Wellbeing & Lifestyle

Our taste buds have been hijacked by super-sugary sweets. It's time to reclaim our palate with natural, real flavors. Before long you'll take a nibble of New York cheesecake and spit it out.

Does gender really matter when considering how veterinarians cope with responsibilities outside of practice?

DVM by day, jazz musician by night.

Stop unwrapping your meals. Learn how to eat better to feel better-even when your schedule is swamped.

Load up the fruits and veggies, break out the smoothie. It's time the win the Battle of the (Belly) Bulge one smoothie at a time.

Start your day off right with a healthy meal that feeds a veterinarian or two-or three.

Check out the latest offering from Veterinary Economics' Personal Wellness Editor.

Want to breed strong leaders at your practice? For best results, pair a seasoned pro with a promising prospect, according to a new study.

Take care of yourself so you can take care of your veterinary patients.

Dr. Griffith hired his son as his practice manager, and it's one of the best choices he made during the launch of his new clinic.

Keep your thoughts and actions positive to starve one of the practicing veterinarian's worst enemies.

See what the human-animal bond looks like-err, tastes like

This burned-out doctor found the pulse of his new practice in the heart of his hometown.

As a full-time practicing veterinarian with the typical type A personality, I havent given myself ample time over my 27 years to actually venture out -- to be adventurous.

Hit the road and have some fun. But instead of leaving your dog at home, check out one of these pooch-friendly destinations.

Turns out, pigs don't like 18-gauge needs-or the guy holding them

Just because you've never heard complaints doesn't mean everyone is happy. Find your fakes and listen to what your team has to say.

Summer vacations at veterinary clinics and everywhere else mean everyone pitches in to get the job done.

You show more compassion on a regular basis than professionals in almost any other industry. Were you prepared adequately to manage end-of-life care? See what your peers had to say.

Lack of respect between generations of doctors, longer hours with no breaks, and not enough time for family and rest could take its toll on equine practitioners.

This veterinarian's pot-bellied pig was a quick learner. Maybe a little too quick ...

I had to tackle this tough task sooner or later. Turns out it was later.

Your patients need you to be sharp for each appointment, so take these steps to make sure your mind is prepared to meet every challenge.

The effects of criticism are dependent on who is giving it – and your relationship to that person. Our world view and understanding is filtered through words. Of all the strategies which handle criticism effectively, the most important is to figure out accurately what the problem is. Be prepared to ask questions to clarify what is wanted or expected.

Charles Figley, PhD, who did the seminal research in the diagnosis and treatment of Compassion Fatigue, defined it in 1995 as: "A state of exhaustion and dysfunction (biologically, psychologically, and socially) as a result of prolonged exposure to compassion stress" (giving of yourself without a way of replenishing your energies and resources).

If a three-day weekend or short vacation isn't easing the stress of practice life, you may need more. Here's how one veterinarian found professional renewal through a two-month sabbatical.

Therapist Jill Cody shares top tips for stressed veterinarians and team members to loosen up, handle criticism with flair, and start focusing on what you value most.

Caffeine and sugar may get you through your day at the veterinary practice, but they won't get you to your happy place. Exercise your mind by exercising your body and your rights to healthy food.