Orlando vet explains why the suicide rate among veterinarians is ‘sky high’

ORLANDO, Fla. — Being a veterinarian is taking its toll on workers nationwide.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said one in every six vets has considered suicide.

Lisa Taylor works at the Orlando VCA Animal Hospitals. She has been a veterinarian for 11 years.

She said her profession had brought her many joys and pains; recently, her pains are not patient-related.

“There’s a huge national issue with a shortage of veterinarians,” Taylor said. “Veterinarian suicide rates are skyrocketing,”

Photos: New Wedgefield Dog Park now open in Orange County

More and more professionals are turning away from being veterinarians.

According to the CDC, veterinarians are more likely to die by suicide than any other profession.

The study also found veterinarians are twice as likely to die by suicide as the general population.

“It’s rough,” Taylor said. “We’ve been trying to hire since October,”

Read: Huge flying reptiles zoomed through Australian skies 107 million years ago

Experts said the high suicide rate is likely due to several factors, including the stress of the job and the long hours, which impacts patient care.

“There could be a 10 to 14-day wait to get in to see your veterinarians,” she said. “We are also seeing six-plus hour waits at ER.”

Financial strain is another reason caused by the pandemic.

What was once a male-dominated field is now more than 70% female.

Read: NASA talks UFOs with public ahead of final report on unidentified flying objects

“A lot of veterinarians who are also mothers had to cut back,” Taylor said. “Some of them left the field entirely.”

Veterinarians also face unique challenges, such as having to euthanize animals and dealing with the emotional pain of pet owners.

“I would caution people that veterinarians aren’t so much anymore,” she said.

VIDEO: Orlando vet explains why the suicide rate among veterinarians is 'sky high'

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

©2023 Cox Media Group