Veterinarians are professionals holding Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees who are responsible for the diagnosis and medical treatment of animals. While many people think of veterinarians as the doctors who see our cats and dogs for treatment and checkups, these professionals also hold valuable roles in research, agriculture, and public health sectors. There is significant existing research suggesting that veterinarians report and experience higher levels of depression, anxiety, and perceived stress compared to other professionals. Further, multiple studies show that veterinarians have a suicide risk that is over three times higher than the general population. This trend has been observed globally.
These statistics might be surprising for the reader to learn. After all, Veterinary medicine is a profession revered by many. Considered a “dream job” for many young people, Veterinary medicine requires highly specialized training in very competitive clinical programs. We assume that these professionals spend most of their days doing what they love, enjoying rewarding work healing many different kinds of animals. While this may be true, there are also intersecting factors implicit to the profession that are believed to result in a field of professionals who are struggling with their mental health.
Clinical Features of Veterinary Practice and Mental Health
Research indicates that veterinary professionals face numerous stressors that undermine their psychological wellbeing. These include:
- The demanding nature of the work
- Heavy workloads
- Moral distress
- Financial strain due to poor student loan-to-income ratios
- and the emotional toll of frequent euthanasia.
Veterinarians are required to multitask constantly, often managing the care of multiple animals while performing a broad range of clinical procedures such as vaccinations, diagnostics, surgeries, dental work, and euthanasia. Veterinary practice settings are typically fast-paced, with dense caseloads that may require long hours, skipped breaks, and late evenings. This is exacerbated by a shortage of professionals in the industry. Despite their advanced training and diverse skill set, many veterinarians struggle with significant student debt that can take years to repay. In addition to medical responsibilities, they are often on the frontline of identifying animal abuse or neglect, necessitating ethically challenging interventions such as contacting animal control. The emotional demands of supporting grieving pet owners during euthanasia further add to the emotional toll. Collectively, these professional and emotional challenges can contribute to chronic stress, compassion fatigue, and burnout among veterinarians. If left unchecked, veterinarians may develop serious mental health conditions.
Cultural features of Veterinary Practice and Mental Health
Documented cultural issues within the veterinary profession – such as perceived stigma, fear of negative interpersonal consequences, and the normalization of poor mental health – can act as barriers to help-seeking. The highly competitive nature of veterinary training programs may also foster a culture in which perfectionism, overachievement, burnout, and fear of failure are normalized. Within such environments, experiencing mental health difficulties may be interpreted as a personal weakness or an inability to cope, prompting some professionals to conceal or minimize their suffering.
Additionally, workplace bullying and interpersonal conflict are frequently reported in the literature as cultural stressors that exacerbate mental health symptoms and discourage veterinarians from accessing peer support or taking time off for recovery. The professional culture often valorizes being seen as capable, hardworking, and self-sacrificing (even at the expense of one’s wellbeing) further perpetuating cycles of burnout. Public attitudes may reinforce these pressures, as veterinarians are sometimes expected to provide services at reduced rates or pro bono, based on assumptions that they are driven solely by compassion and love for animals. Collectively, these intersecting cultural factors compound the mental health challenges faced by veterinarians and contribute to ongoing stigma and underutilization of support services.
Veterinary Practice and Mental Health – Societal Factors
Several societal factors and recent events have intensified stress within the veterinary profession. The COVID-19 pandemic, for example, led to a surge in pet ownership, creating an increased demand for veterinary services in an industry already facing workforce shortages. This heightened demand has contributed to heavier workloads and higher rates of burnout among veterinary professionals. In addition, the growing corporatization of veterinary clinics has raised concerns about rising costs of care and diminishing professional autonomy, as clinicians may feel pressure to prioritize profit over patient welfare. Compounding these challenges is a widespread public perception that veterinarians overcharge for their services, a misconception that can strain client relationships and contribute to moral distress. This belief may be particularly pronounced in countries like Canada, where publicly funded human healthcare systems can obscure the true costs of medical care. Together, these industry changes and societal misconceptions add to the mounting pressures faced by veterinarians and further complicate their professional and emotional wellbeing.
