TulsaPets Magazine July 2023

18 TulsaPets • July / August 2023 I REMEMBER THE TEARS OF JOY Most veterinarians have known from a young age that their life dream was to become a vet. Some realized as young as five years old that they held a special passion for animals and their care. Amid my studies in science and biology, I fell in love with veterinary medicine at the age of 20. I had started a part-time job working kennels for a veterinarian in Norman and had become enamored by the science and passion behind vet med. I remember the excitement of the veter- inary staff as they showed me organisms and cells under the microscope. I remember being in the dark room developing X-rays and wondering at the chemistry and physics behind radiography. I remember observing in awe as the veterinarians bravely removed spleens, delivered puppies, removed and reconnected parts of intestines, and repaired broken legs. I remember watching the entire staff stop everything as a dying animal was rushed into the clinic, everyone moving with a practiced fluidity to save the animal’s life by administering oxygen and injections. And I remember the tears of joy from the grateful owners as they took their precious pet home that they thought they had lost forever. Veterinary medicine is wonderful because every single day is different. It is rewarding and exciting. It is full of science and passion. It is where I have made some of the best friends of my life because of the closeness that comes with sharing such an experience. It is incredible. BE A VET, THEY SAID. IT’LL BE FUN, THEY SAID. I graduated vet school feeling reasonably prepared for my new career. I knew the cranial nerves, the life cycle of the Dracunculus worm, and the antidote for antifreeze. But there are things I wish I had known. Things they don’t teach us; things that change us. Student debt is no joke. According to https://www.avma.org, the Class of 2022 had a debt-to-income ratio of around 1.4:1, which is the best it’s been since 2005. A concerning 61 percent of those graduates already had moderate burnout. The CDC states that male vets are 1.6 times and female vets are 2.4 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population. Also, 80 per- cent of vets are women. Folks, we are in crisis mode. Why would anyone pursue veterinary medicine? Because we love it. We dedicate our lives to helping the helpless. We under- stand that some pets don’t like us, some owners can’t afford treat- ment, and some pets don’t heal. Missed lunches and late nights are common. What most don’t know is how the combination of all these can affect you. The debt, burnout, and lives lost … it’s a lot to process. So what do we do? Focus on the positives. The case successes, grateful clients, and healthy puppies. Have a safety net. Surround yourself with people that understand and are there to support you. Ask for help. Whether it’s for financial help, to consult on a case, or just to vent about a bad day. Take a breather. Take a day off. Find a hobby. See a movie. Get a massage. Whatever makes you feel human again. Don’t lose yourself. Don’t lose sight of why you chose this profession to begin with. You are kind, caring, smart, and ambitious. You want to do good. Hang in there because karma is real. TULSA VETS Kara Herrington 15th Street Veterinary Group Stacey Smith, DVM Brookside Animal Hospital