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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?