihood of hospitalization in children and death in adults, according to two analyses of the CDC. Moreover, a meta-analysis—one of the most powerful methodological tools—supports current season vaccination regardless of prior vaccination history.³

Whether or not you plan on receiving the flu vaccine to protect yourself from other people, for veterinarians, the concern is greater than that. Veterinarians also have to protect themselves from animals. For dangerous zoonotic pathogens, hygiene remains the cornerstone of prevention. Some transmissible diseases and pathogens have no vaccine and therefore use signs to keep you faithful to washing your hands religiously. Common items that rarely get disinfected include the stethoscope, clipboards and keyboards. Many veterinarians are so busy that they eat lunch at their desk (for those who actually have an opportunity to eat lunch) and continue to touch surfaces including their phone and computer. To help protect yourself from dangerous pathogens, ensure that those surfaces are wiped down and sanitized at least once a day. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth; they are gateways that allow bacteria and viruses access to your body.

For our Patients: Preventing the spread of infectious disease is difficult and veterinarians need every tool in the preventive arsenal to keep animals healthy. Vaccination remains one of the bedrocks of preventive veterinary medicine. Viruses and bacteria are extremely crafty and constantly evolving. Despite rigorous efforts and novel design strategies aimed at eradicating disease, infectious agents still can be opportunistic invaders in the absence of diligent prevention strategies. 

Partly what makes fighting these organisms so challenging is the complexity of each infectious agent, their movement (transmission mode), their ability to jump from pet to pet (infectivity) and their ability to cause serious illness (pathogenicity and virulence). Individual-, population- and environmental-variability between pets makes the fight against these diseases more difficult. Importantly, some of these bacteria and viruses can cause illness in veterinarians or in their families which only further highlights the importance of vigilance and protection. 

One Health: Both veterinarians and their patients can benefit from a laser-like focus on parasite prevention, vaccination and diligent hygiene. 

Conclusion
Staying healthy is challenging regardless of the species. The main pillars of wellness in both veterinarians and their patients can be remarkably similar. The stress levels and sociability between veterinarians and animals are different in scope and detail, but the effect on the immune system can be profound. 

Veterinarians are remarkably selfless. The daily focus of the veterinary healthcare team is on patient care and public health, so sometimes our personal health can take a backseat. Instead of choosing between our health versus our patients’ health—or worse, neglecting our personal health for the sake of our patients’—we can learn from the recommendations we make as veterinarians to help keep both our patients and ourselves healthy. +

References

1. Sreenath S. Exercise and immune system. International Journal of Physical Education, Sports, and Health. 2017; 4(1): 200-202.
2. Workspace satisfaction: The privacy-communication trade-off in open-plan offices. Journal of Environmental Psychology, Volume 36, December 2013: 18-26
3. The impact of repeated vaccination on influenza vaccine effectiveness: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Medicine. LC Ramsay, SA Buchan, RG Stirling, et al. January 2019. 

The post How Do Veterinarians Stay Healthy? (Our Patients May Have the Answer!) appeared first on PetVet Magazine.

Veterinary medical professionals have always played an integral role in public health. Whether it is through veterinary medical research, advocating for parasite prevention or reporting cases of possible zoonosis, the veterinary profession has been an invaluable asset in the protection of animal and human health. Whether clients implicitly or explicitly understand our role in protecting pet and human health, they rely on us for sage advice and sound medical guidance—especially in the midst of a pandemic. 

There has been a deluge of news regarding the human toll exacted by the novel coronavirus. That news has largely drowned out COVID-specific information related to animal health. In the cacophony of COVID-related information, clients naturally turn towards those whom they trust to sort out fact from fiction. As their veterinarian, you play a vital role in keeping them informed. 

We Don’t Know What We Don’t Know

Transparency is paramount in times of crisis. Not only is it okay to admit you don’t know a certain factoid about this virus, but doing so strengthens the relationship you have with your clients. The relationships that you have with your established clients and the connections you are building with your newer clients will be rooted in honesty, truth and evidence. The virus is not only novel in its scientific discovery, but also insofar as new information is being discovered daily. It’s reassuring to clients to know that their veterinary medical team’s understanding of the virus is evolving according to the most updated information. 

