The Laughing Chameleon: Emotions in Veterinary Practice
Veterinary life moves quickly between joy and heartbreak. A reflection on emotional resilience, teamwork and why shared laughter helps us remain human in demanding clinical work.
“Laughter cleans the teeth,” says an African proverb — and I would add, “Laughter cleans the teeth and makes life a little lighter.”
In our daily work, we veterinarians constantly switch at high speed between moments of pure joy and moments of profound sadness. Often, after an unsuccessful resuscitation of a dog that has just been hit by a car — standing beside crying owners and traumatised children — we have barely enough time to wash our hands before moving on to the next consultation room, where the radiant faces of new puppy parents are waiting to celebrate the arrival of their newest family member with us.
At university, we are not taught this emotional obstacle course. In the first years of clinical work, we usually develop a routine of slipping quickly from one role into another. Either that — or we withdraw from clinical life altogether.
If we choose to stay, the chameleon is born. Since antiquity, the laughing and the crying mask have symbolised theatre and stage. I do not wear my scrubs only because they can easily be cleaned of blood and hair, but above all because they allow me to step consciously into my role as a veterinarian. I am still myself — but different.
In order not to lose touch with reality and not to feel as though I can switch between my emotions effortlessly and coldly, as if flicking through television channels in search of an interesting programme, I need my team. We all know those moments: brief flashes of dark humour; a shared sigh and clinking our muesli bars together; the colleague’s little anecdote about Mr Huber, who thought his new puppy was female — his exact words: “But she has nipples!” And the professional clarification that male dogs have nipples too — and that, as a man, so does he — did rather throw him off balance.
Sharing the everyday madness of clinic life binds a team together and makes all the difference on difficult days. Being able to laugh with my colleagues keeps me human and allows me, from time to time, to briefly take off the mask that is so incredibly useful for my work.
For me, laughter does not only clean the teeth — it cleans the soul as well.
Eva-Maria Grohsmann
Program Planning vet-webinar
Veterinary - Tarifa (Spain)