The new normal in veterinary medicine

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When many of us were young, did you pets have an annual exam?

The pet insurance companies demand an annual exam. Otherwise I would not take my unhappy cats to the vets without them being sick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I understand that the cost of providing all medical care is significant and veterinary care is no exception. I do believe that the veterinarians are doing the best they can so this is not directed at them ...
But the fact is that there are thousands upon thousands of animals (dogs and cats primarily) that are in desperate need of homes. The "adopt/save" movement is strong. I would honestly have 2 or 3 dogs but I can barely afford veterinary care for the one I have and it is the medical care costs that are preventing me from giving more animals their forever homes.

The adoption industry is a scam.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Not PP not do I think OP is responsible for the shortage of vet schools. PP mad about her daughter needs to chill on this person. But the point is a real one. BFF is a vet, went to college w degree in bio, graduated 3.9 GPA, applied and got in nowhere, went to grad school for animal husbandry Purely to be accepted to get school, and was. Not everyone can do that. People with families, lives, poverty, etc. your note above reeks of privelege and the notion that when an industry is in short supply people need to break their backs to get into training.

Huh? I’m the pp you quoted. I never said go get a second degree. They need real life experience. That was my point. There are plenty of hands-on jobs where aspiring vets can get this experience…most come with benefits. Do a year or two, put it on your resume, then you get into vet school. I’ve seen it work dozens of times.

[Anonymous]

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?

I haven’t googled it for you , but if you are curious enough, there are a bunch of articles out there about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for posting this. We have a close family friend who is a veterinarian and committed suicide, so it hits close to home.

What I have learned is to figure out which animal hospitals are the best/closest (maybe ask your vet) and get same day/emergency care there.

Thanks for all you do, OP. It’s a calling to care for animals. An expensive and thankless calling. But we’d be lost without you.

What about being a vet makes then commit suicide? Other jobs are more stressful

I’m what other job are you euthanizing living creatures daily? That takes a toll.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Yep. It does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Yep. It does.

I’m so sorry.

[Anonymous]

OP, thank you for your post. My dd has been a vet tech for 10 years and is passionate about her career and each pet she cares for. I understand from her some of the difficulties all are facing in the field but never know how to explain it to others. I'm shocked at many people's behavior and attitude towards vet staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand that the cost of providing all medical care is significant and veterinary care is no exception. I do believe that the veterinarians are doing the best they can so this is not directed at them ...
But the fact is that there are thousands upon thousands of animals (dogs and cats primarily) that are in desperate need of homes. The "adopt/save" movement is strong. I would honestly have 2 or 3 dogs but I can barely afford veterinary care for the one I have and it is the medical care costs that are preventing me from giving more animals their forever homes.

The adoption industry is a scam.

It's really not. Those people are dedicated and work VERY hard. ANd have to deal with the imbeciles who return or dump pets for all manner of dumb reasons. They are trying, imperfectly, to get people to honor their responsibilities and to make good placements. And most are on the fringes in terms of finances b/c they rely on donations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

What's nasty? EVERYTHING I said was true. Everything. Even my own vet acknowledges the problems. I get the stress and I believe them. But, that has nothing to do with the rest of my post. So screw you and YOUR nastiness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand that the cost of providing all medical care is significant and veterinary care is no exception. I do believe that the veterinarians are doing the best they can so this is not directed at them ...
But the fact is that there are thousands upon thousands of animals (dogs and cats primarily) that are in desperate need of homes. The "adopt/save" movement is strong. I would honestly have 2 or 3 dogs but I can barely afford veterinary care for the one I have and it is the medical care costs that are preventing me from giving more animals their forever homes.

The adoption industry is a scam.

It's really not. Those people are dedicated and work VERY hard. ANd have to deal with the imbeciles who return or dump pets for all manner of dumb reasons. They are trying, imperfectly, to get people to honor their responsibilities and to make good placements. And most are on the fringes in terms of finances b/c they rely on donations.

Most rescues are not truthful about the dogs needs or behaviors. They also need to make it much harder to get rid of pets. It’s a business.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand that the cost of providing all medical care is significant and veterinary care is no exception. I do believe that the veterinarians are doing the best they can so this is not directed at them ...
But the fact is that there are thousands upon thousands of animals (dogs and cats primarily) that are in desperate need of homes. The "adopt/save" movement is strong. I would honestly have 2 or 3 dogs but I can barely afford veterinary care for the one I have and it is the medical care costs that are preventing me from giving more animals their forever homes.

The adoption industry is a scam.

