Every workplace has safety considerations. This veterinary hazards cartoon illustrates a potential challenge when vets care for pets.
Apparently, animal-inflicted injuries are only part of the hazards a veterinarian faces. Here is a list of the top five hazards veterinary staff face. The one that surprised me is back injuries. But of course, pets can be a squirming, uncooperative challenge. At least you wouldn’t have that problem with a piranha!
More Dangerous Than Law Enforcement?
An article from the US Department of Labor states that working in the veterinary field is more dangerous than working in law enforcement. I definitely didn’t know that when I drew this cartoon! Among the hazards veterinary staff face are:
- Radiation exposure
- chemical exposure
- And of course, animal restraint challenges
I now understand a charge our family faced a few years ago. We needed to board our cat for a few days while we moved. When I picked up the cat, I was surprised to find an aggressive pet charge. That surprised me since I knew the cat and I didn’t think she had an aggressive bone in her body.
But given the stressful situation for the cat, I can see now why that charge was on my bill. I’m pretty sure that cat’s teeth were as sharp as piranha’s fangs.
So I salute the many veterinary staff that faces challenges I never considered. May this veterinary hazards cartoon bring a little humor into a challenging, yet needed work environment.
Editor’s Note: I originally published this blog on October 6, 2015. I revamped and updated it for timeliness and comprehensiveness.
One reply on “Veterinary Hazards Cartoon”
Hi Kevin
I came across your brill toons on flickr and added a few to a Fathers Day gallery I created.
I’d like to invite you to join us over at the http://www.cartoonist-forum.com, it’s free and it’s fun!
Hope to see you there
Leah