The Dumpster

Every few months another layperson, completely surprised about the high risk of mental illness and suicide in the veterinary profession, writes some opinion piece about how terrible it is, and about why they think we suffer the problem.

Well, that’s about as useful as telling someone having an anxiety attack to ‘calm down’. (Not Very.)

Just a panda enjoying his popsicle

You never really get to choose which patients you save. It’s not like there’s a quota for wins or losses, but it certainly feels like it some days. It often seems unfair that some patients get to live and others have to die.

Sometimes it’s not even obvious who is who.

Last week I had an elderly canine patient with unbearable neck pain. He was geriatric and surgery was financially out of the question. His owner had already said her goodbyes.

I asked for four hours to try to make him comfortable. I sent him home after two because he’d turned into a cheeky brat and was barking the house down for attention. This week he can actually shake his head and is comfortable on his medication. He gets to live.

Another dog half his age, who took a sudden turn for the worse, loved by two little kids and their parents, on the mother’s birthday, two days before she herself is scheduled for surgery, did not get to live.

And there was bugger all I could do aside from handing out tissues.

Would I have swapped one life for another? The older, already farewelled dog for the younger one? Could you ever ask someone to make that choice? The love for one dog can’t ever be compared to another, nor could the sorrow of their loss.

It wouldn’t be right if I could choose, and so I think it is better that I cannot.

10+ Galaxy Sweets That Are Out Of This World

Really nice recipes. Every hour.

No you’re not bothering me. (Yes I’m serious.)

You’re not dumb.

You have great ideas.

Your smile isn’t ugly.

Neither is your laugh.

You don’t need to apologize, I actually AM very interested in our conversation.

failing doesn’t make you a failure. 

things are going to get so much better when you get through this time (i know from experience) 

no one can replace you. EVER. 

your words are never wasted, people want to hear what you have to say.

you are beautiful.