Veterinary Burnout Is Real—But No One Talks About Toxic Workplace Stress

A Veterinarian and a veterinary technician are exhausted after a difficult day. Sitting in the hallway near the window.

written by Dawn McGroarty, Former Licensed Vet Tech, 20+ years experience

Burnout in veterinary medicine is often talked about—but not always understood.

We hear about long hours, emotional cases, and the weight of caring for animals and their families. And while all of that is very real, there is another layer of burnout that often goes unspoken.

One that many experience… but few feel safe enough to talk about.

Toxic workplace burnout.

The Burnout We All Recognize

Veterinary professionals are no strangers to stress.

Day after day, they show up to:

• support anxious pet parents

• care for sick and injured animals

• make difficult, sometimes heartbreaking decisions

• carry emotional weight that doesn’t simply disappear at the end of a shift

Over time, this can lead to:

• compassion fatigue

• emotional exhaustion

• physical burnout

This is the side of burnout most people recognize.

A Veterinary Nurse and co-worker stressed at work. The Nurse just lost a whole day's worth of charts and work-related stuff.

The Burnout No One Talks About

But there is another kind of burnout that can be even more damaging.

Burnout that doesn’t come from the work itself…

It comes from the environment you are working in.

Toxic workplace bu

rnout can look like:

• being excluded or targeted

• coworkers who undermine or gossip

• a lack of support from leadership

• feeling unsafe speaking up

• constantly walking on eggshells

And perhaps the hardest part?

Feeling completely alone while going through it.

Why It Feels So Isolating

In many veterinary settings, speaking up doesn’t always feel like an option.

You may worry about:

• losing your job

• being labeled “difficult.”

• creating more tension

• having no one believe or support you

So instead, many stay quiet.

They continue to show up, do their job, and care for animals…

while slowly becoming emotionally, physically, and psychologically drained.

A Veterinary Nurse sits all alone as she tries to console herself after a very difficult day in a toxic work environment.

The Truth That Needs to Be Said

If you have experienced this kind of burnout, there is something important you need to hear:

You are not weak. You are not “too sensitive.”

You are likely someone who:

• cares deeply

• shows up fully

• gives more than most

And you were never taught how to protect your energy in environments that don’t support you.

What You Can Do (While You Figure Things Out)

If you are currently in a toxic work environment, change may not happen overnight—but there are small steps you can take to protect yourself.

1. Document everything. Keep a record of incidents, conversations, and patterns. This can provide clarity and protection if needed.

2. Protect your energy. Limit unnecessary interactions with individuals who drain you. Give your energy where it is respected.

3. Set quiet boundaries. Even small internal boundaries—what you engage in, what you step away from—can make a difference.

4. Start exploring other opportunities. You don’t have to leave immediately, but knowing there are other options can shift your mindset from “stuck” to “moving forward.”

Support Exists Now (Even If It Didn’t Before)

One of the most hopeful changes in recent years is the growing awareness around veterinary mental health.

There are now:

• veterinary mental health support groups

• peer communities

• industry-wide conversations about burnout and well-being

You are not navigating this alone anymore—even if it feels that way in your current environment.

A Personal Perspective

This topic is not just something I’ve learned about—it’s something I’ve lived.

There were times in my career when I felt:

• unsupported

• unable to speak up

• isolated in environments that should have been collaborative

• had jealous workers trying to sabotage me at every chance

And like many, I stayed longer than I should have… trying to push through, trying to make it work.

Until one day, I realized something had to change. I ultimately left that place.

That experience became part of the foundation for what I am building today.

Why Paradise Pawsome Pet Care Exists

Paradise Pawsome Pet Care was created with a simple but powerful intention:

To support not just pets and pet parents and veterinary personnel…

But the people who care for them.

Through education, awareness, and compassionate conversation, my goal is to:

• bring light to topics that are often left in the dark

• offer support where it has been missing

• and create space for both healing and growth

You Are Not Alone

If this resonates with you, please know:

You are not imagining it. You are not alone. And there is a way forward.

Even if that path starts quietly, with one small step at a time.

Resources & Support

If you need support, here are a few places to start:

• Not One More Vet (NOMV): https://www.nomv.org

• AVMA Wellbeing Resources: https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/wellbeing

• Veterinary Hope Foundation: https://veterinaryhope.org

Closing

You entered this field because you care about animals and want to make a difference. We need you.

And that matters.

Taking care of yourself is not stepping away from that purpose—it’s what allows you to continue it in a way that is sustainable, healthy, and whole. We need to embrace Mind, Body, and Spirit.

If this article spoke to you, feel free to share it with someone who may need it. And if you’d like more support, resources, and conversations like this, stay connected with Paradise Pawsome Pet Care.

In my next article, I will share what I have done and what worked for me.

One more thing, if you are feeling beyond help, HEAR ME AND HEAR ME GOOD. YOU ARE LOVED. YOUR LIFE MATTERS!!! CALL THE NATIONAL SUCIDE LINE. DO NOT WAIT!!!

CALL 1-800-273-8255

Or TEXT “Home” to 741-741

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