How do we as vets deal with so much humane euthanasia? The short answer is that we use different coping mechanisms. It may sound cold, but veterinarians get into this field knowing that this is going to be a part of our job, and it usually doesn’t hit us as heavily as it does you as the pet owner (unless we are saying goodbye to our own pets, then we are blubbering messes!). We absolutely feel sorrow and empathy for the families we help go through this process, but we also have to try our hardest not to let it weigh us down too much. If we let every case of euthanasia get to us, most veterinarians would probably make a life ending choice shortly into their careers.

That being said, we absolutely have cases that hit us hard, square in the feels. And sometimes we have to go through large amounts of euthanasias within a short period of time (sadly, this is very common around the winter holidays). Eventually, there is either a euthanasia or a string of them that really get to us and can make us pretty sad or even depressed. In those times we fall on different coping mechanisms, and the support of our friends and family to get us through it as you guys would use the same systems to get through tough times in your own lives.

Some vets are also better at dealing with the emotional toll euthanasia takes on us better than others. I feel like ER vets are generally better at not letting euthanasia get to them. And if you ever think your vet seems a bit too “cold” or emotionless when it comes to actually helping your pet cross the rainbow bridge, don’t be hard on them. Sometimes turning our emotions off completely is the only way to prevent us from spiraling onto a depression.

And one final thought! While it may look like I’m a raging alcoholic and use that as a coping mechanisms based on the intro to many of my videos, I drink far less than most of you would believe!