Personal/Professional Development

As we grow older in life and in this profession, we may feel it is acceptable or inevitable to feel mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted. But these feelings are not shared by every veterinary professional and may be a cause for concern. It may signal burnout caused by the demands of the job.

Becoming a HAB-Certified Practice will enhance your relationship with not only your patients and clients, but also your team.

Being a veterinarian is a calling. We go through years of schooling and dedicate our lives to practicing veterinary medicine because we have a deep desire to care for pets. But what school doesn’t always prepare us for are the complexities of effectively communicating with clients.

Given that most people consider their pets to be part of the family, it is not surprising that strong emotions are often encountered in the veterinary clinic. These intense emotions can affect the client’s decision-making and require careful handling by the veterinary team.

Veterinarians are in the unique and challenging position of balancing the medical needs of their patients with the financial needs of their clients. The strength of the human-animal bond can lead to emotionally charged conversations between pet owners and veterinarians, especially when finances are limited and decisions about care become life-or-death.

We know pets can help fight loneliness and social isolation, but what is the role of veterinarians? Read more about the veterinarians’ role in the human-animal bond with both companion animals and service animals.

We are proud to announce a virtual extension to the VMX Expo Hall, where you can access exclusive content and interact with exhibitors on a year-round basis—VMX Virtual.

The holiday season is supposed to be a time for family and joy, but that can be hard when clients and veterinarians have to make the hard decision to euthanize a pet; an unfortunate reality around the holidays. Read more from Dr. Dani McVety, co-founder of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, on why and then watch the Spark! video for advice from Dr. Dana Varble on how to get through it.

Many times it is forgotten that our community includes those besides veterinarians, veterinary nurses, practice managers, and support staff. Pet owners and clients are the backbone of veterinary healthcare, but it is neither clients nor veterinary professionals making some of the big decisions in the industry. That is why the NAVC has launched a new Pet Health Advocacy platform. As members of this community, we want to share our feedback regarding legislative and regulatory initiatives related to pet health.