A natural syllogism for many pet owners is, if their veterinarian is knowledgeable about the most contemporary issues (i.e., COVID-19 infection in pets) then there’s a good chance that their veterinarian will be well versed in other matters related to their pet’s health. The confidence and trust that they build in you during this crisis may impact your relationship with them in the future. Whether you’re educating clients on the importance of parasite prevention, or having a delicate discussion about surgical complications, the confidence that undergirds those conversations is built, in part, on the reputation that you establish with them during times of crisis.

Can Some Pets (And Other Species) Be Infected With the Novel Coronavirus?

Almost all discussions regarding animals and the novel coronavirus have to be couched with the caveat “as of now” or, “as of this date”, because our understanding regarding the COVID pathogenesis in pets and other species is constantly evolving. News is changing rapidly, but as of the time of this writing, it does appear that the virus can affect a few species of animals including some pets. 

Those that followed the timeline of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in animals, initially read reports from Hong Kong which documented two dogs testing PCR positive after exposure to COVID-19 positive owners. One 17-year-old Pomeranian tested positive for COVID-19 on PCR and serology, and later died. Although the death is not believed to be due to the novel coronavirus.^1-4 Since then, a cat in Belgium, a cat in Hong Kong, tigers and lions at the Bronx zoo, mink in the Netherlands, a cat in the United States and a Pug in the United States have all tested positive for the virus.^1-5 (Although Winston the Pug is the first confirmed/documented case of a dog infected in the US, there is a possibility that he is not the first infected dog.) 

There is a question of whether Winston’s clinical signs were truly attributable to the novel coronavirus. It appears that SARS-CoV-2 can cause COVID-19-like disease in cats but, as of now, it appears to be subclinical in dogs. Currently, there is no evidence that domestic animals—or any animal within the United States—can serve as a source for human infection with SARS-CoV-2. 

A variety of other species have also shown susceptibility in experimental settings, including ferrets, Syrian hamsters and Rhesus macaques.^1-4 The virus appears to replicate poorly in dogs and does not readily infect pigs, chickens or ducks.^1-4 Experimentally, the virus did infect and replicate well in cats and ferrets. Cats were also able to transmit the virus to other cats.^1-4

Many clients understand the implications of zoonosis (animal-to-human transmission of disease); however, reverse transmission (human-to-pet) is a novel concept for some. Helping clients understand these news stories and the implications they have for their pets at home may help keep their mind at ease. 

How Can I Protect My Pet?

To be sure, COVID-19 is a disease almost entirely exclusive to humans. However, because pets are such an integral part of our families, there will undoubtedly be more cases of pets exhibiting COVID-like illness and subsequently testing positive for the disease. The news of each new COVID-infected pet will likely fade from the front pages and gradually lose its grip on the twenty-four-hour news cycle. Fortunately, the emphasis from clients has been, and continues to be, how to protect pets from the virus. 

The CDC has issued guidelines on how to protect pets from this virus which can be summarized with these main tenants: 

• Socially distancing for you and your family includes the species-diverse members of your family as well. Keep all pets inside with you (if possible) and if and when they need to go outside, it is important to limit contact with strangers or any other animals. 

• If you’re infected or you have a strong suspicion that you have been exposed to someone who is sick, it is prudent to limit contact with your animals (and people, of course). If possible, recruit another family member living in the same household who is not sick to care for the animal. 

• Sheltering in place and quarantining includes your pets too. If you’re infected, keep your pet with you in the same household.

Clients may be dismayed at the shifting and seemingly contradictory recommendations. However, it’s important for clients to understand that pet health advisories will be sculpted and refined based on the newest information. For now, scientists are continuing to work hard to understand the animal and human health implications for COVID-positive pets. 

Are You Still Open? 

