AABP Executive Director Dr. Fred Gingrich is joined by Dr. Emily Singler, Veterinary Content Specialist for the American Animal Hospital Association and Certified Parental Leave Coach.

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Communication is important for veterinary practice owners and managers and parental leave is no exception. Singler discusses important considerations for parental leave and that policies should be gender neutral to address all family situations. We also discuss physical and mental health for expectant mothers and partners or spouses. Food animal veterinarians also have circumstances that may be different than companion animal veterinarians regarding medications used and dangers of working with large animals for expectant mothers. Other considerations include navigating fertility or pregnancy loss, adoption, and returning to work after parental leave.

Singler also is one of the investigators conducting a survey on parental leave in independently owned/non-corporate veterinary practices to determine the state of parental leave in veterinary practices. The survey is anonymous and secure. We encourage our listeners to participate in the survey to make sure large and mixed animal veterinarians are included in the data. The survey should take less than 10 minutes to complete and can be found at this link.

Find Dr. Singler’s book “Pregnancy and Postpartum Considerations for the Veterinary Team” on her website.