It's really not. Those people are dedicated and work VERY hard. ANd have to deal with the imbeciles who return or dump pets for all manner of dumb reasons. They are trying, imperfectly, to get people to honor their responsibilities and to make good placements. And most are on the fringes in terms of finances b/c they rely on donations.

Most rescues are not truthful about the dogs needs or behaviors. They also need to make it much harder to get rid of pets. It’s a business.

It’s a double edged sword. If you make it harder to surrender a pet to a rescue to be rehomed, some people will be more responsible about adopting in the first place, but there will also be more people who will rid themselves of unwanted pets in very cruel ways. Giving them away to unvetted homes, where they end up used in dog fighting. Dumping them on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. Letting them die of starvation and neglect. Outright killing them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - other jobs may be more stressful, but we have access to the drugs. We also have to be happy for the new puppy owners, sad for the ones who we are putting to sleep, in debt to our eyeballs because of our education, yelled at by the public because we aren't giving away free vet care because we love animals...check out "Not One More Vet"...

And truth be told, we don't need more vets. We need to figure out why vets are leaving the field in droves right now. You don't fill a leaking mug with more water, you find the source of the leak and stop the loss....if we just have a bunch of green vets out there, patient care will suffer. We need the seasoned vets to help mentor, teach, etc...

They don't teach us psychology in vet school. They used to have a very short course on practice management, when a year long course is what is needed. Corporate ownership has changed the game....the people doing the work are not the ones making the money. And the corporations are constantly trying to figure out how to squeeze more and more $$ out of every practice.

I am lucky I am on the down side....closer to retirement....

Ok, sorry OP. You lost my sympathy here. BFF of vet here. She’s a shelter vet so I get everything you’re saying. But she has more debt than anyone I know because she had to get 2 degrees to get into the training. High career barriers make it better for those inside for a while, then it’s painful when people leave. You’ve started by saying there’s a vet shortage so don’t be mad at the vet and I agree 100%. But you don’t want more vets? And green vets will hurt patients? You know what, I’m happy to have a well-trained new vet looking after my dog. Doing their surgeries? I’d want a specialist with developed expertise. But everyone’s got to start somewhere. I can’t stand when people in a profession close the door behind them and suggest the newcombers can’t possibly be as talented as their generation.

+1 You do not think we need more vets? Of course you don't. You want to protect your piece of the pie. But then you should not be begging for sympathy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand that the cost of providing all medical care is significant and veterinary care is no exception. I do believe that the veterinarians are doing the best they can so this is not directed at them ...
But the fact is that there are thousands upon thousands of animals (dogs and cats primarily) that are in desperate need of homes. The "adopt/save" movement is strong. I would honestly have 2 or 3 dogs but I can barely afford veterinary care for the one I have and it is the medical care costs that are preventing me from giving more animals their forever homes.

The adoption industry is a scam.

It's really not. Those people are dedicated and work VERY hard. ANd have to deal with the imbeciles who return or dump pets for all manner of dumb reasons. They are trying, imperfectly, to get people to honor their responsibilities and to make good placements. And most are on the fringes in terms of finances b/c they rely on donations.

Most rescues are not truthful about the dogs needs or behaviors. They also need to make it much harder to get rid of pets. It’s a business.

It’s a double edged sword. If you make it harder to surrender a pet to a rescue to be rehomed, some people will be more responsible about adopting in the first place, but there will also be more people who will rid themselves of unwanted pets in very cruel ways. Giving them away to unvetted homes, where they end up used in dog fighting. Dumping them on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. Letting them die of starvation and neglect. Outright killing them.

And it's not just that. Rescues bring shipments of animals in from other states and then complain that there aren't enough veterinarians to treat them. That interstate movement exacerbates the problem, creating stress on the system and those working in it in the name of animal welfare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - other jobs may be more stressful, but we have access to the drugs. We also have to be happy for the new puppy owners, sad for the ones who we are putting to sleep, in debt to our eyeballs because of our education, yelled at by the public because we aren't giving away free vet care because we love animals...check out "Not One More Vet"...

And truth be told, we don't need more vets. We need to figure out why vets are leaving the field in droves right now. You don't fill a leaking mug with more water, you find the source of the leak and stop the loss....if we just have a bunch of green vets out there, patient care will suffer. We need the seasoned vets to help mentor, teach, etc...

They don't teach us psychology in vet school. They used to have a very short course on practice management, when a year long course is what is needed. Corporate ownership has changed the game....the people doing the work are not the ones making the money. And the corporations are constantly trying to figure out how to squeeze more and more $$ out of every practice.

I am lucky I am on the down side....closer to retirement....

You were a “green vet” too once, unless you emerged out of the earth fully formed.