As the pandemic continues to upend normal life for so many across the globe, many clients understand that pets continue to need medical services. Debates about whether veterinary practices should be considered an essential service, news of veterinary hospitals shutting down abroad, and gubernatorial requests for veterinarians to donate Personal Protective Equipment and other supplies to human hospitals left many pet owners unsure if or what services their veterinary team may be providing. Moreover, many clients were calling to ask if veterinary hospitals were still open. That question can be answered with a straightforward “Yes, we are open. Our office hours are….” but that answer may miss an excellent opportunity to connect more deeply with your clients. 

Put the pandemic in perspective by discussing briefly what impact this crisis has had on your hospital, the workflow, new protective protocols and perhaps veterinary medicine writ large. Explain to your clients that the designation of an ‘essential service’ was left up to state and local governments; and fortunately, many states declared veterinary medicine an essential service or exempted them from their shelter-in-place orders.

In response to this crisis, sweeping new COVID-specific protocols are being ushered in and clients may find it difficult to adapt quickly to the new regulations. Seize the moment to discuss in granular detail what ‘curbside drop-off’ actually means at your hospital. Not allowing pet owners inside the hospital, having veterinary team members greet clients wearing personal protective equipment and their pet being examined away from them, all culminating to a doctor discussing medical recommendations telephonically, can be difficult for your clients to handle without preparation. Creating a ‘script’ or factsheet for your team to reference is helpful to ensure that the important minutia is not missed. 

The COVID-specific information you provide to your clients is not only germane for this moment, but there are also broader implications within those conversations. Concern over client safety, the safety of their pets, the safety of your staff and your nimble response to changing situations are all potential positive client takeaways and contribute to the overall client experience. Excellent patient care, compassion for the clients and your staff, and being a trusted resource for information makes your relationship with the community more inveterate. 

How Can I Help? 

Sometimes tragedy brings out the best in people. For World Veterinary Day this year, I celebrated the day by posting a short video thanking all those on the frontlines in the veterinary medical community including veterinarians, nurses and all the paraprofessionals in the pet health industry. Following that post, there was an unexpected outpouring of love and affection from pet owners and animals enthusiasts expressing gratitude for the service we provide. In addition to the overwhelming appreciativeness, there were several people that asked a simple question: How can I help my veterinary hospital in these unprecedented times? 

That question sincerely caught me off-guard. The question was unexpected mainly because it’s rare for anyone to ask how they can help us. Most of our lives and our careers are spent helping others and we are happy to do it. Although the legislative definition of a ‘healthcare worker’ lies with government officials, clients understand that providing their pets with urgent and essential care puts veterinary health professionals on the frontlines of exposure, similar to other dedicated professionals like human healthcare workers, grocery store team members, first responders, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, among others. 

Of course, there are tangible ways that clients can help; however, one of the most powerful acts they can perform is an act of kindness. The message that I tried to communicate in that World Veterinary Day celebration video was simple: Be Kind. 

Being kind includes being flexible to a change in hours and protocols of the veterinary hospital. Being kind also comes with an understanding that many veterinary team members carry a high level of anxiety and moral fatigue which can lead to burnout. When clients ask how they can help your efforts, expressing to them that being treated with respect and kindness, and offering a simple thank you or smile can go a long way. +

References

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Frequently asked questions. COVID-19 and animals. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html#COVID19animals. Accessed April 1, 2020.

2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Interim guidance for public health professionals managing people with COVID-19 in home care and isolation who have pets or other animals. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/interim-guidance-managing-people-in-home-care-and-isolation-who-have-pets.html. Accessed April 1, 2020.

3. World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). Questions and answers on the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19). https://www.oie.int/scientific-expertise/specific-information-and-recommendations/questions-and-answers-on-2019novel-coronavirus. Accessed April 1, 2020.

4. World Small Animal Veterinary Association. The New Coronavirus and Companion Animals – Advice for WSAVA Members. Advisory document: updated as of March 16, 2020. https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/COVID-19_WSAVA-Advisory-Document-Mar-19-2020.pdf. Accessed March 31, 2020.

