How to deal with the end of life of a pet as a surgeon?

I was lucky enough to attend the AVMA Convention 2026 in Anaheim, California, a city known for a few things, and yes, Disney is one of them (though I'll admit I never made it past the parking lot). One of the things I got to do there was host a full day dedicated to podcasts: Veterinary Podcast Day, the first of its kind. It was a joy to bring together so many voices in our profession who are using this format to teach, connect, and just talk shop in a more human way. The Veterinary Surgery Podcast was one of the shows highlighted that day, and I had the chance to sit down with Dr. Ken Gorczyca for a conversation about end of life care, a topic that doesn't get nearly enough airtime in veterinary surgery circles, but touches every single one of us in practice. It was honest, a little heavy, and ultimately a conversation I think a lot of people needed to hear. You can find the video episode here: https://vimeo.com/1209703458/ff9d619656

The Veterinary Surgery Podcast is a first of its kind podcast that focuses on surgical advance in veterinary medicine with host Dr. Jolle Kirpensteijn. Jolle is a diplomate of the American and European Colleges of Veterinary Surgery and has lots of experience in veterinary surgery. Jolle will interview fellow surgeons, review articles that are recently published and will discuss 2 books he will be working on in the near future. You can also follow Jolle on his Global Veterinary Surgery Facebook or Instagram pages.