The new normal in veterinary medicine

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hear you but my complaint is my vet does things without consulting me first. Like my cat is 10 years old and they did a senior panel which cost over $400. I don't think that is necessary and I would appreciate a chance to say no. Or if I say do not give my dog the flu shot because he doesn't go to day care or dog parks and they do it anyway...just for the $$$. Lastly, maybe dog needs pozac and I had one vet give me the generic my other vet gave me the more expensive one.
So I hear you but you should change too and listen to your clients.

How are they getting payment for things you didn’t authorize?

I am sitting right there and they start doing the procedure while handing me the bill. They make it sound absolutely necessary so force me to pay

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hear you but my complaint is my vet does things without consulting me first. Like my cat is 10 years old and they did a senior panel which cost over $400. I don't think that is necessary and I would appreciate a chance to say no. Or if I say do not give my dog the flu shot because he doesn't go to day care or dog parks and they do it anyway...just for the $$$. Lastly, maybe dog needs pozac and I had one vet give me the generic my other vet gave me the more expensive one.
So I hear you but you should change too and listen to your clients.

You should consider a new vet. Mine is obsessive about going over every single cost before doing things. When I go for a visit the tech always brings me an estimated invoice, printed out, before the vet comes in. And if there is any, no matter how small, mistake or difference on the estimate, they run back and get it reprinted.

Believe me, I am!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look. I'm sympathetic to ALL of the things that you say. To a point. And I know you're running a business.

But. Like with medical care, you are in the business of dealing with the health of our family members. We love them. Are nervous when they are ill. And we have stress when they are sick, are dealing with VERY HIGH vet bills, as well as the "new normal" of waiting to get in and be seen. I, for one, try to be patient and reasonable but you all have to understand the emotion in this. Watching your pet be sick, suffer, etc. and having to choose between the sonogram, the biopsy, the expensive prescriptions, or doing nothing at the pet's expense. . . . It can be traumatic if you cannot afford it. If you cannot get them in to be seen. While people should not be rude to you, and show a bit more understanding, part of YOUR job is understanding this dynamic. And showing a little grace yourself.

Additionally, while I understand that you as an individual do not control the number of vet schools and all of the factors that have led to this situation, you have more influence/power than your clients do. It's past time that the vets and industry start making the appropriate adjustments to change what is happening. You do continuing education. Go to conferences. Network. Etc. (I know this as my own wonderful vet and I have talked about this). That is where those changes are going to be discussed and initiated.

So, please. I get that there is some element of truth in your rant (and that's what it was, it wasn't a gentle PSA) your story is not the whole story. And your "throwing my hands up in resignation" excuses is not reasonable.

Beyond obnoxious and nasty.

My vet is on the verge of retiring and he's not raking in the money, despite being entirely inundated with calls. He's extremely stressed out, and a bit depressed over the way vets are both squeezed by management and squeezed by rude clients who understand nothing, like you. He never pushes any expensive procedures, and takes a rational approach to care, which is why I love him.

Just crawl back into your hole. When someone tells you they are stressed, believe them. That might reduce the number of suicides.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious about the high suicide rate? Why?


I think people today have more pets, and want to treat them more like humans than we did in the past. That probably puts more stress on the system, but other than not having enough vets, what else could be contributing to this problem?

High stress job + easy access to drugs used for euthanasia. Most veterinarians who commit suicide die by using the same drug they use to put animals down. Having protocol in place to prevent an individual vet from accessing euthanasia drugs without a second person signing off can save lives.

How awful. This sort of like having easy access to a gun!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you can control basic visit fees. My last vet (we moved far away) charged $65 per visit and then increased it to $75 which is a huge difference, especially when a visit is for a shot and lasts all of 5 minutes and the vet doesn't even deal with the pet, it's a technician.

If $10 is breaking you please don’t take on the responsibility of a pet.

[Anonymous]

There are really few vet schools in this country. There’s only 32 in the whole country. We do need more vets, and maybe the dog food companies etc. should be subsiding more loan repayment programs so that they keep a supply of customers.

[Anonymous]

For those discussing the limited number of veterinary schools, Rowan University in NJ is opening a new one. I agree that there are way too few.

[Anonymous]

I have been to six different veterinary practices in the last six months, because we have had two dogs die of cancer at 15 and 10 and got a new puppy during that time. Our regular vet, the longtime oncologist for the first dog, a different oncologist for the second dog because the cancer developed so fast that we were trying to get her seen as soon as possible, a radiation oncologist because that was the best course of action for the second dog, the neighborhood practice around the corner for the puppy’s initial shots because our regular vet is across town, and an emergency vet three hours from here when we were out of town. Every experience has been amazing and I want to tell OP that there are so many great vets and techs out there that are doing an incredible job under really difficult circumstances. ❤️🐾

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Vet here....I am going to write this as compassionately and realistically as possible.

