Title: (Sensitive) Describe the physical and mental demands and personal coping mechanisms of various animal-care professionals.
Course: Veterinary Science I (18105-I) > Section: Exploring Veterinary Science Careers

Description should include

- definitions of job pressure and stress
- aspects of work in animal-care professions that are physically and emotionally demanding (e.g., heavy lifting, working outdoors in inclement weather, facing the risk of injury, assisting in euthanasia, dealing with demanding clients, handling animals with poor prognoses, experiencing burnout and compassion fatigue)
- potential effects of stress for animal care professionals including physical, emotional, and behavioral impacts
- how personality and/or lifestyle may affect susceptibility to stress
- positive methods for coping with stress (e.g., exercise, adequate sleep, healthy diet, time with friends/family, worship, hobbies/sports) as well as mindfulness practices, counseling, and structured rest
- consequences of negative coping mechanisms (e.g., substance abuse) and determining when to seek professional help
- resources for mental health support including employee‑assistance programs (EAPs), peer‑support networks, and professional counseling.

Teacher Resource:

- Melanie Bowden’s TED talk “What being a veterinarian really takes”
- Not One More Vet (NOMV)

Process/Skill Questions:

- Why is it important to evaluate the physical, mental, and emotional demands of working in an animal healthcare field before studying veterinary science?
- How can the physical and mental skills necessary for careers in animal health care be obtained and maintained?
- Why might the effectiveness of different personal coping mechanisms vary from person to person?
- What is compassion fatigue? What are its signs?
- How can compassion fatigue be prevented?
- How does compassion fatigue lead to a high suicide rate among veterinary professionals? What can be done to reduce the dangers of compassion fatigue and to prevent suicide?
- Why is the suicide rate in the veterinary profession high compared to other medical professions?