July 5th. Veterinary Dependence Day

July 5th is a very busy day in veterinary medicine. After the fireworks have faded and the hot dogs have been eaten, the pets will need care.

Common Issues Faced by Pets

Some have eaten things they shouldn't have, corn cobs, a tray of hamburgers or even a popsicle, stick and all!

Some have been in a panic over the extra guests or noise of the fireworks. They may have even gone so far as to bloody their feet or break a tooth to try to escape the noise and chaos. Sadly, many do escape from their yards or homes only to end up on the street or worse, hit by a car.

Our Commitment to Care

We will be there to help the pets and their owners. We will bandage the wounds, we will remove the foreign bodies, we will scan the lost pets for a microchip and we will dry the tears of owners whose pets won't be going home with them.

Supporting Each Other in the Workplace

We also need to be there for each other. Clients will be at a heightened state of anxiety when they come in with their pet who is sick or injured. Some will be very demanding or even seem angry. Remember that some of the words they may say are out of fear or even being angry at themselves. It is NEVER personal. It is never about you.

Handling Difficult Situations

If a client gets overly loud or overly angry, calmly ask them to leave. It's never ok to allow someone to bully a team member. I have had to call the police once at an emergency hospital because a client was yelling at the CSR for not getting their pet into the triage area as quickly as they thought they should have. The pet had a torn nail that, while bleeding a little still, was not life threatening. At 1AM on the 5th of July our hospital was already treating several patients. My personal theory on waiting in the lobby is this, if I am being asked to wait, the team in the back is helping other patients that need more immediate care than I or my pet does at that time. I am happy to wait because that means we CAN wait.

The Importance of Teamwork

You are doing all you can to help them and their pet. Triaging patients, running lab work, taking X-rays, setting catheters, and often all of that at once. It's a beautiful dance in the treatment area. Remember to be kind to yourself and each other. If you see a teammate struggling, offer to help. Ask for help when you need it too. Remind each other to eat even if it's only a snack. Dring your water and wear your most comfy shoes!

Preparing Clients in Advance

The best we can do is try to get clients to prepare a week or so in advance to decrease the need for them to come see us on the 5th of July. Best of luck and all the happy thoughts for you this weekend!!