Pet Pro Burnout: Three Causes of It, Three Ways to Prevent It Before It’s Too Late

“When I had to give myself a full half-hour pep talk every morning just to go to work, I knew I couldn’t do it anymore,” said Dr. Caren Carney (now the founder of Holiday Vet Relief Veterinary Staffing) about working as a veterinarian at an emergency pet hospital. “Helping animals had been my dream since I was 7.”

Have you ever been so tired that you feel it in your bones?

It’s not the type of exhaustion that goes away with a bubble bath or a weekend of binge-watching reality television. You’re overwhelmed, resentful, and your soul is weary.

This fatigue isn’t just happening in the veterinary space. The relentless pressure to be “always on” for retailers and customers means burnout is becoming the norm in too many pet businesses.

Sales reps are stretched thin, customer service teams are overwhelmed, and leadership is so busy putting out fires that no one’s stopping to check if the whole pack’s about to collapse. If you work in or lead a team in the pet industry, chances are you or someone you know has experienced burnout (or may very well be headed towards it).

It doesn’t have to be this way. There are steps you can take to protect yourself and your team from burnout.

What is burnout? The World Health Organization defines “burnout” as an “occupational phenomenon – a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.”

However, studies show most burnout isn’t strictly about the job — it’s about blurred lines between work and life. And if there’s one industry where those lines vanish fast, it’s the pet industry.

After all, there’s no more powerful driver than saying, “But it’s for the animals!”

The situation is even more dire when you’re running a small business and the brunt of the work (if not all) falls on you.

Individuals suffering from burnout will exhibit physical and behavioral changes, emotional shifts, and a decline in their overall performance. If not addressed, they will eventually “break” under the pressure. They may experience a health crisis (physical or mental) that requires them to take extended periods off, or they may quit, wandering off in search of greener (less stressful) pastures.

Although unintentional, three extremely common behaviors put you and your team at risk of burning out.

1. Unmanageable Workloads and “Always On” Expectations

Whether you’re manufacturing, delivering or selling products, or on the front lines, providing services for furry, feathery or scaly clientele… there’s a lot of work to do!

The problem arises when you (or your employees) have more on your plate than you can realistically handle.

When Jill Dreztka opened Work & Woof, a doggy daycare and co-working facility in Austin, Texas, she was:

• Managing employees and stepping in for them during sick days and vacations.
• “Doing it all” – marketing, being the maintenance staff, making dog treats from scratch and everything else that needed to be done.
• Handling client retention – When she didn’t see or hear from a client for three months, she’d reach out to see if everything was OK.

Sound familiar? It’s challenging to avoid “wearing all the collars” when you’re first starting a business. However, operating in that manner isn’t sustainable and can be downright dangerous for you and your business.

To make matters worse, the founder or leader of an organization sets the tone for all of the employees. When emails are sent at 2 am, or vacation days forfeited because “there’s just too much to do,” team members will sacrifice their personal lives and well-being to prove their loyalty.

2. Lack of Role Clarity

While this can happen in any organization, small to medium-sized businesses are particularly vulnerable to a lack of role clarity. After all, when you have only a handful of employees, your bookkeeper may also be serving as the janitor, the social media manager, or coordinating a late shipment for a cranky retailer. With too many responsibilities, employees tend to become frustrated and disengaged.

3. Failure to Address Emotional and Mental Load

Businesses in the pet industry face the same stressors as other industries… plus some. Trade show season, supplier issues and demanding customers can wear anyone down. Add in the “paws on the ground” animal welfare organizations, such as veterinary medicine, grooming, day care and pet rescue, and you’ve got a recipe for compassion fatigue and emotional burnout.

“I reached a tipping point last year after I coordinated emergency transports for 47 rescue pets in a single week. The guilt I felt by saying “no” to even one animal was overwhelming; that was until my entire team came close to quitting from exhaustion,” said Deepak Shukla, CEO of Vets Lets Travel.

When your workplace culture says “grin and fetch it” instead of creating space for people to decompress and speak up, stress quietly piles up until it explodes.

“The changeover? When we stopped elevating excessive work, we saw a 65% increase in retention,” said Shukla. “Success is now determined by long-term effects rather than just saving animals.”

If you see any of these “danger behaviors” in your business, it’s not too late to make a change.

All is not lost. Here are three ways to prevent burnout.

1. Set Clear Boundaries Around Time and Communication

Whether you have a storefront or an online shop, you need clear ‘on’ and ‘off’ hours for yourself and your team.

“There are times you have to choose where to put your energy. Especially when it’s a mom-and-pop business. You give up a lot of external things to keep it alive,” says Kellie Jones, owner (and chief baker) at Mooch’s Munchies. “And sometimes when push comes to shove, you have to put a sign on the door that says we will be back tomorrow.”

2. Clarify Roles and Priorities, and Delegate

A well-trained pack runs smoother when everyone knows their job. Tighten job descriptions, clarify what each role is responsible for, and when necessary, delegate or automate.

“In the beginning, I was working all the routes, rain, snow, holidays, you name it. The emotional exhaustion of never resting and its physical grind added up quickly. The biggest contributor? A mentality that I had to do everything to be successful.

What made a difference instead was hiring help and defining boundaries. I began viewing rest as a responsibility, not a reward. Delegation wasn’t a matter of scaling; it was a matter of survival.” Joseph Lopez, owner of Number 2 Club, a luxury pet waste removal service in Arizona.

As part of her burnout prevention strategy, Dretzka of Work and Woof learned to set boundaries and protect her time. “I hired a professional pooper scooper, towel washing service, etc. Little things like this can give you a lot of time back.”

3. Normalize Conversations About Burnout

Burnout isn’t going away. You can cross your paws and hope it doesn’t exist in your life or your organization, but it does.

“Make time for intentional conversations. Don’t avoid them—we all see it, we feel it. Burnout isn’t subtle. And no amount of pizza, donuts, or Chick-fil-A can fix that kind of pain. Be real. Be transparent. Be open to change. Most importantly, let your team take the lead. They already know what they need—you just have to ask, and actively listen.” – Charlotte Weir, VP Hospital Success & Industry Relations at Roo.

Regardless of the job you do, your employees (and you!) need to be your top priority. Burnout isn’t just bad for your people — it’s bad for business. Set clear boundaries, clarify roles, and build a culture where it’s safe to speak up. Your team (and your bottom line) will be better for it.

You wouldn’t work a dog to exhaustion, so why would you do it to yourself or your people?

Sheryl Green is a speaker, author and workplace culture consultant who helps pet industry leaders sniff out healthier boundaries, curb burnout, and keep their best people from bolting out the door. She’s the author of You Had Me at No and leads workshops that help teams work like a well-trained pack.