The unseen toll: Romanian veterinarians battle emotional exhaustion

Veterinarians in Romania are grappling with profound emotional exhaustion, a condition increasingly recognized in the field as compassion fatigue. This state goes beyond typical professional burnout, stemming from the daily immersion in animal suffering, high-stakes decision-making, and the inherent pressure of saving lives.

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We load ourselves up, we take it upon ourselves somehow. Why? Starting from the idea for which we chose this profession: to help.

Dr. Raluca Zvorășteanu, president of the Romanian Society of Oro-facial Surgery and Veterinary Dentistry, described the emotional toll. "We load ourselves up, we take it upon ourselves somehow. Why? Starting from the idea for which we chose this profession: to help," she explained. "I wanted to study medicine to help the little animals I loved. From cats, dogs, to mice, anything." This inherent desire to help, she noted, clashes with the reality of constant exposure to pain and the burden of difficult cases.

The emotional weight is amplified by situations of neglect or when animals arrive too late for treatment. "The pain is even greater knowing that the animal could have been helped on time and wasn't," Zvorășteanu stated. After 22 years in practice, she has witnessed the rapid advancement of veterinary medicine, with greater access to information and modern equipment. However, this progress has also increased workload and pressure, with work often continuing long after leaving the clinic, involving continuous research and consultations with colleagues.

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I wanted to study medicine to help the little animals I loved. From cats, dogs, to mice, anything.

Specialists in mental health define compassion fatigue as a specific form of emotional exhaustion resulting from constant exposure to the suffering of others. For veterinarians, it develops over time through repeated contact with sick or suffering animals, compounded by the emotional burden of difficult decisions. Unlike burnout, which is often linked to professional overwork, compassion fatigue is more subtle and harder to address, highlighting the urgent need for integrated therapy and psychological support within the veterinary system.

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The pain is even greater knowing that the animal could have been helped on time and wasn't.