from the bestselling author of  Bite Me: TELL-ALL TALES OF AN EMERGENCY VETERINARIAN
AN URGENT UPDATE!

Author/Veterinarian, Laura C. Lefkowitz warns
Veterinarians Are 
HIGH SUICIDE RISKS
Over 25% of Veterinarians Have Considered Suicide: 
It is a Growing Epidemic!
Laura C. Lefkowitz, bestselling Boise author and veterinarian, has issued a warning about the suicide rates among veterinarians, now double that of doctors and dentists and almost six times higher than the general population.
“It is distressing for me to hear that our suicide rate is climbing so significantly,” Lefkowitz says. “Most veterinarians I know are kind, extremely hard-working people, who have sacrificed a huge amount in order to be in a position to help animals and their owners.”
Lefkowitz has addressed this growing issue in her bestselling, non-fiction book “Bite Me: Tell-All Tales of an Emergency Veterinarian.” The book was written “so that the public could have a more realistic understanding of the daily stresses veterinarians experience,” 
Lefkowitz explains. “It is a high-stress, emotional environment that is the root cause of the suicide rate.”  Financial factors, such as pet owners’ choices to euthanize pets, when medically the pets could be saved, is an example of the emotional burden placed upon the veterinarian who must comply with pet owners’ wishes.  Other causes of the high suicide rate includes excessive education debts, long hours, unreasonable expectations of medical outcomes from owners, verbal abuse from clients, and an unrealistic expectation that family veterinarians should be available to them on evenings, weekends and holidays.
Lefkowitz offers some suggestions to pet owners:
• If you are unable to afford the recommended treatment do not become angry at your veterinarian for not providing the service at a lower price, and do not blame your veterinarian for the outcome. If they could continue to keep their business open and treat every animal at no cost, most veterinarians would.
• Cyberbullying is a real issue in the veterinary world.  Not every medical condition is treatable and some conditions require long-term care. Death or failure to respond to medical treatments are not the same as malpractice or neglect. Think carefully before blaming your veterinarian and writing a scathing review.
• Prepare for future medical problems in your pet by carrying pet insurance, or by obtaining credit through companies such as Care Credit that offer coverage for people as well as their pets. Veterinarians high debt-load from their credentialing, and limited income capacity––half that of physicians––limits their ability to offer in-house payment plans.
• Be respectful of your veterinarians time. Do not expect access to your veterinarian 24/7.  If your pet becomes sick in the evening commit yourself to traveling to the nearest emergency hospital for care rather than expecting your family vet to treat it after hours. If you have a veterinarian who is your neighbor or an acquaintance, do not inundate them for advice outside of their work place; too many people do this.
• Be cognizant that the cost of medical supplies and the drugs that veterinarians stock in their hospitals are similar to the prices in human medicine. The prices they charge are reflections of the costs that they incur. Veterinarians do not enter the profession to become wealthy. 
With over sixty percent of Americans owning pets, and over $61 billion dollars spent on pets each year, the issue of veterinary suicide is not one that can be swept away and should be addressed. 
READ/BUY THE BOOK NOW (FREE with Kindle Unlimited)
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WHY YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK
Reviews From Veterinarians and Readers
"5 stars  25/10 would recommend––and hug your vet! As a veterinarian,this book is a 128161938% accurate portrayal of the strains and victories we see everyday. The writing is fun and colorful, painting true, emotional,  sometimes hilarious and sometimes heart-wrenching pictures of her story. If you're thinking of becoming a veterinarian, already one or just love your veterinarian, this is an amazing book!" ~Rachel Gelber, DVM., January 10,  2019
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"5 stars. Amazing book, I learned a lot. I enjoyed this book  quite a bit. It was as informative as it was entertaining, as it was emotional. I like hearing the stories of people in this profession, as I wish to take on the career path when I am an adult. I highly recommend reading this if you are interested in the veterinary profession." ~ T. Kurt, January 27, 2019

 "Witty stories about caring for animals that delicately balance comedy and pathos"​​​​​​​ ~Kirkus Reviews

Reviews From More Verified Amazon Readers 
“I read at least 250 books a year and my all time favorite series are the James Harriot books starting with All Creatures Great and Small. This book is a close second...it made me laugh and cry with compassion and joy. Well-written with heartfelt love for animals that make all of our lives richer.” ~Peggy Burke
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“It was entertaining. It was moving. It was informative. It addressed philosophical questions and it was well written”  ~Luna Burg
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“A very realistic portrayal of the life of a vet, a real eye-opener to those who have an overly romantic view of the profession... a must-read for anyone thinking of becoming a Vet”  ~Mikey B
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“This book will give future veterinarians and pet owners a realistic and entertaining peek into the world of veterinary medicine.”     ~ Carla Johnson DVM

Laura C Lefkowitz has been a veterinarian for 20 years, practicing in the Boise area. In addition to authoring several books on veterinary medicine, she is also the founder of Gentle Goodbyes, providers of home euthanasia and cremation services in the Treasure Valley, Idaho area. You can learn more at www.GentleGoodbyes.com
Laura is available for interviews, books signings & talks, and public speaking events. Please contact William Gensburger: ph: (208) 274-5141 or william@Misterwriter.com to arrange.

MEDIA 
Press Release: December 2018
Books 'N Pieces Magazine: Dec 2018, February 2019
KTVB, Boise: Sept 2016: Common Medical Pet Procedures
Online Book Club: February 2016

READ/BUY THE BOOK NOW (FREE with Kindle Unlimited)
Bite Me:Tell-All Tales of an Emergency Veterinarian is available in Print & eBook format. 


Laura C. Lefkowitz, DVM.


Links of Interest Related to This Topic
• Washington Post - Suicides among veterinarians become a growing problem.
• NPR: Veterinarians have a high rate of suicide.
• NBC News: Veterinarians far more likely to die by suicide than other Americans, research shows​​​​​​​
• Time Magazine: Veterinarians Face Disproportionately High Suicide Rates, Study Says​​​​​​​
• National Institute of Health: Suicide in veterinary medicine: Let’s talk about it​​​​​​​



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