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How do veterinarians handle owners who lost their pets?
For example, the owner may have to put the pet down or it died during a surgery. How do vets confront the owners? How do the vets feel about it as well? Does it impact their mental health having to interact with the grieving owners?
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Karin’s Answer
Hi Sidney,
It's part of the veterinary job to deal with owners although the animal is the patient you treat. That includes talking to distraught owners who just lost a pet due to accident or illness, owners who can not afford an expensive treatment, owners who need to understand that euthanizing a pet is the kindest option at some point.
Just like medical doctors, veterinarians need to learn to separate their own feelings from the job and not to take the job home while still being compassionate when talking to the owners. You'll learn some tools to deal with this particular stress during your veterinary training. I can also only recommend finding an established veterinarian where you can do internships and/or possibly work during summers as an assistant and who would ideally act as a mentor to you. There is nothing better than learning professional attitudes and behaviors from people who have been doing the job for a long time.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
It's part of the veterinary job to deal with owners although the animal is the patient you treat. That includes talking to distraught owners who just lost a pet due to accident or illness, owners who can not afford an expensive treatment, owners who need to understand that euthanizing a pet is the kindest option at some point.
Just like medical doctors, veterinarians need to learn to separate their own feelings from the job and not to take the job home while still being compassionate when talking to the owners. You'll learn some tools to deal with this particular stress during your veterinary training. I can also only recommend finding an established veterinarian where you can do internships and/or possibly work during summers as an assistant and who would ideally act as a mentor to you. There is nothing better than learning professional attitudes and behaviors from people who have been doing the job for a long time.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
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Chinyere’s Answer
Hello Sidney,
This is a very serious and important subject, and to be honest, many individuals don't consider it when they imagine themselves as veterinarians. In addition to being devastating for the family, losing a pet can be emotionally taxing on the veterinarian who treated it. The human side of this work really matters.
How vets support grieving pet owners
Veterinarians get into a very steady, compassionate mindset when a pet dies, whether it is due to euthanasia or something else entirely. They speak softly, slow down, and concentrate on making the owner feel seen rather than hurried.
Most veterinarians will:
- explain what happened in clear, simple language
- validate the owner’s emotions
- allow time for the family to say goodbye
- reassure them that the pet was not in pain or scared
- offer resources like pet grief support groups or hotlines
It’s not about having the “perfect words.” It’s about showing empathy and giving the family space to process.
What vets feel internally
Veterinarians have a close relationship with their patients despite being highly skilled professionals. They have witnessed these animals mature, heal, or struggle hard with illness. Yes, it hurts.
Many veterinarians describe feeling:
- sadness, especially after caring for a pet over many years
- the weight of responsibility (even when they did everything right)
- emotional exhaustion on especially difficult days
You don’t stop caring just because you’re experienced.
Does it impact their psychological well-being? Yes, and for that reason, assistance is important.
This aspect of the work can be extremely emotionally draining. If veterinarians lack adequate support networks, they may experience compassion fatigue and burnout as a result of dealing with sadness on a regular basis, making difficult medical decisions, and helping families deal with loss.
For this reason, a lot of veterinarians use techniques like:
- debriefing with colleagues
- having mental health check-ins
- setting boundaries between work and home
- talking to a therapist
- leaning on their team after a very tough case
A healthy workplace encourages vets to take breaks, decompress, and acknowledge the emotional load.
The bigger truth is this; because they understand that helping an owner deal with loss is a part of caring for the animal as well, veterinarians handle these situations with grace. Helping families say farewell with decency, clarity, and compassion is an honor that many veterans take seriously, but it may also be fulfilling.
It is quite usual for you to assess this aspect of the employment if you are thinking about becoming a veterinarian. Additionally, your question already shows a degree of empathy and emotional intelligence that would make you exceptional in this line of work.
Best wishes!
This is a very serious and important subject, and to be honest, many individuals don't consider it when they imagine themselves as veterinarians. In addition to being devastating for the family, losing a pet can be emotionally taxing on the veterinarian who treated it. The human side of this work really matters.
How vets support grieving pet owners
Veterinarians get into a very steady, compassionate mindset when a pet dies, whether it is due to euthanasia or something else entirely. They speak softly, slow down, and concentrate on making the owner feel seen rather than hurried.
Most veterinarians will:
- explain what happened in clear, simple language
- validate the owner’s emotions
- allow time for the family to say goodbye
- reassure them that the pet was not in pain or scared
- offer resources like pet grief support groups or hotlines
It’s not about having the “perfect words.” It’s about showing empathy and giving the family space to process.
What vets feel internally
Veterinarians have a close relationship with their patients despite being highly skilled professionals. They have witnessed these animals mature, heal, or struggle hard with illness. Yes, it hurts.
Many veterinarians describe feeling:
- sadness, especially after caring for a pet over many years
- the weight of responsibility (even when they did everything right)
- emotional exhaustion on especially difficult days
You don’t stop caring just because you’re experienced.
Does it impact their psychological well-being? Yes, and for that reason, assistance is important.
This aspect of the work can be extremely emotionally draining. If veterinarians lack adequate support networks, they may experience compassion fatigue and burnout as a result of dealing with sadness on a regular basis, making difficult medical decisions, and helping families deal with loss.
For this reason, a lot of veterinarians use techniques like:
- debriefing with colleagues
- having mental health check-ins
- setting boundaries between work and home
- talking to a therapist
- leaning on their team after a very tough case
A healthy workplace encourages vets to take breaks, decompress, and acknowledge the emotional load.
The bigger truth is this; because they understand that helping an owner deal with loss is a part of caring for the animal as well, veterinarians handle these situations with grace. Helping families say farewell with decency, clarity, and compassion is an honor that many veterans take seriously, but it may also be fulfilling.
It is quite usual for you to assess this aspect of the employment if you are thinking about becoming a veterinarian. Additionally, your question already shows a degree of empathy and emotional intelligence that would make you exceptional in this line of work.
Best wishes!