Wayland Animal Clinic, Silk Veterinary Hospital and ADAvet Veterinary Clinic are veterinary practices in Wayland that work to make sure our town’s pets are kept healthy. The effort and long hours these veterinarians put into their work showcases not only their care for the pets of Wayland, but the residents as well.

Nevertheless, the career proves itself to be incredibly difficult at times. The work done by veterinarians can easily be taken for granted by patients, and mental health struggles are not uncommon within the profession.

Individuals in the profession of veterinary medicine are four times more likely than the general population to commit suicide, and twice as likely as other medical professions. In fact, 70% of veterinarians have experienced the death of a colleague by suicide.

These statistics are commonly overlooked, and although some may have a surface-level understanding of what veterinarians go through, the most vulnerable parts of the job are not usually brought to attention.

“There are a lot of mental health struggles with people in veterinary medicine,” Silk Veterinary Hospital owner and veterinarian Dr. Marion Silk said. “I’ve worked with a number of vets who have committed suicide.”

On a daily basis, veterinarians face an intense amount of pressure and expectations from patients. Mental health issues in the field are incredibly common, with 80% of veterinarians experiencing depression, extreme stress, burnout and anxiety. Struggles, such as having to euthanize animals, long hours, little work-life balance and student loan debts are some of the main causes of these mental health problems. A study by the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association revealed that out of all partaking veterinarians, 67% found debt from student loans their main cause of stress.

The financial aspect of veterinary medicine has a large impact on patients, as well as the veterinarians themselves. If a pet owner cannot afford care for their animal, the decision of euthanasia is considered.

“Sometimes, you’re dealing with very old or very sick animals and trying to communicate that to owners and navigate how to get them through,” ADAvet owner and veterinarian Dr. Deirdre Ryan said. “So how do you help people get the care for the animals they need if they can’t afford it? The emotional side of it is difficult.”

Additionally, the process of putting down animals can pose challenges for veterinarians, in some cases resulting in compassion fatigue and traumatic stress. Making the life-altering decision of whether or not an animal should be euthanized can contribute to large amounts of distress, adding to the daily pressure individuals in veterinary medicine face.

This process is also one of the contributing factors of burnout in the field. As well as the detrimental effect it has on the vet themselves, burnout may impact the care given to animals when a doctor’s exhaustion affects the quality of how a pet is tended to.

Another possible factor for the suicide rates of veterinarians is their easy access to euthanasia drugs. A study by Auburn University revealed that out of 73 veterinarians who died by suicide, 25% of the deaths were caused by poisoning from the drug pentobarbital. Pentobarbital is used commonly by vets for the euthanasia of animals.

Additionally, the predicted demand for veterinary care over the next decade shows an increase. According to Ohio Wesleyan University, by 2032, there will be a need for 70,092 more veterinarians in the U.S. than there are currently, which are expectations that will not be met in that time period. A potential shortage will not only have an impact on the pets being cared for, but on the veterinarians themselves, which could lead to increased rates of stress and burnout.

“People’s expectations for things in the veterinary world have really gone up, [which] is hard,” Silk said.

Perfectionism is another common struggle in the field. Compared to other college students, individuals studying veterinary medicine showed higher levels of perfectionism. The connection between tendencies of perfectionism and psychological hardship showcases how these thoughts can lead to mental health issues.

“I think a lot of times with being in this field, the people that get into it are very type-A,” Silk said. “They always are very critical of themselves when things go wrong.”

Although there can be struggles within the field of veterinary medicine, Ryan shows appreciation for her job and acknowledges that running a clinic in a small town, such as Wayland, allows for more ease.

“I think we’re lucky that people around here consider their pets as part of their family and provide really good care,” Dr. Ryan said. “Because people know you on a more personal level, I feel like there’s more support there and understanding.”

Ryan also recognizes that in a generally wealthy town, like Wayland, individuals are more likely to have money to spend on their pets, making care much easier to provide.

“Socioeconomically, Wayland is pretty fortunate,” Ryan said. “I have some friends from veterinary school who work in more rural or less affluent communities, and there’s a lot of discussion around the cost of care and having to make decisions. Sometimes, animals have to be euthanized.”

Silk notes that living in Wayland grants more connection with patients. Silk worked as an emergency veterinary doctor for 15 years before transitioning to owning a practice. The transition between these two fields has given Dr. Silk a feel for the differences between emergency veterinary medicine and private practice-based care.

“I really like working in a smaller community where I actually am seeing my patients all the time, and seeing them get older,” Silk said. “I kind of like that about [Wayland] and having roots in the area.”

There are ways for veterinarians to prevent burnout, including practicing gratitude, grounding techniques and other methods. In a high stress field, like veterinary medicine, it is important for doctors to prioritize their mental health and create a healthy work-life balance.

Pet owners can also pitch in. By communicating properly, showing empathy and avoiding placing the blame on their veterinarian when something goes wrong, patients can contribute to lower levels of stress and burnout in the field.

“I don’t really see the veterinarian a lot, but they do have a big impact because our dogs often get sick and the vet helps them,” freshman Connor Cavanaugh said. “I’m just glad that the vet is there and that our dogs can get help when they need it.”