April 29 celebrates the noble profession of veterinarians and their efforts made towards the well-being of all our four-legged friends.
Honouring some of our local vet heroes, the Benoni City Times spoke to three dedicated veterinarians, Dr Olivia Forner, Dr Hannah Robertson and Dr Chrystel Conradie, of the North Rand Animal Hospital, in North Rand Road.
These three veterinarians play a critical role in supporting and maintaining the health of animals, large and small, in Benoni, Boksburg and other areas.
Dr Forner holds a BSc Veterinary Biology qualification from the University of Pretoria (2008) and a BVSc Veterinary Science from Onderstepoort (2012).
She is the co-owner of the Witfield North Rand Road and Glen Marais animal hospitals in partnership with Dr Conradie and previously worked at Bakenkop Animal Hospital and Grand Central Veterinary Hospital.
When Dr Forner is not at work, she enjoys cycling, hiking and outdoor adventure.
Her pet family consists of four dogs, three cats and a blue-fronted Amazon parrot.
Dr Robertson, who works also works at all three animal hospitals, is a qualified in BVSc Veterinary Science from Onderstepoort (2012).
Her hobbies include yoga and reading, in between taking care of and spending time with her two dogs, two cats and a rabbit.
Dr Conradie, who is the majority co-owner of the three practices, is a scrapbook lover and enjoys reading and travelling the world.
She has four adorable cats.
The three doctors shared that despite their long working hours, which often comes with emotional stress, they focus on maintaining a positive working environment and nurturing the passion they have for their profession.
“We see a variety of patients, from large dogs to tiny sugar gliders (a small, omnivorous, arboreal and nocturnal gliding possum).
“Our days are extremely diverse, including surgeries, dentistry, ophthalmology and much more.
“We pride ourselves on excellent patient care, quality client communication and putting our clients first,” they said.
Their message to young aspiring vets is: “ No other job will be as rewarding as this profession. The working hours and the emotional stress that comes with this profession is not for those lacking passion and commitment.”
Furthermore, a global animal health company, Zoetis South Africa encouraged pet owners to support the health and wellness of veterinarians.
“Many high-stress work environments are fast-paced, with long hours and heavy workloads.
“However, veterinary practices have the added pressure of making accurate diagnoses and treatment decisions, combined with the emotional aspects of the job, which can lead to high levels of stress and burnout,” said Dr Tarryn Dent, business unit lead: Companion Animals at Zoetis.
For example, veterinarians often deal with emotionally charged situations, such as terminally ill animals and grieving pet owners.
“In what other profession are individuals asked to make the difficult decision to recommend euthanising an animal?
“Not only can this be extremely emotionally taxing, but we’ve seen how repeated exposure to euthanasia and death can lead to feelings of guilt, sadness and even depression.
“The emotional energy it takes caring for feline and canine patients that are integral to family homes can also lead to compassion fatigue.
“These experiences can take a toll on the mental well-being of veterinarians, making it essential for them to maintain a healthy mental state to cope with these demands.
“In light of this, we encourage pet owners to support their veterinarians as well,” she said concluded.
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