Veterinary Wellness Briefs: How to Avoid Absorbing Your Clients’ Emotions

This article originally appeared in the Summer 2026 issue of EquiManagement. Sign up here for a FREE subscription to EquiManagement’s quarterly digital or print magazine and any special issues.

Veterinarians are often confronted during work with a gamut of client emotions, ranging from grief to outrage. Sometimes they rail against the unfairness of it all or blame you or others in their anger. When a case is serious, denial can occur. Most equine doctors have been faced with a suffering horse owned by a client who will not consent to euthanasia: The recumbent laminitic horse whose coffin bones have penetrated the soles. The colicky horse with ­magenta-colored mucous membranes and a heart rate of 100. Being able to regulate your emotions in these situations can help protect your mental health.

The Science Behind Emotions

Emotions are contagious. “When we consciously or unconsciously detect someone else’s emotions through their actions, our mirror neurons reproduce those emotions,” wrote psychologist and author Daniel Goleman, PhD. It is no wonder we tear up at the sight of a client’s sadness or find ourselves wanting to react with anger to a horse owner blaming us for their horse’s condition. Understanding why this happens can encourage us to notice, acknowledge, and process these shared emotions, then recalibrate.

The science behind this effect is fascinating. The biological underpinning for emotional intelligence involves mirror neurons that reproduce emotions detected subconsciously in others. Mirror neurons are brain cells that respond equally whether we perform an action or witness someone else performing that action. These spindle cells trigger neural networks that rapidly transmit thoughts, emotions, beliefs, and judgments that constitute our social guidance system. 

How Veterinarians Can Regulate Emotions

Regulating emotions as a veterinarian involves building our emotional intelligence through self-awareness, practicing active mindfulness, and using structured coping mechanisms to manage compassion fatigue and high-stress scenarios. These strategies could include daily journaling, breathing techniques, setting boundaries, and practicing reflective listening to process difficult cases.

“The ability to manage emotional ups and downs may be just as crucial to veterinarians’ career longevity and well-­being as the ability to effectively execute the technical dimensions of their work,” wrote David Hannah and Kirsten Robertson in their paper on emotional regulation in veterinary work. They learned through their research that vets who were able to stay in their comfort zones (their personal preferences for feeling and expressing emotion) during emotionally intense tasks could execute the required tasks effectively, avoid burnout, and achieve authenticity from experiencing genuine emotion. 

Many doctors recognize when a day is likely to challenge their comfort zones. For example, fatigue can make it difficult for some to stay at their preferred emotional “depth.” Certain patients, clients, or situations can pull a veterinarian out of their comfort zone and deeper into emotion, such as euthanizing a horse with which they have had a long-standing relationship. This self-awareness can be essential for coping with emotionally challenging situations. 

Routines surrounding emotionally stressful tasks can help smooth emotions. For instance, with euthanasia, a routine of drawing up the needed drugs and supplies, then explaining the process to the owner, can help the practitioner transition into their comfort zone through familiarity. Afterward, many veterinarians make a habit of collecting tail hair for the owner or reminiscing about the horse’s life for a few minutes. Back in the office, doctors might write a sympathy card or make a donation to an equine charity. 

Final Thoughts

Awareness of mirror neurons and your emotional comfort zone can help you regulate your emotions and develop routines to smooth stressful work tasks. 

Related Reading

• Veterinary Wellness Briefs: Mental Health Resources for Veterinarians
• Veterinary Wellness Briefs: Are You Reactive or Proactive?
• Veterinary Wellness Briefs: Tips for Managing Anxiety

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