Pets or companion animals are very important parts of families and integrating psychology in the profession can really augment the way veterinary medicine is practiced, and can benefit from maintaining strong relationships with pet parents. While providing healthcare to an animal, vets always have to work with the pet parents’ emotions and reactions and establishing effective communication and trust with them is half the job. Vets can train them on the management of diseases or end-of-life care etc. Noting the importance of psychology in the veterinary profession is crucial as it can truly resolve the conflict and stress vets often face with the relationship they share with guardians.
If you are interested in studying veterinary medicine and eventually join a school of veterinary medicine, then read this article to understand how important it is for a vet to be psychology prepared to do their best in this noble profession.
It must be remembered that vets work under tremendously stressful situations which also contributes to moral stress. Guardians of companion animals do not always have the medical competence or understanding of treating these animals ethically, and they lead to conflicted issues sometimes, such as ‘convenience euthanasia’. Such issues could arise from moral dilemmas and psychological reactions more than others. Sometimes health decisions for animals also get affected by the financial condition of the family – – an entire scenario of handling stressful situations and making difficult decisions.
So, why does psychology matter in veterinary medicine? What role does it play?
The first and foremost concept is to bring awareness and recognition among pet owners about the skills and responsibilities they need to fulfill on a regular basis to keep their pets healthy and thriving. One of the most important aspects of this is preventative health care which has a profound influence on maintaining good health and management of illnesses in animals. Pet parents are suggested to try out different methods – similar to ones practiced on human patients, and they are visual reminders. Often visual calendar reminders are given to patients to remember doing self-breast exams and the likes. Similar medical checkups can be visual reminders or calendar stickers can also be very efficient for the health care of pets – like remembering to get their heartworm medication, grooming etc.
Psychology focuses on how veterinarians can learn and benefit from the subject regarding understanding the psychology of human clients and their animal companions. The journey is not seamless but it makes veterinarians help make good decisions while taking specifically stressful situations like dealing with chronic illnesses. This profession is highly collaborative and has an interdisciplinary take on animal health care and medication to better heights.
Join a veterinary program today to create positive changes as you join the medical profession.