5. https://www.wral.com/coronavirus/pug-with-coronavirus-first-dog/19074499/

The post Pandemic in Perspective: A Veterinarian’s Role in COVID-19 and How to Keep Pet Owners Informed appeared first on PetVet Magazine.

“The day I almost ended my life started like any other day,” says Dr. Kimberly Pope–Robinson in her book The Unspoken Life: Recognize Your Passion, Embrace Imperfection and Stay Connected. 

Pope–Robinson came as close as you can to taking a fatal dose of Vicodin. She thought, “Do I do this? Do I take these pills and end my life? Or do I continue into the abyss that is nothing what I expected life to be?”

She thought about her rescued horse, Toby, who depended on her. And then Sanjay, her cat, ambled into the room as if on cue. Sanjay instantly snapped her out of it, enough at least for her to think of her husband, family and friends. 

Pope–Robinson says she came as close as you can get to letting it all go. Suicide is a real problem in veterinary medicine. So, she was hardly alone among those with that same feeling. 

She not only saved herself, but by creating her company, 1 Life Connected, and by sharing her experience and communicating about her reality, she has saved likely more lives than she knows. 

To know Pope–Robinson back in 2010 you’d think she was a smart, ambitious woman. She may not have been happy in her job—but from the outside in, you’d never guess she would contemplate ending it all. After all, she had no history of diagnosed depression, her job didn’t deal with euthanasia and her loans had long been paid back. 

“Suicide is a moment of intention,” she explains. “In my case, I felt powerless, trapped, as a middle manager—stuff from above and below coming at me. I’d hear about doctors suffering on a daily basis, whatever they were dealing with, their compassion fatigue and being overworked and all of it—and I was feeling traumatized. My bosses weren’t horrible—but they didn’t make it better either. I was overwhelmed with shame and blaming was made internal.” 

She says she was overcome by what she calls “sinkers.” These are negative things that pull us down. She hadn’t then learned to keep her balance and use “balloons” to pull her up. “Each of our journeys and interests are unique, so balloons are unique to all of us. We need to identify them, pay attention to them and celebrate them.”

Balloons can be outside hobbies and interests; from Hula dancing to yoga, religion, friends and family, even work. 

These days Pope–Robinson is known as “the emotions girls” and is on the road a great deal of the time, reaching as many veterinary professionals and students as she can, talking about balloons and sinkers and transparency about feelings. 

 Her over–riding messages include, “If your sinkers are over–taking you, and you’re feeling like you’re falling. Well, you’re pretty normal. 1 Life Connected is about empowering yourself but not blaming or judging yourself or attempting to hide what you are feeling from yourself. As veterinarians and caregivers, we sometimes feel dark and lonely—trapped by our obligations and the expectations of the world. We care for so many lives. Yet our own lives can feel unspoken for. The good news is that we can cross that bridge back to connection, starting with just one step. And let those balloons rise.”

After graduating from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Pope-Robinson interned in equine medicine, and then worked at a large animal full–service specialty clinic near Sacramento. 

She loved the job, but after only six months, a major sinker hit her hard. She was diagnosed with Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (EDS), a disease that weakens connective tissues, which made both her job with large animals and one of her favorite hobbies, running, very difficult. 

Due to her health issues, she transitioned to small animals, first in private practice and then at Banfield where she was soon Medical Director and responsible for 40 hospitals and up to 140 veterinarians. “That was way too much,” she says. She eventually promoted someone to take about half of that work load. 

In 2013 she accepted a job at what was then Pfizer Animal Health as a regional strategic veterinarian. Her job was to influence and develop key opinion leaders and build relationships. While she enjoyed the job, by 2015 she had begun to speak as the “emotions girl,” and soon left the security, benefits and salary of Zoetis (formerly Pfizer) to launch 1 Life Connected. In fact, Zoetis supported her, and overall most veterinary professionals are grateful to hear her message; grateful—if nothing else—to hear that they aren’t alone. 

