Where will 2026 take you? Exploring end-of-life care as a career path

For many veterinarians, career reflection intensifies at natural inflection points after several years in general practice, following time in emergency medicine, or during periods of sustained burnout. As the profession continues to grapple with workload strain, emotional fatigue, and workforce shortages, an increasing number of clinicians are asking a deeper question: What kind of veterinary medicine do I want to be practicing a year from now?

One path gaining visibility is end-of-life care (EOLC), a field encompassing hospice and palliative medicine (i.e., comfort care), in-home euthanasia, quality-of-life assessment, and family support. Once viewed as a narrow or late-career option, EOLC is increasingly recognized as a distinct, purpose-driven practice model that offers meaningful clinical work alongside a different pace and structure than traditional general practice (GP) or emergency room (ER) settings.

Why veterinarians are rethinking career longevity

Veterinary professionals are familiar with high emotional demand. However, the compounding effects of appointment density, time pressure, staffing challenges, and moral distress have led many clinicians to reconsider what sustainability looks like in practice. While compensation and scheduling matter, many veterinarians report that their dissatisfaction stems from something less tangible: a loss of connection–with clients, with patients, and with their own sense of purpose.

This sense of moral distress, particularly when clinicians feel unable to practice in alignment with their values, has been increasingly recognized as a key contributor to burnout and career dissatisfaction within the profession.1 Recent research highlights how repeated exposure to ethically challenging situations, time pressure, and constrained decision-making can erode professional well-being over time, even among highly resilient veterinarians.1

End-of-life care addresses this gap differently than most clinical roles. Rather than prioritizing volume or throughput, EOLC practices are intentionally structured to allow time: time for conversation, for informed decision-making, and for honoring the human-animal bond at its most vulnerable point.

What an EOLC role encompasses

Modern EOLC practice extends far beyond euthanasia alone. Depending on the organization and role, veterinarians may be involved in:

• Hospice and palliative care planning.
• Pain and symptom management.
• Quality-of-life assessments and decision support.
• In-home euthanasia and aftercare coordination.
• Client education and anticipatory guidance.
• Collaboration with referring general and specialty practices.
• Support for families navigating grief and loss.

This breadth allows clinicians to engage both their medical expertise and communication skills, often in deeper ways than are possible in fast-paced clinical environments.

A different pace and a different kind of connection

One of the most frequently cited benefits of transitioning into EOLC is the slower, more intentional pace of care. Appointments are longer, caseloads are smaller, and clinical success is not defined by diagnostics completed or treatments pursued, but by clarity, comfort, and compassion, both for the patients and the families who love them.

This structure fosters strong client relationships. Veterinarians practicing EOLC often describe a renewed sense of fulfillment that comes from being fully present with families, listening without interruption, and guiding them through emotionally complex decisions without urgency or pressure.

Work-life balance and professional sustainability

While no veterinary role is without emotional weight, EOLC practice is often associated with improved work-life balance. Many roles offer more predictable scheduling, fewer emergencies, and, to some degree, reduced physical demands compared with ER or high-volume GP settings. For some clinicians, this translates into the ability to remain in clinical practice longer and with greater personal well-being.

Importantly, EOLC is not an “easier” path, nor is it the right fit for every veterinarian. The work requires emotional presence, comfort with difficult conversations, and the ability to sit with grief without attempting to fix it.

Who tends to thrive in EOLC roles?

Veterinarians who find fulfillment in end-of-life care often share certain traits:

• High levels of empathy and emotional intelligence.
• Strong communication and listening skills.
• Comfort navigating ambiguity and complex family dynamics.
• A desire for depth over volume in clinical interactions.

These clinicians are frequently those who felt drawn to veterinary medicine for relational reasons but struggled to sustain that connection in traditional practice models.

Considering the transition

For veterinarians curious about EOLC, exploration does not require an immediate career leap. Shadowing experienced EOLC clinicians, pursuing continuing education in hospice or palliative care, and having candid conversations with professionals already working in the field can provide valuable insight.

Leaders within EOLC organizations, many of whom have supported dozens of veterinarians transitioning from GP and ER backgrounds, often emphasize the importance of reflection: understanding not only what is causing dissatisfaction in a current role, but what kind of work environment allows a clinician to feel effective, aligned, and whole.

Looking ahead

As 2026 continues, veterinary professionals across the spectrum are reassessing what they want their careers to look like in the years ahead. For some, end-of-life care offers a path that blends clinical skill, human connection, and sustainability in a way that feels both challenging and deeply meaningful.

Whether or not EOLC becomes the destination, the growing interest in this field reflects a broader shift within the profession toward practice models that prioritize presence, compassion, and longevity. For many veterinarians, that reflection alone may be the first step toward a more fulfilling future.

References

1. Kogan LR, Currin-McCulloch J, Littrell K, Brown E. Veterinary end-of-life mobile practitioners: Motivators, challenges, job fulfillment and burnout. Human-Animal Interactions. 2025;13(1):0018. doi:10.1079/hai.2025.0018