Veterinary professionals enter the field because they care — deeply. They care about animals, about their clients, about doing the right thing. But caring, over time and without adequate support, can come at a cost.

Compassion fatigue is increasingly recognised as one of the most significant wellbeing challenges in the veterinary profession. As part of our March and April theme in the Wellbeing Hub, we’re taking a closer look at what it is, how it develops, and what we can do about it.

What Is Compassion Fatigue?

Compassion fatigue is often described as the mental and emotional exhaustion that comes from repeatedly witnessing the suffering or trauma of others.

It’s sometimes referred to as secondary traumatic stress — because we are not the ones directly experiencing the trauma, but we are continually exposed to it. In veterinary medicine, that exposure may come through:

• Euthanasia cases

• Traumatic injuries

• Chronic illness

• Distressed or grieving clients

• Ethical conflicts around treatment decisions
  

Over time, this repeated exposure can impact our ability to empathise — not only with animals, but with the people we work with and serve.

And that can feel deeply unsettling in a profession built on compassion.

Compassion fatigue is more really this mental pain, this empathy exhaustion, right — the fatigue — that we experience, and that really impacts our ability to empathise with others, but also with animals that are suffering.

- Giana Gomes, PhD, MVM, BVM

Compassion Fatigue vs Burnout: What’s the Difference?

These terms are often used interchangeably, but they’re not the same.

Burnout is a more generalised state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion. It can happen in any profession and is often linked to workload, lack of control, feeling trapped, or losing a sense of purpose and motivation.

Compassion fatigue, by contrast, is specific to roles where professionals are exposed to suffering and trauma. It’s tied to empathy — and the toll that sustained empathy can take.

Many veterinary professionals experience elements of both.

The Role of Moral Distress

In an episode of VETchat “Tackling Compassion Fatigue in the Veterinary Profession”, our founder Anthony Chadwick spoke with Giana Gomes about how compassion fatigue, burnout and moral distress are often intertwined.

Moral distress occurs when our deeply held ethical values are challenged — by client expectations, financial limitations, workplace pressures, or disagreements within the team. It can arise in situations such as “convenience euthanasia,” where a decision conflicts with a clinician’s personal or professional values.

When we repeatedly act in ways that don’t align with what we believe is right, that distress can deepen into what is sometimes described as moral injury — the longer-term psychological impact of those unresolved ethical conflicts.

For many in practice, moral distress may be the trigger that contributes to both burnout and compassion fatigue.

And yet, it’s something we rarely talk about openly.

Why Human Interactions Can Feel Harder

Many vets enter the profession because of a profound love for animals. But much of veterinary work involves navigating complex, emotional conversations with people.

Empathising with a grieving owner is one thing. Empathising with someone surrendering or abandoning an animal can be far more challenging. Shelter medicine teams, in particular, often describe the emotional strain of these interactions.

When empathy begins to feel harder — especially toward clients — it can be a sign that compassion fatigue is taking hold.

The Negativity Bias and Mental Resilience

Our brains are wired with a negativity bias. We’re constantly scanning for threats — a survival mechanism that served humans well in the past. Today, however, that same bias can amplify perceived threats, conflicts, and pressures.

In a profession already saturated with emotional intensity, this constant internal negativity can compound stress and exhaustion.

The goal isn’t to “be positive” all the time. It’s about becoming aware of our thought patterns and building resilience. As discussed in the podcast, challenges and suffering won’t disappear — but how we respond to them can change when we feel empowered and supported.

Regenerating Hope

Despite the challenges, veterinary medicine remains an incredibly meaningful and satisfying career for many.

There is purpose in easing suffering. There is impact in supporting families. There is pride in clinical excellence and teamwork.

But sustaining that sense of purpose requires open conversations about wellbeing — including compassion fatigue, burnout, and moral distress — rather than silently carrying the weight alone.

Continuing the Conversation

This blog touches on themes discussed in our podcast episode “Tackling Compassion Fatigue in the Veterinary Profession” with Anthony Chadwick and Giana Gomes.

If this resonates with you, we encourage you to listen to the full episode for a deeper discussion on recognising the signs and building resilience within teams.

You can also explore more resources, webinars and conversations in our Wellbeing Hub, where compassion fatigue is our focus for March and April.

Because caring is at the heart of veterinary medicine — and those who care deserve care too.