Despite her illness, Pope–Robinson is back to running and is on her way to running a half–marathon in all 50 states. She’s now at 24 states, just finishing up a run in Michigan. For her, this is clearly a big balloon. 

“I am seeing parts of the U.S. I’d never otherwise see,” she says. “Your little part of the world is only just that, a little part of the world. We are all connected and I’ve enjoyed meeting new people in all parts of the country, and seeing places like Yellowstone, Fredericksburg, VA, and the Great Smokey Mountains.”

She says that her other balloons include her tattoos, her purple hair, favorite pieces of jewelry, her friends, family and her husband, Jeff. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Human Animal Bond Association. 

“Of course, my animals,” she adds. “And that includes the stuffed otter I travel with.” There’s, a cockatoo named Maui, a cat named Graciebird and Isabelle, a French Bulldog. 

“Most of all,” she says. “I know I’ve helped people—nothing can be more rewarding.” +

The post Dr. Kimberly Pope-Robinson: Helping Others 1 Life at a Time appeared first on PetVet Magazine.

As it applies to the veterinary healthcare environment, those definitions can be surprisingly accurate. The need to relieve the pressures from their career can be particularly acute for new graduate veterinarians. Even more, the alleviation of those pressures may help to expand your mind and professional success. A new graduate is thrust into a somewhat foreign professional landscape that may be filled with potential emotional stressors such as, new coworkers, office politics, challenging clientele, complex cases, steep learning curves and very long days. As healthcare providers, we reflexively provide support or assistance to those in need. Trying in earnest to help all of those in need (unrealistic goals) without the time to do it (insufficient resources) can lead to Burnout. 

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey of over 10,000 US veterinarians in 2014 determined that more than 1 in 6 veterinarians might have experienced suicidal ideation and nearly 1 in 10 may have serious psychological distress.¹ Furthermore, discussions of Burnout, compassion fatigue and sustainability have become regular features of continuing education seminars and, more recently, veterinary school curricula. This makes the prevention of Burnout quite possibly a life–saving exercise. 

The demands for your time and expertise will likely grow in tandem with your career. Essentially, the better you are, the more you will be needed. If you feel overwhelmed and your emotional engine is starting to lose a few revs, then utilize these two techniques to help you avoid Burnout: The Spark and the Switch.

The Spark

According to Jessica Pryce–Jones’ book Happiness at Work, workers will spend an average of 90,000 hours at work in their lifetimes. For veterinary healthcare professionals, this is likely a conservative estimate. Moreover, for many new veterinary graduates, the bulk of those hours are accrued in the beginning of their careers which may increase the threat of early Burnout. 

Fortunately, new veterinarians may benefit from a youthful exuberance, or a ‘novelty’ exuberance, whereby the excitement of starting a new job or the beginning their professional journey supersedes the daily physical exhaustion. If your mental engine starts to become a meow instead of a roar, search for the Spark that originally attracted you to the wonderful field of veterinary medicine. 

The Rules of Engagement 

Veterinarians are naturally inquisitive and intellectually curious writ large. New graduates, having recently left a richly educational environment, tend to gravitate towards continued learning opportunities. It is potentially in these learning opportunities where one can find the Spark. Searching for new research on common diseases, investigating a new surgical approach or taking a few moments to learn some of the unique benefits to common diagnostics are all potential sources for that Spark. 

The Spark is highly specific to you and helps to keep you engaged. It can come from anywhere including an area of veterinary medicine for which you’ve always been passionate. For example, learning the benefits and drawbacks of PCR helped to re-caffeinate my interest in the prevention and treatment of infectious disease. The Spark may come from slightly unconventional sources. 

Some veterinarians spend a lot of time discussing non–medical topics including trying to navigate economic decisions, family conflicts as it relates to the care of the animal and insurance issues. Recruiting talented members of the veterinary healthcare team to assist you when discussing these non–medical issues will lessen the emotional burden and, more importantly, allow you to focus on your true passions within the profession. Essentially, clearing the excesses off your plate may allow to actually enjoy what you chose to put on it. 

