The Mental Health Struggles of Veterinary Technicians

by Nathan Peterson and J. Wesley Boyd

Sarah is a dedicated, animal-loving veterinary technician (VT) who’s had her own pets her entire life and has poured her heart into caring for the animals of others in her job. But not infrequently she encounters a heartbreaking reality on the job when she finds herself administering what she believes to be futile treatments to terminally ill pets. For Sarah, this is a routine part of the job, but as we recently discovered, it also happens to be a source of deep moral distress for many VTs.

With colleagues, we have just published this study in the Journal of the American Veterinary Association, in which we uncovered a startling reality: Nearly all (94.7%) VTs have administered what they considered to be medically futile treatments. And doing so leads to significant moral distress, often so severe that it leads many to consider leaving the profession.

We conducted our survey through the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America and received 1944 responses from its roughly 8500 members. We found that almost every respondent had witnessed futile treatments, with 83.7% reporting that they had been asked to act against their conscience. The emotional toll can be severe, with 96.6% attributing negative feelings to these experiences, and over 80% reporting that they also had physical symptoms like fatigue and sleeplessness.

The distress experienced in encounters such as these doesn’t just affect mental health; it is a strong driver of attrition among VTs. In the veterinary field, which already faces a shortage of VTs, nearly 50% of VTs have considered quitting their jobs due to this issue.

The roots of moral distress lie in the moral conflict between what technicians feel is right and what they are asked to do, when those instructions are contrary to their feelings. Many VTs, like Sarah, believe in providing high-quality care and alleviating suffering. But when asked to extend treatments that don’t alter a pet’s prognosis, these VTs frequently experience an ethical and psychological dissonance that’s hard for them to reconcile.Hence, their moral distress.

Although some may argue that futile treatments benefit pet owners by providing them with more time, this reasoning doesn’t alleviate the psychological toll such treatments take on VTs. After all, the responsibility often falls on technicians to deliver these treatments, giving them a central role in providing futile treatment without adequate moral or organizational support.

Reforms are overdue to help VTs, and our findings suggest several pathways for reform.

First, creating open forums for discussions between VTs, veterinarians, and pet owners could foster greater understanding and reduce moral distress. Additionally, involving VTs in treatment planning could show added respect for their insights and help to reduce their feelings of disempowerment.

Furthermore, educational programs focusing on the ethical issues surrounding futile treatments might prepare VTs to handle these situations with greater resilience. By including this in their training, we might ensure that VTs are equipped with the tools they need to navigate the ethical challenges they seem bound to face while at work.

Veterinary medicine needs to address this issue holistically. Going forward, pet care should include care for veterinary staff, supporting their mental and emotional health as they strive to meet their professional obligations. From implementing peer support systems to initiatives focusing on burnout prevention, there’s an abiding need to prioritize the well-being of veterinary teams.

For VTs like Sarah to continue in the profession, and for new technicians to join the field, we must address the root causes of moral distress.

Our research offers a roadmap for change, targeting the very structure of how veterinary care is administered and supported. By acknowledging the challenges VTs face and working collectively toward solutions, we can foster a healthier and more sustainable environment for those who care for our beloved pets.

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It's time for the veterinary industry to consider the implications of our study and take meaningful steps. By valuing our VTs and addressing their moral concerns, we will not only improve their health and welfare but also improve outcomes for the pets they take care of as well as that of pet owners.

Nathan Peterson, DVM, MBE, DACVECC, is an Associate Clinical Professor in the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. He also recently graduated with a Master's degree in Bioethics from Harvard Medical School.