Your vet's office is slammed. More pets. Decreased number of vets because many older ones retired during the pandemic. Some offices closed entirely. Decreased staffing - huge shortage of veterinary technicians and assistants. Increased negativity from clients. Corporate ownership of many practices, so the vet has NO CONTROL over prices. Vets leaving the field because of dissatisfaction. Crippling educational debt (often over 120K). High suicide rates. Long waits for annual exam appointments - sometimes 4 weeks or more. Sick visits are often scheduled only that morning - just like at your doctors office - or you may be sent to an ER/Urgent care facility.

These are the facts. The new normal. You cannot just walk in an expect to be seen. You cannot call and expect them to fit you in around your schedule. Those days are gone. When I walk into work every day, my schedule is booked from start to finish and I have to be very creative to squeeze in the extras that I know need to be seen. I have not taken an actual lunch break in years. I eat at my desk between appointments - if I get to eat.

So, when people complain about prices or not being able to be seen, this is why.

Your vet's office is working their tails off. Have some compassion and appreciate them.

That debt is pretty normal and not crippling if you make the right lifestyle choices and pay it off. Many jobs don’t get lunch breaks and they are paid much less. You choose this profession. You can choose another.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you can control basic visit fees. My last vet (we moved far away) charged $65 per visit and then increased it to $75 which is a huge difference, especially when a visit is for a shot and lasts all of 5 minutes and the vet doesn't even deal with the pet, it's a technician.

Go to a shot clinic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vet here....I am going to write this as compassionately and realistically as possible.

Your vet's office is slammed. More pets. Decreased number of vets because many older ones retired during the pandemic. Some offices closed entirely. Decreased staffing - huge shortage of veterinary technicians and assistants. Increased negativity from clients. Corporate ownership of many practices, so the vet has NO CONTROL over prices. Vets leaving the field because of dissatisfaction. Crippling educational debt (often over 120K). High suicide rates. Long waits for annual exam appointments - sometimes 4 weeks or more. Sick visits are often scheduled only that morning - just like at your doctors office - or you may be sent to an ER/Urgent care facility.

These are the facts. The new normal. You cannot just walk in an expect to be seen. You cannot call and expect them to fit you in around your schedule. Those days are gone. When I walk into work every day, my schedule is booked from start to finish and I have to be very creative to squeeze in the extras that I know need to be seen. I have not taken an actual lunch break in years. I eat at my desk between appointments - if I get to eat.

So, when people complain about prices or not being able to be seen, this is why.

Your vet's office is working their tails off. Have some compassion and appreciate them.

my daughter had outstanding GPS from a science program at Virginia Tech. She was rejected 2 years in a row from 5 different Vet schools.

You get no sympathy. You and your ilk created this issue by limiting the number of Vets

I work in the veterinary realm, and have worked closely with veterinarians for 20+ years. Did your daughter do anything other than attend classes? Did she in a vet clinic, or with the research animals at her school? The days of just having a good GPA and high GRE score are gone — thankfully. I’ve worked with so many vets that should not be vets. Now you really need to have worked with animals to get in to vet school. They want to make sure the person knows what they would be dealing with as a vet. Just because you love animals doesn’t mean a career in veterinary medicine is for you. Prove to the vet schools that you’ve tested the waters.

[Anonymous]

OP here. This is not the way the profession was when I chose it thirty years ago.

Your compassion is overwhelming. Thank you for your understanding.

[Anonymous]

OP, thanks for sharing.

My daughter was pre-vet and worked P/T in various offices/kennels/practices/shops throughout college for the experience she knew she would need. One (upscale) vet kept a keg in the backroom, another vet was an alcoholic, the large number of abandoned and neglected animals dropped off at all facilities was heart wrenching, and there's more. In the end, she switched her major and focus. Yes, she brought home one of the animals early on, nursed her back to health, and she continues to be a loving member of the pack.

Agree, it's a costly education with a low ROI. Healthcare is an issue. Any ideas what could change the situation?

[Anonymous]

No profession is the same from 30 years ago. Get your own practice and you can control it how you want to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. This is not the way the profession was when I chose it thirty years ago.

Your compassion is overwhelming. Thank you for your understanding.

do
Compassion from DCUM? The odds are never in your favor on that one.

I wrote a note thanking my vet for their diligence during covid and they practically cried.

I think self care is the only option. Whatever you can do to cut back your hours do it. My old vet was working 7 days a week. Its not sustainable.

(((hugs)))