Signs That Mental Health May Be A Concern
While the elements discussed above are not exhaustive, numerous professional and occupational conditions intersect to create significant mental health risks for practicing veterinarians. These challenges help explain the elevated rates of anxiety and depression reported within the profession. Chronic overwork not only contributes to burnout but can also lead to social isolation and poor work–life balance. The combination of heavy workloads, mental health struggles, and ready access to lethal means (such as euthanasia drugs) may further contribute to the heightened suicide risk observed in this population. Warning signs of burnout, anxiety, or depression may include the following:
- A loss of interest in relationships, hobbies, or professional activities;
- A compulsion to work even harder despite exhaustion
- Persistent fatigue impairing functioning
- Negative self-evaluations (e.g., “I’m a failure” or “I’m not good enough”)
- Cynicism or irritability toward others; and
- Ongoing feelings of tension or being “on edge.”
Thoughts of death, hopelessness, or the belief that others would be “better off” without one’s presence are serious indicators of psychological distress and warrant professional support or intervention.
Other Signs Of Concern – Vicarious Trauma and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
The unique demands of caregiving professionals may also make them vulnerable to other indicators of psychological distress that warrants professional intervention. For example, veterinary professionals may experience vicarious trauma as a result of chronic exposure to emotionally intense situations, such as repeated encounters with animal suffering, death, abuse, or the need to deliver distressing news to animal owners. Signs of vicarious trauma may include:
- A persistently negative worldview accompanied by low mood, or feelings of emptiness or numbness
- Difficulty “leaving work at work”
- Increased absenteeism or avoidance of work
- Social Withdrawal
- Heightened irritability
Veterinary professionals are also required to maintain exceptionally high levels of precision and care in their work, from monitoring patients and calculating drug dosages to maintaining accurate records and strict sanitization practices. While these behaviours are essential to providing quality care, excessive worry about having made an error, intrusive or catastrophic thoughts, or spending disproportionate amounts of time checking and rechecking tasks may indicate the presence of anxiety-related conditions such as obsessive–compulsive disorder(OCD). Recognizing these patterns as potential signs of mental health distress is vital, as early intervention and professional support can prevent further psychological deterioration and promote long-term wellbeing.
While it may come as a surprise to many, veterinary professionals face many risks and challenges to their mental health, which is likely related to clinical, cultural, and societal influences on the industry. If you are working in the veterinary industry – and any of the above resonates with you – please consider reaching out for support, whether through trusted peers or colleagues, your workplace management (if it feels safe to do so), an Employee Assistance Program, or a Registered Psychologist. Remember, seeking support is a sign of strength and an important step toward maintaining your wellbeing in such a demanding and meaningful profession.
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References:
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Perret, J.l., C.o. Best, J.b. Coe, A.l. Greer, D.k. Khosa, and A. Jones-Bitton. “Prevalence of Mental Health Outcomes among Canadian Veterinarians.” Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 256, no. 3 (February 1, 2020): 365–75. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.256.3.365.
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Schwerdtfeger, Kathrin Angelika, Mahtab Bahramsoltani, Lena Spangenberg, Nina Hallensleben, and Heide Glaesmer. “Depression, Suicidal Ideation and Suicide Risk in German Veterinarians Compared with the General German Population.” Veterinary Record 186, no. 15 (May 2020). https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.105430.
Jansen, Wiebke, Lizzie Lockett, Tricia Colville, Mette Uldahl, and Nancy De Briyne. “Veterinarian—Chasing A Dream Job? A Comparative Survey on Wellbeing and Stress Levels among European Veterinarians between 2018 and 2023.” Veterinary Sciences 11, no. 1 (January 22, 2024): 48. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11010048.
Connolly, Ce, K Norris, A Martin, S Dawkins, and C Meehan. “A Taxonomy of Occupational and Organisational Stressors and Protectors of Mental Health Reported by Veterinary Professionals in Australasia.” Australian Veterinary Journal 100, no. 8 (August 2022): 367–76. https://doi.org/10.1111/avj.13167.
