Client Interview

Introduction

In my interview with Dr. Gina Pena, DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine), we discussed the goals and hardships any new graduate or seasoned veterinarian desires from the field. Dr. Pena graduated from University of Missouri in 2017, worked at East Lake Veterinary Hospital for 1 year, and now is working at THRIVE veterinary (a corporate company), and does relief work as well. The interview was conducted in person at a local tea shop and lasted for around an hour and a half. There was a total of 9 questions asked.

Mental Health Concerns Within the Field

Becoming a veterinarian requires years of discipline and rigorous work, and many veterinarians develop mental health issues such as depression. After an undergraduate degree, veterinarians are required to go to graduate school, where they earn their Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM). With years of strenuous work, long hours, and little pay or recognition, veterinarians have one of the highest rates of suicide in the nation. According to a study done by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA), “14 percent of male and 19 percent of female veterinarians have suicidal thoughts, three times that of the general U.S. population” (NAVTA). Dr. Pena attests to this, as she was diagnosed with depression in 2013, her senior year of college. She stated that, “often times I would see students become depressed or diagnosed with depression in vet school. You have to find a solid support group to help you get through. If anyone was “alone”, we all became very concerned about them. Even after graduating, some of my support friends through school are still my support friends now. Sometimes if I have a tough case, I will call them and ask for support or advise.” This is something that both veterinarians and their staff feel the effects of. In a separate survey conducted online by myself, I asked the same series of questions to veterinary technicians from all over the world. With over 30 respondents to this online survey, there were technicians who worked in specialty clinics, ER’s, private practices, and corporate practices. The most common answers to the cause of depression in veterinary medicine was poor pay, long hours, lack of qualified management/staff and understaffing.

"Just 41 percent of veterinarians would recommend the profession to a friend

or family member—even large numbers of those who score high in

well-being and mental health do not recommend the profession. In the

general population, about 70 percent would recommend their career to a

friend or family member" (Merck Animal Health Veterinary Wellbeing

Study).

The Opioid Crisis: Anesthetics and Analgesics

The second topic discussed was in regard to the current opioid crisis in human medicine, and its residual effects in veterinary medicine. Because of the crisis, medications like fentanyl and hydromorphone have either been on backorder (indefinably) or have been limited in supply where most vet clinics have no access to them. Dr. Pena, along with those who answered my online survey, said they feel little to no effect of the crisis, and if there is any, it has been for the better. Medications like hydromorphone have been missed among the veterinary field as an effective general anesthetic, but most everyone effected have learned new and effective protocols for pain management and have seen success among their patients. Dr. Pena stated, “I feel like in general practice, I don’t really do a lot of procedures that are extremely painful, and I don’t see a lot of dogs that are in extreme pain. I feel like it’s affecting more ER’s, and specialty clinics - like a surgery center - where they need hydromorphone, or they need fentanyl CRI. So I personally have not been feeling the effects of it. Now I am worried about Gabapentin, because I use that in everything. It’s safe, and it does so much good, but it’s an opioid. I’m worried that it will start to become controlled, and I will become audited. My patients need it, so I’m definably worried about the future.”

Market Trends

I was curious to know about Dr. Pena’s perspective about market trends, and their effects on veterinarians and the way they conduct medicine. In recent years, grain free diets have been marketed as “healthier” for your pet, fueled by a new fad in the human food industry. More recent studies conducted by the FDA warn owners that grain free diets having a potential connection to heart disease.

“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is alerting pet owners and veterinary professionals about reports of canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs eating certain pet foods containing peas, lentils, other legume seeds, or potatoes as main ingredients. These reports are unusual because DCM is occurring in breeds not typically genetically prone to the disease (FDA).

“For people, food is love. If you tell them that what they’re feeding their pet isn’t love, it’s actually trash, they get extremely offended. You have to be really gentle. Sometimes, I have to remind people that if their pet got out and went to the forest, what are they going to eat?” There is a lot of information on the internet that pet owners read and utilize as valid information, when a lot of it ends up causing more harm then good. Pet owners are more likely to listen to friends and family, than their own veterinarian.

Conclusion

The job of a veterinarian is a complex balance with keeping clients happy, and pets healthy. For veterinarians dealing with mental health issues accrued by the intensity of the field, this is an additional obstacle for them. Though veterinarians have many hardships to face, the ability to change lives is worth the pain.

National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America. NAVTA 2016 demographic survey

results.  navta.net/?page=Demographic_Survey . Accessed September 2016.

Medicine, Center for Veterinary. “CVM Updates - FDA Investigating Potential Connection

Between Diet and Cases of Canine Heart Disease.” U S Food and Drug Administration

Home Page, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, 12 July 2018,

www.fda.gov/animalveterinary/newsevents/cvmupdates/ucm613305.htm.