Being the Person Your Pet Thinks You Are with Dr. Amy Grimm

About this episode

Debra Hamilton and Dr. Amy Grimm discuss the impact of pets on our nervous systems and the importance of self-compassion in veterinary medicine.

In this episode of Why Do Pets Matter, I sit down with Dr. Amy Grimm, veterinarian and founder of Daring DVM Coaching, for a heartfelt conversation about burnout, nervous system health, and the human animal bond. Amy shares how our pets literally help regulate our nervous systems, why that sense of calm and belonging matters so much, and how we can bring the same compassion we offer our animals back to ourselves. We talk about perfectionism in veterinary medicine, clients who arrive in survival mode, and what happens in the exam room when everyone’s stress is running the show. Amy offers practical, grounded tools like micro breaks, simple grounding rituals, and self compassion so veterinarians and pet professionals can show up as anchors instead of adversaries. If you have ever beaten yourself up after a hard appointment, wondered how to repair a rough conversation, or needed a reminder that you are more than your worst day, this episode is for you. Watch It: https://youtu.be/9rc3y-FDGoc Guest Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daringdvm https://daringdvm.com/ Show Links: https://hamiltonlawandmediation.com/ https://www.facebook.com/HLawMediation Debra's Book: "Nipped in the Bud…

People in this episode

Host: Debra Hamilton, Esq.

Guest: Dr. Amy Grimm

Topics covered

• burnout
• nervous system health
• human animal bond
• veterinary medicine
• self compassion
• stress management

Keywords

• burnout
• nervous system
• human animal bond
• veterinary medicine
• self compassion
• stress
• micro breaks

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Daring DVM Coaching

Books & works: Nipped in the Bud, Not in the Butt: How to Use Mediation To Resolve Conflicts Over Animals

More episodes of Why Do Pets Matter? Hosted by Debra Hamilton, Esq.

• The intersection of animal welfare and human relationships · May 9, 2026 · 40 min
• Ask Mambo · April 24, 2026 · 32 min
• When Environmental Law Meets Animal Law: The Case of the Million-Dollar Horses · April 10, 2026 · 40 min
• Mediation, Man's Best Friend & Breaking Impasse · April 3, 2026 · 33 min
• From Exam Room to Trail Ride: Leadership, Boundaries, and the Human–Animal Bond with Stith Keiser · March 19, 2026 · 38 min
• Living On Purpose (With a Corgi): Belief, Biology, and Behavior with Jim Bishop · March 5, 2026 · 44 min