Advocacy

“If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it.”

– Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

Veterinarians can be fierce warriors for the profession and the animals they care for. In addition to being scientists, clinicians, surgeons, grief counselors (at times) and other roles, animal advocacy motivates many in the profession. It’s through advocacy that your Spark can also be found. 

Staunch advocacy is unmistakable when denouncing cases of animal abuse and neglect, but micronized instances of advocacy are sprinkled throughout the workday. Counseling a family on the perils of household toxins, discussing the hidden dangers of infectious disease, or providing thorough post–operative instructions to help protect pets from needless suffering are all examples of advocacy. 

Fighting against the need to provide healthcare for which you disagree is a unique way to champion animal health. Feeling obligated to provide non–recommended/non–beneficial care (i.e., requests for strictly futile interventions, requests for legally proscribed or discretionary treatments, etc.) can lead to moral and ethical stress which may ultimately lead to Burnout. 

Any scenario involving a potentially non–beneficial intervention (NBI) is dynamic, variable and value–laden communication, which may place a wedge between the veterinary healthcare team and their families. Scenarios like these can contribute heavily to your professional fatigue. Instead, consider reaching out to a specialist to assist in conflict resolution and communication. When you practice with a high level of confidence, integrity and conviction, the advocacy Spark shouldn’t be hard to find. 

If you are ever having trouble finding your Spark, think of any one of these four affirmations before you start your day: 

• Promoting animal health and wellness makes a real difference.
• My work in the veterinary healthcare industry is meaningful.
• When my job gets difficult, I still try my best with every patient, every client, every time.
• I see every client and every pet as unique with their own story and specific needs.
• By being part of this profession, I am fortunate to improve both the health of humans and animals. 

The Switch 

The need for qualified animal healthcare workers and veterinary medical professionals is omnipresent. Not only are your skills in high demand at work, but even when you leave work, you may get a text from a friend asking you an animal question, you may be on emergency on–call or you may drive home with your head spinning from the events of the day. Your resilience to Burnout depends on how well you can turn off the ‘noise’ from work. In fact, the ability to decompress is one of the keys to being resilient against mental fatigue and apathy.  This ability is the so–called Switch. 

Similar to the Spark, the Switch is your personal technique for freeing your mind from work when you leave.  It’s the time that you’ve dedicated to turning off the ‘buzz’ in your head from the work day. Like shutting off a light switch, changing the channel on TV or turning your phone off, the ability to quickly transition your thoughts away from work and towards a different subject will help to avoid Burnout.   

To be sure, there is no panacea against Burnout—but some find that the endorphins released from a good workout, a good laugh with a friend, an evening spent relaxing with a glass of wine and a scintillating novel, or spending time with their children are great ways to decompress from work. There is no universal Switch. The technique you chose to mentally withdraw from work and recharge is specific to your needs. Welcome the challenge of a new exercise routine, a new hobby or enjoy reconnecting with a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while as anti–Burnout techniques. 

Conversely, selecting an unhealthy technique to decompress may be inimical to your relaxation goals. Unhealthy habits may distract you temporarily, but they may also have secondary effects that could cause you to have more anxiety later. If you feel that your techniques are personally destructive, connect with a colleague, co-worker, friend or mental health professional to investigate healthier alternatives. 

Taking a Zumba class isn’t going to work for everybody, and making small changes in your personal life may not be sufficient for you to make the Switch successfully. So, if necessary, take the proactive step at work to help everyone on the team decompress. For example, if you feel like you are literally ‘at work’ all the time, the solution may not be simply leaving work earlier, but have leadership direct resources to sPosit these questions to your management team: “Why does this work environment feel so oppressively immersive that even when the staff are away, they still feel like they’re at work?”, “How can you improve the staff’s ability to disconnect?” and “Why do they feel they have to stay constantly connected?”  

