Vets not OK — overwork, pet owners, debt load leading to burnout

September 8th, 2022 at 7:01 am EDT

Hello Friend,

 

Welcome to Thursday. I hope that you and your animals/family are all doing well.


Veterinary care...obviously critical and you will need it for your dog/cat.


In light of what is happening, it does seem wise to try and decrease the chance of your dog/cat having to go to the vet in the 1st place.


One of the easiest to take/inexpensive supplements which can help for the most common dog and cat diseases..


Omega 3 Fatty Acids are considered one of the MOST important supplements in Veterinary Medicine


  • Decrease inflammation for Allergic Skin Disease

  • Natural Pain Relief for Arthritis- may lower amount of pain meds needed

  • Urinary tract Inflammation- especially in cats

  • Liver/kidney disease: support animals with CRF

  • Cognitive Decline

  • Beneficial for Cancer prevention


If you have yet to try it, consider a better Omega 3 Fatty Acid in the form of Krill here..


Dr Jones' ULTIMATE Omega 3 Supplement for Dogs and Cats

 


Veterinarians are not OK — overwork, pet owners, debt load leading to burnout

Source: cbc.ca


Dr. Karissa Mitchell knew something was wrong when work took over everything.


She didn't have the energy to cook meals, or call her family on the phone. It was the height of the pandemic, and the Nanaimo, B.C.-based veterinarian was not only putting in 12-hour days but absorbing the emotion that comes with treating sick animals and dealing with their often challenging owners.


She couldn't take it.


"I was not able to be the veterinarian that I wanted to be, and I did burn out," said Mitchell, 28. "It was just really frustrating to realize that I couldn't do it anymore."


Mitchell quit her full-time job as a vet in April 2021 and now fills in at different clinics, where she can control her workload.


"I love my job, but I am nervous for the future of my profession if no changes are made, especially with the vet [technician] and the vet shortages."


COVID-19 exposed cracks in many parts of the medical system, including animal care, which was on the brink of crisis before the pandemic.


There aren't enough veterinarians and staff to care for pets and livestock across the country, even as the number of pets — and the intensity of people's attachment to them — grows.



The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association estimates that 30 per cent of Canadian veterinarians and 50 per cent of vet technicians are in the advanced stages of burnout.


"I've seen tears, and people wanting to leave the profession, and people leaving the profession," said Dr. Rocky Lis, who runs Skyline Veterinary Hospital, a new practice in North Vancouver, with two other partners.


Skyline opened in September and is one of the only clinics in the area taking new patients. As a result, Lis's days are packed.


On a recent Wednesday, Lis removed a potentially cancerous mass from a cat, assessed two other felines, had lengthy appointments with several dogs and even X-rayed a lethargic backyard chicken with a sore foot.


It's an unsustainable pace, says Lis. "Something's gotta give."


It's not just about workload. Veterinary medicine is unique in that highly motivated, compassionate professionals go through intense and competitive training to care for animals, but end up spending a lot of their time dealing with owners who may not be able to — or want to — pay for services.


"A lot of the veterinarians that come out of vet school … become quite disillusioned quite quickly," said Lis. That's because they might not realize that "there would be a component of having these discussions [with clients] every day, saying, 'This is how much veterinary medicine costs.'"

"When I got into vet school, it was a dream come true, and it was also devastating," said Ruth Patten, who is from Kelowna, B.C., and in her second year at WCVM.


She did not qualify for one of B.C.'s 20 funded seats, so she estimates that with living expenses, her education will cost somewhere between $300,000 and $350,000 for four years.


"It is going to be difficult to pay off that amount of money in this profession," she said.


In fact, given borrowing limits at banks and with government student loans, Patten isn't sure if she'll even be able to cobble together enough cash to fund her education.

Heal Your Pet At Home!


Best Wishes,


Dr Andrew

P.S. Veterinarians need to be supported better: the costs of education need to be less, the governments need to help, and they need fair wages to cover all these costs.


Develop a good relationship with your veterinarian, and support them. Veterinary Medicine is expensive, and veterinary salaries are relatively low.


I can relate to much of this, and I didn't work as a practicing vet during a pandemic.. I can only imagine what it's like now


My last suggestion...be kind to your vet, have some patience, and show gratitude.


It goes a long way



P.P.S. And about trying to keep your dog/cat healthy and not go to the vet...


Omega 3 Fatty Acids are considered to be one of the most important supplements in Veterinary Medicine (Clinician's Brief). Dr Jones' Natural Krill Oil provides high levels of the important Fatty Acids, EPA and DHA, better absorption/bioavailability, WITHOUT the toxins now found in many Fish Oil supplements.


Get your bottle here:


Dr Jones' New KRILL Oil Supplement

DISCLAIMER: This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your own veterinarian. Dr Andrew Jones resigned from the College of Veterinarians of B.C. effective December 1 2010, meaning he cannot answer specific questions about your pet's medical issues or make specific medical recommendations for your pet.

PRIVACY POLICY: We will never rent, sell, loan, provide, barter, exchange or in any way make available your personal information to others. You can unsubscribe or change your email address at any time using the links at the bottom of this email.

Copyright 2021 Four Paws Online Ltd.

Tel: 1-800-396-1534
Fax: 1-888-398-1378
www.theonlinevet.com
support@fourpawsonlineltd.com


Powered by:
GetResponse