My Story - How I Became a Veterinarian and Why I Chose End-of-Life Care

I wish I could say I always knew I wanted to be a veterinarian. What I did know is that I always wanted to help people. I knew I was a great student, excelled in sciences and loved animals. Veterinary medicine was a natural union of these strengths and interests. As soon as I decided this could be a path for me, I started volunteering at Anderson Animal Hospital in St. Boniface to get a sense of the veterinary world. I ended up being offered a part time job cleaning kennels a few months into volunteering, and eventually a position as a receptionist. During this time I was an undergraduate student at the University of Winnipeg. While volunteering and working in reception I learned the importance of customer care and forming relationships.

My White Coat Ceremony in my first month of veterinary school.

After three years of undergraduate education I was fortunate enough to be accepted into the Western College of Veterinary Medicine on my first application. My four years at the WCVM in Saskatoon were extremely memorable. While many hours were spent learning about cows, horses and pigs, there were also many learning about the species of my care – cats and dogs. My veterinary education also included honing communication skills, problem solving and learning how to cope with stressors.

I graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 2013 and began working, again, at Anderson Animal Hospital but this time as a veterinarian. I was able to really develop my skills and form many wonderful relationships with my patients and their families.

In February of 2017 my own cat, Tiger, was nearly 15 years old and starting to show signs of her age, especially with her arthritis. She also started to lose weight and vomit. At this point I needed to investigate further than a checkup to determine what was going on. She had some blood testing, urine testing, and an ultrasound of her belly. Unfortunately, it was evident the more common diseases of aging cats (kidney disease, hyperthyroidism and diabetes) had been ruled out. Her globulins (a type of protein) were through-the-roof high. I did additional blood testing which narrowed down her diagnosis to cancer, likely of the bone marrow. At this point I knew I did not want to pursue any more testing and chose to continue her care in a palliative matter. I focused on pain management and reducing the spread of her cancer.

My Tiger Cat

Little did I know at the time of her diagnosis, but I would also lose three close family members within 13 months (September 2016-October 2017).

One day Tiger started hiding from me. I would try to bring her out to sit with me, but she actively sought out places away from me. I knew at that point I was no longer keeping her around for her own life, but for mine. I needed to do the kind thing and let her pass peacefully. On October 3rd, 2017, with the help of some special coworkers, my husband and I said our final goodbyes to Tiger. She had only been with me since 2010, but she was my veterinary school buddy, she was my travel companion between Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and she had been part of some major life changes. Her loss created a huge void in my life. I would never have her snuggles again. Never feel her little paw graze my lips as I gave her little toe beans kisses. I would never again get to give her little chin some scritches. I could go on, and on, about all of the wonderful things about Tiger (and I’m sure one day I will!), but ultimately the pain I felt after losing her battled, if not exceeded, the pain I had from losing those close members of my family.

How is possible that a small creature who I knew would only have a life span a fraction of that of a human could have such a dramatic effect on my life? Why did my grief seem so much more intense for her than for a human I have loved my entire life? As many animal lovers know, this really is not that surprising. However, I do not think enough of our animal lovers know how normal it is to feel this way. How valid these feelings are.

I began to think. If I am feeling this way about my beloved kitty, many other pet families must be feeling the same way. I started to look into how I could make an impact for these families during their difficult times. How can I use my medical expertise, along with my desire to help people, to provide the very best care for my aging and dying patients and their families?

I reached out to a veterinarian I know who provides housecall end-of-life care in Florida. She told me about the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care. They had recently started a certification program and I had the opportunity to join the third class. I spent 16 months learning, studying and immersing myself in veterinary hospice and palliative care, euthanasia and communication. During this time I also welcomed the greatest joy in my life, my son. I graduated from the program in the fall of 2019, when he was only a few months old, as a Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Veterinarian. I am the first veterinarian in Manitoba with this certification.

While on maternity leave I had some time to reflect on my career and my future. I knew this was the time to develop a plan to create a service for Winnipeg companion animals where I could provide personalized care during the final phase of life. From this time of reflection, Sunset Veterinary Care was born.

During my time as a veterinarian, as a student of the IAAHPC and during development of Sunset Veterinary Care, maintaining the bond between people and their animals has always been my top priority. I want families to be able to honour the love with their furry family members, just as I was able to with Tiger.