Likewise, if you feel like you are anxious about your work day, then the solution may not be to simply get a prescription for anti–anxiety medications. Propose these questions to leadership: “What is going on in this work environment that is causing team members to be anxious?”, “What can be done to improve their happiness?” and “How can we help team members cope with work stressors?”

As a new grad, it may be difficult to know if you are able to decompress. Use the questions below to help guide you on whether you are consistently making the Switch:

• I am able to choose whether or not to respond to work correspondence (email, text, etc.) during my free time.
• I rarely lose sleep. And if I do, it is not due to work issues.
• When I am away from work, I am not distracted by intermittent thoughts regarding work.
• I can enjoy my personal time without focusing on work matters.

Everyone can improve upon finding their Spark and making their Switch. For some, this exercise is relatively simple and continuously honed throughout their professional career. For others, this is truly a daily struggle. Burnout is especially pernicious, not only because it affects you personally, but it can be injurious to the patients we serve, the families we help and the profession we advocate for. It also may strain the relationships with your friends and family. 

If you feel the prelude to Burnout creeping into your life, consider seeking professional consultation for mental health and wellness before it critically impacts your personal and work life. Understanding how to prevent Burnout among the veterinary healthcare team needs further discussion and research. Fortunately, tackling this thorny issue has now become de rigueur within veterinary healthcare culture which, until now, had been largely overlooked. 

Good luck lighting that Spark and eventually making that Switch! +

References:

¹ Nett RJ, Witte TK, et al. Notes From the Field: Prevalence of Risk Factors for Suicide Among Veterinarians- United States, 2014.  CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Feb 13 2015; 64(05): 131-132.

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“Celebrate all of your hard work and enjoy all of your big accomplishments, because they have likely come to fruition through steadfast determination. Almost invariably, before the big achievement, comes apparent failure and discouragement.  Rising after those momentary episodes of disappointment makes the glory all that much sweeter.”

Courtney Campbell, DVM with VetSurg, Ventura, California

The post Veterinarian Life Advice appeared first on PetVet Magazine.

No gym available? No problem. That’s where calisthenics play a role. Calisthenics are strength exercises done without any special equipment and their primary advantage is the flexibility and ease of practicing in any place, at any time. All you need is a couple square feet of space and you can practice these exercises in between appointments to stay energized.

One of my favorites. Begin in a standard plank position (palms of your hands on the floor, directly under the shoulders—slightly wider than shoulder–width apart—like you’re about to do a push-up) but modify it so your legs are slightly wider than your body and your hips are high in the air above your head. Tighten your abs and recruit your shoulder muscles as you lower your body and rock forward in a gentle body arc. Do this while you’re lowering your hips back down to normal position. Repeat 15 times while keeping your abs tight until the next appointment is ready.

These are perfect because they work your legs, help your posture and increase your heart rate. After a few sets of these, you will feel charged and ready to go. Stand up straight with your feet slightly wider than shoulder width and your toes slightly outward. Bring your shoulders together like you are squeezing a tennis ball between your shoulder blades, keep your abs tight and squat until your knees break 90 degrees. Your arms should come straight out in front of you as you do this movement. Then stand up slowly to the starting position. Try as many as you can in one minute, using a controlled explosive motion.

This exercise recruits your legs, abs and arm muscles while working on isometric, concentric and eccentric movement. Assume a squat–style stance with your back flat against a wall and knees at 90 degrees. Contract your chest muscles tightly as you slowly press both palms out in front of your chest for a count of 3 seconds. Then, raise both hands simultaneously above your head so your arms form a wide V. Slowly pull your hands down as you contract your back muscles until your hands are at your shoulder height. Repeat the arms movement while you are in the seated position as many times as you can in one minute.

Remember to have fun and only challenge yourself in a safe way after consulting your physician. +

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“We are each other’s harvest; we are each other’s business; we are each other’s magnitude and bond.” — Gwendolyn Brooks

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU KNEW YOU COULDN’T FAIL?

