People are always surprised when I say I don't treat my own pets. But as a veterinary criticalist, I know how important it is to have emotional distance when making medical decisions-and that's just not possible with my own animals. When it's your pet, the stakes feel different. Every small change feels huge. Every decision feels personal. That kind of pressure doesn't lead to the best care. And let's be honest, l'm just as prone to spiraling and thinking the worst. So I hand the carrier to a trusted colleague-because loving them fiercely means knowing when to let someone else lead and take my helicopter mom ways elsewhere.