For those of us who have dreamt about becoming a veterinarian, graduating from veterinary school is quite an accomplishment. But that wasn’t enough for Dr. Waddell. He was an entrepreneur, leader, researcher, writer and veterinary pioneer.  Even more, his courageous attitude and indomitable spirit helped him break one of the thickest glass ceilings in veterinary medicine: diversity. This month, we celebrate Dr. Waddell’s life and legacy with these five fascinating facts about Dr. William Waddell.

HE SHATTERED THE CLASS CEILING

Dr. Waddell was born in 1908 in Richmond, Virginia. He was the son of a Virginia horse driver. It was through the love of his father’s work horses that Dr. Waddell developed an affection for animals. He began his study of veterinary medicine at Lincoln University and continued at University of Pennsylvania. Despite battling the ubiquity of racial discrimination and the economic malaise of the Great Depression, Dr. Waddell still passed the Pennsylvania State Board of Veterinary Medicine in 1935, becoming the first licensed Black veterinarian in the state. Later in his profession, he also became the first African-American veterinarian to practice in West Virginia.

HE WAS AN ADVOCATE AND PIONEER

Dr. Waddell championed the science and practice of veterinary medicine to improve the health of people and animals. To further this cause, he joined the American Veterinary Medical Association which made him the first African American to do so. He continued his pioneering and groundbreaking ways by co-founding the Tuskegee Institute School of Veterinary Medicine with Dr. Frederick Douglas Patterson in 1945. There he served as the school’s first faculty member and developed novel research projects with George Washington Carver.

PROGRESSIVE TO HIS CORE

Dr. Waddell’s intellectual curiosity lead him to investigate the medicinal properties of peanuts which was, at the time, cutting–edge research. Working with George Washington Carver, he harnessed one of the medical properties of peanut oil to create a creamy gemish to help treat wrinkles. He accompanied Carver to president Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Georgia retreat where they massaged him with peanut oil to help relieve the discomfort of his paralysis. George Washington Carver and Dr. Waddell worked together from 1935 until Carver’s death in 1943. From 1935-1941, Waddell also researched calcium and pokeberry weed. After Dr. Waddell left Tuskegee, he practiced in Morgantown, West Virginia. He then moved to Fargo, North Dakota, where he supervised the eradication of tuberculosis in cattle in the great Northwest. He received accolades from the governor for his efforts.

HE WAS A PATRIOT

Dr. Waddell served his country with pride and honor. He was the first Black commissioned member in the Officer Reserve Veterinary Corps.  From 1941 to 1946, Waddell served the U.S. 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments of the United States Army as a Buffalo Soldier. The Buffalo Soldiers were originally established by Congress as the first peacetime all-black regiment in the United States Army, but later operated during wartime. Showing true leadership and self-sacrificing dedication, Waddell served abroad during the Italian campaign of World War II and was later wounded in action in North Africa. He continued to attend Buffalo Soldier reunions each year up until his death.

HE UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND

Animals have been helping to protect human lives for centuries. The relationship between the military and animals was born during the Revolutionary War and matured with the creation of the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps in 1916.  Dr. Waddell understood the importance of military veterinarians while serving as a Lieutenant in the United States Army. As a Buffalo Soldier, he worked as the brigade’s veterinarian to over 10,000 horses and mules. By the time he retired from service, he had earned 135 service medals.

This month we celebrate Dr. Waddell who was a patriot, a veterinarian, and an advocate, who strongly believed in ‘paying it forward.’ He received a lifetime achievement award at the National Veterinary Association meeting in Honolulu and an annual scholarship named in his honor was created by the NAACP Honolulu Branch.  Through his service to his country, treatment of animals, creation of new knowledge, and kindness to others, he changed the lives of humans and animals. In a profession which is still believed to be the one of the least diverse professions in America, he opened doors and blazed a trail for minorities to pursue careers in veterinary medicine. Dr. Waddell had dogged determination to achieve his goal. It’s because of his steadfast commitment to making a difference that he became a pioneer, trailblazer and model veterinarian who continues to be an inspiration to so many. +

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